Azzurri Thread (72 Viewers)

[BillyG]

Pazzo-Cassano to lead Italy

Cesare Prandelli has made four changes to Italy’s starting XI for Tuesday’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Serbia.

After drawing 0-0 with Northern Ireland on Friday evening, the tactician has been forced to modify personnel and system for tomorrow night’s tie at Marassi.

Italy will start the game with a 4-4-2 that will include veteran right-back Gianluca Zambrotta and Sampdoria striker Giampaolo Pazzini.

Prandelli has been made to shelve his 4-3-3 shape after losing Roma talisman Daniele De Rossi to injury.

“I have to be honest and admit that I did think about using two centre-forwards with Antonio Cassano behind,” Prandelli noted on Monday evening.

“But without De Rossi I had to change plans. I don’t have a clone for him so I had to change shape.”

Italy will thus take to the field with Cassano and Pazzini playing in front of their home fans after Marco Borriello was benched.

“I chose Pazzini because he has the right movements to face Serbia,” continued Cesare.

“I also expect more from Cassano, as well as everyone else and that includes me. This is his stadium and I’m sure the fans will push us on.”

As part of the reshuffle, Simone Pepe has also lost his place which means the Azzurri’s four-man midfield will consist of Stefano Mauri, Andrea Pirlo, Angelo Palombo and Claudio Marchisio.

Italy currently sit top of their group, but know how vital a victory could be on Tuesday given that Serbia lost to Estonia on Friday.

“Whoever wins out of us will take three points, but they will also take a great advantage in the qualification race,” added the Coach.

“We will also need to pay attention to [Juventus winger Milos] Krasic. He has great dribbling skills and can ease past players.

“Serbia have individuals who can win games by themselves, they also have great personality and pride. But we too have our strengths.”

Emiliano Viviano will again play in goal, while Leonardo Bonucci should start after shaking off a minor injury.

Italy: Viviano; Zambrotta, Bonucci, Chiellini, Criscito; Mauri, Palombo, Pirlo, Marchisio; Cassano, Pazzini.

Serbia [probable]: Stojkovic; Ivanovic, Lukovic, Subotic, Lomic; Stankovic, Kuzmanovic; Ninkovic; Krasic, Zigic, Jovanovic.
______________

why do all these dumb-ass coaches insist on playing Marchisio as a winger?

 

Buy on AliExpress.com

[Bianconero_Aus]

Yeah Im not a fan of it, but is it a case of Marchisio being on the same side as Krasic to give Criscito a hand....?

I reckon a 4-3-1-2 would be a better formation with the players available. Pirlo as a trequartista behind Cassano and Pazzo.

 

[The Curr]

Is Marchisio going to play on the right?

 

[BillyG]

Yeah Im not a fan of it, but is it a case of Marchisio being on the same side as Krasic to give Criscito a hand....?

I reckon a 4-3-1-2 would be a better formation with the players available. Pirlo as a trequartista behind Cassano and Pazzo.

but how many times will they justify their BS with that reason? Are there NO wide players in ALL off italy who can defend?

 

[X Æ A-12]

I'm ok with that. If prandelli views Krasic as that much of a threat then why not use Marchisio wide?

 

[BillyG]

I'm ok with that. If prandelli views Krasic as that much of a threat then why not use Marchisio wide?

That's not my point. My point is are there no wide players who can defend? why are u pulling him out of position strictly for a defensive ploy? U end up losing more in attack as you do not have a natural winger on the flank.

 

[Bianconero_Aus]

Is Marchisio going to play on the right?

Doesnt he play for RM/RW for Serbia as well?

 

[Klin]

That really goes to show how much Italy lacks quality wingers at the moment, even if playing Marchisio out wide can be viewed as a tactical decision by Prandelli.

 

[JuveJay]

Italy hasn't played with classic 4-4-2 wingers for over a decade and hardly any of the Serie A clubs do either, so that's no surprise.

It's not set up as a 4-4-2 like that anyway, but Prandelli is gambling tactically, there is basically zero width to the team so everything will have to come through the middle and Cassano.

 

[Nicholas]

Why when Bonucci is not fully fit does Prandelli play him? fucking moron. If he gets injured Juventus are in a mess.

