Azzurri Thread (48 Viewers)
- Thread starter Marceℓℓo
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I was hoping someone would notice that little gem
what a twonk 
Italy’s provisional World Cup 23
By Football Italia staff
The Gazzetta dello Sport have put together the 23-man squad list Cesare Prandelli would name for the World Cup, if he had to today.
The Azzurri face a friendly with Spain in March before post-season preparations for the competition proper in Brazil being in May.
Ahead of that, speculation is on the preferred names CT Prandelli has in mind and the Gazzetta dello Sport have run through the possible 23 currently out in front.
In goal behind Gianluigi Buffon it is seen that Roma’s Morgan De Sanctis will take the back-up shirt and that Salvatore Sirigu would just edge Federico Marchetti for the third spot.
Full-back positions are seen to be Mattia De Sciglio and Ignazio Abate’s on the right to lose and Domenico Criscito’s on the left, with Prandelli’s apparent lack of faith in the alternatives for that side allowing for Angelo Ogbonna and Giorgio Chiellini to be considered in the position too.
The Juventus duo are seen as certainties in the back-line alongside colleagues Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli.
It is speculated that Prandelli would, if selecting the squad today, only opt for seven defenders, with Daniele De Rossi doubling up as cover if required.
Alongside the Roma man in a provisional midfield would be Marco Parolo, Andrea Pirlo, Thiago Motta, Claudio Marchisio, Emanuele Giaccherini, Riccardo Montolivo and Andrea Candreva,
Alessio Cerci and Lorenzo Insigne would, for their versatility, be preferred to Alessandro Diamanti to provide the link between midfield and an attack comprising of Mario Balotelli, Pablo Osvaldo and Giuseppe Rossi.
It is suggested that whilst this is the 23 Prandelli would select today, the 56-year-old has a list of 35 players actually up for consideration, including the likes of Marco Verratti, Alessandro Florenzi, Andrea Ranocchia, Federico Balzaretti and Christian Maggio.
- - - Updated - - -
Buffon
De Sciglio-Barzagli-Chiellini-Criscito
De Rossi-Pirlo-Marchisio
Rossi-Balotelli-Insigne
By Football Italia staff
The Gazzetta dello Sport have put together the 23-man squad list Cesare Prandelli would name for the World Cup, if he had to today.
The Azzurri face a friendly with Spain in March before post-season preparations for the competition proper in Brazil being in May.
Ahead of that, speculation is on the preferred names CT Prandelli has in mind and the Gazzetta dello Sport have run through the possible 23 currently out in front.
In goal behind Gianluigi Buffon it is seen that Roma’s Morgan De Sanctis will take the back-up shirt and that Salvatore Sirigu would just edge Federico Marchetti for the third spot.
Full-back positions are seen to be Mattia De Sciglio and Ignazio Abate’s on the right to lose and Domenico Criscito’s on the left, with Prandelli’s apparent lack of faith in the alternatives for that side allowing for Angelo Ogbonna and Giorgio Chiellini to be considered in the position too.
The Juventus duo are seen as certainties in the back-line alongside colleagues Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli.
It is speculated that Prandelli would, if selecting the squad today, only opt for seven defenders, with Daniele De Rossi doubling up as cover if required.
Alongside the Roma man in a provisional midfield would be Marco Parolo, Andrea Pirlo, Thiago Motta, Claudio Marchisio, Emanuele Giaccherini, Riccardo Montolivo and Andrea Candreva,
Alessio Cerci and Lorenzo Insigne would, for their versatility, be preferred to Alessandro Diamanti to provide the link between midfield and an attack comprising of Mario Balotelli, Pablo Osvaldo and Giuseppe Rossi.
It is suggested that whilst this is the 23 Prandelli would select today, the 56-year-old has a list of 35 players actually up for consideration, including the likes of Marco Verratti, Alessandro Florenzi, Andrea Ranocchia, Federico Balzaretti and Christian Maggio.
- - - Updated - - -
Buffon
De Sciglio-Barzagli-Chiellini-Criscito
De Rossi-Pirlo-Marchisio
Rossi-Balotelli-Insigne
/Gila/any on form striker, Verratti, Florenzi in
When you look at the midfield it's actually tough to see who Prandelli will leave out.
Pirlo, De Rossi, Marchisio, Motta, Montolivo, Verratti, Parolo, Florenzi, Giaccherini, Candreva, Cerci, Diamanti
Ideally he'd take 8 midfielders, with 3 keepers, 7 defenders, 5 forwards. Such are the choices he may even take only 4 'forwards' on the list and 9 midfielders, because Cerci and Diamanti can be classed as them in a certain formation.
Certainties would be Pirlo, De Rossi, Marchisio and Giaccherini, from what we have seen. The rest could be any variation, but I think Parolo and Florenzi are most at risk, even if very useful (might have left it too late), and I'd expect one of that Cerci-Diamanti-Candreva trio not to go. Maybe it will be Diamanti, a lot will depend on form/fitness.
I have a feeling it will be a forward '4' because of this. Balotelli, Rossi and Osvaldo I think are a shoe-in for Prandelli, and the 4th/5th variation may depend on what formation he plans for. Drop a midfielder and both Gilardino and Insigne could go, keep the midfielder and he might only take Gilardino, as a genuine striker option, with the likes of Giaccherini filling in Insigne's role. Gilardino's inclusion is also dependent on Osvaldo's form/fitness, and as a contrast to Insigne's.
Pirlo, De Rossi, Marchisio, Motta, Montolivo, Verratti, Parolo, Florenzi, Giaccherini, Candreva, Cerci, Diamanti
Ideally he'd take 8 midfielders, with 3 keepers, 7 defenders, 5 forwards. Such are the choices he may even take only 4 'forwards' on the list and 9 midfielders, because Cerci and Diamanti can be classed as them in a certain formation.
Certainties would be Pirlo, De Rossi, Marchisio and Giaccherini, from what we have seen. The rest could be any variation, but I think Parolo and Florenzi are most at risk, even if very useful (might have left it too late), and I'd expect one of that Cerci-Diamanti-Candreva trio not to go. Maybe it will be Diamanti, a lot will depend on form/fitness.
I have a feeling it will be a forward '4' because of this. Balotelli, Rossi and Osvaldo I think are a shoe-in for Prandelli, and the 4th/5th variation may depend on what formation he plans for. Drop a midfielder and both Gilardino and Insigne could go, keep the midfielder and he might only take Gilardino, as a genuine striker option, with the likes of Giaccherini filling in Insigne's role. Gilardino's inclusion is also dependent on Osvaldo's form/fitness, and as a contrast to Insigne's.
