FIFA Confederations Cup 2009 (12 Viewers)
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http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/story/9710142/Italy-in-need-of-clearout-to-defend-World-title
Italy in need of clearout to defend World title
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) - Italy coach Marcello Lippi immediately faced calls for a squad clearout if it is to have any designs on defending its World Cup title next year following Sunday's embarrassing exit from the Confederations Cup.
The Azzurri exited the cup at the group stage after a 3-0 loss to Brazil on Sunday, three days after being beaten 1-0 by Egypt.
Italy could have advanced by scoring just one goal against Brazil, but Lippi's squad hardly threatened against a rampaging Brazil team and finished the tournament without scoring a goal against 11 men.
Lippi was immediately pressured to bring more younger players into the squad.
"Unfortunately we're out and we're very upset," he said. "But people on the outside should stay calm about pushing for younger players, because you need a certain type of experience in these types of games.
"There are younger players, but let them mature gradually. These are the best players in Italy. Maybe they're a little out of form, but these are the best players and I'm not changing them."
Brazil won Group A with a maximum nine points and the United States went through ahead of Italy on goals scored. The U.S., Italy and Egypt finished with three points each.
It's the second consecutive major tournament from which Italy has been eliminated early after its title in Germany three years ago. At last year's European Championship, Italy lost to eventual champion Spain on penalties in the quarterfinals.
Lippi returned after Euro 2008 and brought the core of his World Cup squad back with him. Twelve members of the 23-man squad here took part in the triumph in Berlin.
The only bright spot for Italy at this tournament was a laborious 3-1 win over the United States, when Italy scored all three of its goals after the Americans were reduced to 10 men.
Giuseppe Rossi came off the bench and scored twice against the U.S. and earned a start at center forward against Egypt, but Lippi's experimental attack with Vincenzo Iaquinta and Fabio Quagliarella misfired.
Lippi went back to Luca Toni at center forward against Brazil, but at 32 Toni concluded his second consecutive major tournament without a goal. Alberto Gilardino appeared in better form than Toni, but Lippi has tended to prefer the 1.92-meter (6-foot-4) Bayern Munich forward.
Lippi left talented but volatile striker Antonio Cassano at home and has not yet called up 18-year-old Inter Milan forward Mario Balotelli. There's no doubt the coach will face pressure to bring both players with him to South Africa next year.
"You can't just throw a young player into a game like this," Lippi said. "You need to bring younger players along gradually. If hadn't hurt his knee the other day, (18-year-old defender Davide) Santon would have definitely played tonight."
An even bigger concern could be defense, where there is no apparent heir to captain Fabio Cannavaro, who matched Paolo Maldini's Italy record with his 126th appearance Sunday. Italy's defense was constantly exposed as sluggish by the Brazilians' speed.
Unfortunately for Lippi, he doesn't have much more room for experiments, as Italy holds only a one-point lead over Ireland in its World Cup qualifying group.
from foxsports.
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Italy in need of clearout to defend World title
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) - Italy coach Marcello Lippi immediately faced calls for a squad clearout if it is to have any designs on defending its World Cup title next year following Sunday's embarrassing exit from the Confederations Cup.
The Azzurri exited the cup at the group stage after a 3-0 loss to Brazil on Sunday, three days after being beaten 1-0 by Egypt.
Italy could have advanced by scoring just one goal against Brazil, but Lippi's squad hardly threatened against a rampaging Brazil team and finished the tournament without scoring a goal against 11 men.
Lippi was immediately pressured to bring more younger players into the squad.
"Unfortunately we're out and we're very upset," he said. "But people on the outside should stay calm about pushing for younger players, because you need a certain type of experience in these types of games.
"There are younger players, but let them mature gradually. These are the best players in Italy. Maybe they're a little out of form, but these are the best players and I'm not changing them."
Brazil won Group A with a maximum nine points and the United States went through ahead of Italy on goals scored. The U.S., Italy and Egypt finished with three points each.
It's the second consecutive major tournament from which Italy has been eliminated early after its title in Germany three years ago. At last year's European Championship, Italy lost to eventual champion Spain on penalties in the quarterfinals.
Lippi returned after Euro 2008 and brought the core of his World Cup squad back with him. Twelve members of the 23-man squad here took part in the triumph in Berlin.
The only bright spot for Italy at this tournament was a laborious 3-1 win over the United States, when Italy scored all three of its goals after the Americans were reduced to 10 men.
Giuseppe Rossi came off the bench and scored twice against the U.S. and earned a start at center forward against Egypt, but Lippi's experimental attack with Vincenzo Iaquinta and Fabio Quagliarella misfired.
Lippi went back to Luca Toni at center forward against Brazil, but at 32 Toni concluded his second consecutive major tournament without a goal. Alberto Gilardino appeared in better form than Toni, but Lippi has tended to prefer the 1.92-meter (6-foot-4) Bayern Munich forward.
Lippi left talented but volatile striker Antonio Cassano at home and has not yet called up 18-year-old Inter Milan forward Mario Balotelli. There's no doubt the coach will face pressure to bring both players with him to South Africa next year.
"You can't just throw a young player into a game like this," Lippi said. "You need to bring younger players along gradually. If hadn't hurt his knee the other day, (18-year-old defender Davide) Santon would have definitely played tonight."
An even bigger concern could be defense, where there is no apparent heir to captain Fabio Cannavaro, who matched Paolo Maldini's Italy record with his 126th appearance Sunday. Italy's defense was constantly exposed as sluggish by the Brazilians' speed.
Unfortunately for Lippi, he doesn't have much more room for experiments, as Italy holds only a one-point lead over Ireland in its World Cup qualifying group.
from foxsports.
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Watched the entire game last night, still I have some questions. Hope someone can answer them.
* Where was Dossena on the second goal?
* Will Montolivo ever deliver on his huge promise? If yes, when?
* How exactly does one go from being the best fullback in the world to being a poor man's Grygera? Yes Zambrotta, I'm talking about you!
* What the hell has happened to Toni since leaving Fiorentina?
* ...
Ok game by Gigi & surprisingly also Camo & Pirlo.
Watched the entire game last night, still I have some questions. Hope someone can answer them.
* Where was Dossena on the second goal?
* Will Montolivo ever deliver on his huge promise? If yes, when?
* How exactly does one go from being the best fullback in the world to being a poor man's Grygera? Yes Zambrotta, I'm talking about you!
* What the hell has happened to Toni since leaving Fiorentina?
* ...
Ok game by Gigi & surprisingly also Camo & Pirlo.
*Don't know.
*Lack of motivation.
*Toni is overrated as hell.
Pirlo had a pretty average game IMO. Pity Lippi wants to run everything through Pirlo.