Azzurri Thread (70 Viewers)

[Salvatore]

Yep. And Montolivo has consistently done poorly there.

I'm really not sure why people are so obsessed with this position. Montolivo has been pretty good in fact, does well at keeping possession and moving the ball around.

And when Cassano is fit you cannot remove him from the forward position he's been performing well at, he was the top scorer of Italy's campaign and his partnership with Rossi was looking good.

 

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[Dostoevsky]

WTF, USA coach ...

 

[Joe]

Gilardino vows to make a place for himself in the Italy NT.

Just leave Italy and Juventus alone Gila.

 

[Alen]

My opinion of the quality of the Italian team has drastically changed in the last year. I might be exaggerating but I do see them as strong candidates to win the euro or make the final.
They do lack superstars, but they still have a team full of quality players, who can play as a team and are hungry for success. Kinda like the German teams of the last years. No superstars but strong team with quality all over the pitch.

 

[Trequartista]

My opinion of the quality of the Italian team has drastically changed in the last year. I might be exaggerating but I do see them as strong candidates to win the euro or make the final.
They do lack superstars, but they still have a team full of quality players, who can play as a team and are hungry for success. Kinda like the German teams of the last years. No superstars but strong team with quality all over the pitch.

Gigi

 

[Joe]

Would you consider De Rossi or Pirlo a superstar?
Pirlo might be too old now, but De Rossi fits the bill.

 

[Alen]

Gigi

I look at the defense and the GK as a unit so one superstar there doesn't really make a big difference to the team play. I meant midfielders and attackers.

Would you consider De Rossi or Pirlo a superstar?
Pirlo might be too old now, but De Rossi fits the bill.

Yup, Pirlo. I forgot about him. He's indeed a superstar, despite his age. His style is the same as it always was, as is his speed or space covering.
Pirlo is only 8 months older than Xavi and noone calls the Barca player old. The reason why Pirlo didn't shine lately in Milan or the Azzurri was the lack of quality surrounding him.
So yeah, with a very good Thiago Motta, with quality and intelligent attackers , with pacey fullbacks or wingers (Magio, Pepe etc), as well with a well known partner like Marchisio close to him, Pirlo will be excellent and instrumental again for the Azzurri.

 

[JuveJay]

My opinion of the quality of the Italian team has drastically changed in the last year. I might be exaggerating but I do see them as strong candidates to win the euro or make the final.
They do lack superstars, but they still have a team full of quality players, who can play as a team and are hungry for success. Kinda like the German teams of the last years. No superstars but strong team with quality all over the pitch.

Depends on the fitness/selection of Cassano, Rossi and Balotelli in my opinion, without them the team has a lot of options up front but not as much quality.

---------- Post added 29.02.2012 at 17:33 ----------

WTF, USA coach ...

A few eyebrows were raised, huh?

 

[Ahmed]

Wooooooooooooooooooo FUCK GIOVINCO Woooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[Joe]

In the Euro's, Italy's midfield trio should consist of De Rossi - Pirlo - Marchisio

Get that Milan bitch, Nocerino, out of there.

 

[Ahmed]

In the Euro's, Italy's midfield trio should consist of De Rossi - Pirlo - Marchisio

Get that Milan bitch, Nocerino, out of there.

Buffon (c)

Maggio - Barzagli - Chiellini - Balzaretti

De Rossi - Pirlo - Marchisio

Balotelli - Matri - Cassano​

 

[ALC]

Of course Italy gets much better when Juve does also. Both Barza and Chiello were awful last year, together with Cheesio. Now they're great and also have a reborn Pirlo playing like he's on his prime again. Italy definitely has more of a chance this year but I still don't see them winning it over Spain and Germany.

 

[Joe]

Prandelli said he wants to use a trequartista. Also, I think Criscito is going to start above Balzaretti but I don't see much of a quality difference between the two so it doesn't matter to me and Rossi is definitely going to start over Matri if he's fully healed and fit, he was starting before Matri in the qualifiers/friendlies.

Buffon
Maggio - Barzagli - Chiellini - Criscito
De Rossi - Pirlo - Marchisio
Cassano
Balotelli - Rossi​

I think that's the best squad Prandelli could put out there. Or swap Cassano with Balotelli/Rossi, and put Montolivo as a trequartista.

---------- Post added 29.02.2012 at 19:58 ----------

Of course Italy gets much better when Juve does also. Both Barza and Chiello were awful last year, together with Cheesio. Now they're great and also have a reborn Pirlo playing like he's on his prime again. Italy definitely has more of a chance this year but I still don't see them winning it over Spain and Germany.

Yeah definitely not. I think it's Germany's year. However, hopefully this time around Italy can make it past the group stages.

 

[ALC]

Cassano balotelli upfront would be much more lethal imo. He should play 4-3-3 and stick Pepe on the right.

 

[Ahmed]

need a striker, Balo Cass are more creative FWs.

 

[ALC]

Matri in the center then.

 

[Joe]

If Balotelli wasn't such a dumbass he could put in consistent performances for the NT, but he's always not called due to discplinary reasons. If he had any maturity in him he'd realize this. As for now, Cassano and Rossi seem to be the best partnership.

 

[Osman]

WTF, USA coach ...

And mofo is trying to pimp MLS to Ale:

USA Coach Jurgen Klinsmann looks forward to tomorrow’s friendly with Italy, but admits he has a different code of ethics to Cesare Prandelli.

“We are here to compete and to learn,” said the former Inter striker ahead of the Wednesday evening kick-off in Genoa.

“Playing against people like Gigi Buffon, Daniele De Rossi or Andrea Pirlo is a great opportunity for growth.

“The Italian team is very strong, one of the best who will be taking part at Euro 2012.”

Klinsmann was asked whether he would act the same way as Prandelli, who dropped Mario Balotelli and Daniel Pablo Osvaldo for picking up suspensions at club level for reaction fouls.

“I don’t know if I would do the same thing. It’s true he has a group of 35 players and has to eventually choose 23 and clearly wants the squad to all be working in the same direction.

“Mind you, we have Jermaine Jones who was suspended for eight games in the Bundesliga. I called him anyway for two friendlies, because the incident did not seem particularly serious to me.”

Schalke 04 star Jones was banned after he stamped on Borussia Monchengladbach man Marco Reus and fractured his foot.

Klinsmann has been in charge of the USA squad since July and hoped one of his former adversaries could make the trip to America too.

“I can tell Alessandro Del Piero that the MLS is wonderful. It is growing and becoming stronger every day, plus the United States has some wonderful cities.”

---------- Post added 29.02.2012 at 19:20 ----------

need a striker, Balo Cass are more creative FWs.

Balo is versatile in his skillset, but defenitely very good as box striker too.

 

[Ahmed]

^ true, but I'd imagine they need someone who will be more in and around the box than him.

 

[Hængebøffer]

My opinion of the quality of the Italian team has drastically changed in the last year. I might be exaggerating but I do see them as strong candidates to win the euro or make the final.
They do lack superstars, but they still have a team full of quality players, who can play as a team and are hungry for success. Kinda like the German teams of the last years. No superstars but strong team with quality all over the pitch.

I've also been saying this to my friends . With Prandelli i think Italy can have the semi's as goal.