getting back to the topic.
i feel that italy need a clean out. not just players, but starting from the top and working there way down to the toilet cleaners.
I mean, for 50 years now, there has been controversy......Mazzolla and Riva couldnt play together, without even trying it. Baggio and Zola. Baggio and Del Piero. totti and Del Piero. the list goes on with how the hierachy of the national team influences the coahes decision on tactics etc...
for me, i think italy has an abundance of players to fill two squads and both could be competitive.
keepers are great.....and with buffon, toldo and cudicini, i think we are set.
As for defenders, i think players such as Materazzi, iuliano and panucci should not be there. Not to mention Negro or any other lazio defender. We have Nesta and Cannavaro as our centre backs, for back ups, Bonera, Ferrari and legrotagli(spelling) should be there. We have the likes of Coco and Zauri for full backs. Zaccardo was mentioned, but i feel he might be a lil young yet. And Zambrotta is playing left back for juve now so he could be used at either right back, or left back. Oddo was great, but this season he has lossed it.
As for the midfield, when a team has players like totti, pirlo, fiore, di natale, Camoranesi (if he chooses italy), zambrotta...what more can we ask for in attacking abililty??? all italy needs is a coach who will pick those players in the squad and actually play the correct team to make it work. for the defending midfield or centre midfield, ambrosini, Marecsa and even Brighi are capable. Ambrosini has the experience, but i think this season we have seen maresca play great and he IMO going to be a future star for juve and italy. Brighi is young still, but has shown that he has what it takes. Tomassi, guttuso, di biagio and zanetti shouldnt be near this team. They add nothing in the offense area of the game. Actually, a player such as tacchinardi would be more useful overall than those players. Zanetti showed nothing for us in that WC, and he was given a go.
And i think with Camoranesi, Zambrotta, coco, Zuari, fiore and di natale, we boast a good wing attack. that is if the formation and strategy is set appropriately.
As for our attack...Del Piero, Vieri and Inzaghi are the only strikers who are still playing well this season. Montella and di Vaio last season were both guns but this season they havent performed well. Maybe a player like Miccoli could inject something new off the bench. Also, Di Natale could be used upfront as well depending on the formation. not to mention camoranesi who can play upfront feeding off the main striker.
so, here would be my squad:
buffon toldo cudicini
nesta cannavaro bonera ferrari legrota... coco zauri
ambrosini maresca brighi fiore totti camoranesi zambrotta di natale pirlo
del piero vieri inzaghi miccoli
thats 23 players....i know the defense is young, but it still has exeprience.