 

[awit]

I bet Marchisio thought with Lippi and Zac gone he'll finally gets to play in his best position but now Del Neri and Prandelli are using him as a winger again

 

[Bianconero_Aus]

Italy hasn't played with classic 4-4-2 wingers for over a decade and hardly any of the Serie A clubs do either, so that's no surprise.

It's not set up as a 4-4-2 like that anyway, but Prandelli is gambling tactically, there is basically zero width to the team so everything will have to come through the middle and Cassano.

Which is why I think they should just stick with a standard 4-3-1-2 or 4-3-2-1.

 

[v1rtu4l]

That really goes to show how much Italy lacks quality wingers at the moment, even if playing Marchisio out wide can be viewed as a tactical decision by Prandelli.

does he emulate the del neri move to shut down krasic as del neri tried to make marchisio shut down maicon ?

 

[Salvo]

How many hours till the game?

 

[Bianconero_Aus]

Game starts at 5:50 am AET

On RAI International

 

[Osman]

Interesting, very interesting Prandelli interview:

“What can I do about Italy? I don’t have an answer,” he told La Repubblica. “I am trying to work out how a team of world champions could be so reviled and jeered.

“If the atmosphere doesn’t change, we must try to change instead. Perhaps we need to get back to simplicity, like an artisan who works with his hands and knows he cannot build an entire bed frame in one day.

“We are drowning in a football of paradoxes. There are drivers who in two months become directors or agents. There are good players who are celebrated as world class after one backheel flick and you can’t convince them it was just a one-off.

“There are parents who abdicate their role as educators, Presidents who promise to focus on youth only to kick them out after two defeats because what they really want is the result.

“This is the nation of short-cuts. I tell my players this: Not everything is owed to you. Prove to me that you are generous and curious. The willingness to learn from someone else will enrich you.”

Prandelli is the new Azzurri Coach, but has some interesting ideas on the fundamentals of Italian football – tactics.


“Football is simple and when it comes to developing play, there’s no such thing as a system. Those are only really used in set play situations,” argued the former Fiorentina boss.

“After the Total Football of Holland, Enzo Bearzot was revolutionary in 1982 when he played with two strikers, two support forwards and two attacking wingers.

“Arrigo Sacchi brought organisation to the forefront, as moving the team 30m further up the field surprised opponents by pinning them back into their own half.

“Zdenek Zeman taught Italian Coaches how to attack and he remains an extraordinary master to be studied. Jose Mourinho has talent in getting hold of the players’ heads, prompting Samuel Eto’o to work as a full-back or leaving Dejan Stankovic on the bench. Yet everyone loves and fears him, as if he were Napoleon.

“Nowadays all teams are organised and there’s precious little left to invent. The difference is not made by tactics, but by the speed of execution, possession and the technical quality of the players.

“There are only two types of Coaches now: those who grow youngsters, like Arsene Wenger and Pep Guardiola, and those who can handle world class champions. Without talented players, the Coach doesn’t count for much. Just look at Spain who won the European Championship and World Cup with different managers.”

Prandelli immediately picked hot-headed figures like Cassano and Mario Balotelli for his Italy squad.

“I never had a row with Cassano and people need to remove this tag they stuck to him long ago. As for Balotelli, let him have fun and perform his tricks. Time will tell what he can do, we mustn’t try to change his nature.”

There was a disagreement with Giampaolo Pazzini, who left Fiorentina in order to shine at Sampdoria.

“I am absolutely certain I did the right thing with Pazzini. He was too mollycoddled in Florence and would never have grown up. Players are more individualistic and locked in their own world nowadays.

“You see them grinning after a defeat, as if they couldn’t care less, but the truth is that’s a symptom of unhappiness. That’s how I interpreted the younger Azzurri at the World Cup taking pictures on their mobiles ahead of the decisive match against Slovakia. It was a cry for help.

“These are professionals paid an incredible amount of money and they must take responsibility. I am ready to listen to their problems, like a parent with his adult children, but there’s a moment in which they must stand on their own two feet.

“They cannot turn round and look to me for a way out. If they do, I am prepared to tell them no, that’s enough. We all ought to do that more.”

 

[.zero]

Forza Azzurri

 

[Bjerknes]

Forza Azzurri

Forza Clownzurri! :scarf:

 

[La_Fidanzata]

anyone have proper streams?

 

[Bjerknes]

anyone have proper streams?

Here's a nice one.

http://www.bergoiata.org/fe/Mattes1/Fine Art - Garden Within, Forest Stream.jpg