most of these players were born and grew up in france,and had the french passport before they became professional football players.
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Official Azzurri (Italy) Euro 2008 Qualifier thread (24 Viewers)
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I think the game versus France was a huge reminder to everyone that Italy is in the midst of a rebuild... and they have to rebuild fast.
The biggest trouble spot is clearly on forward. Luca Toni seems to be the only pure striker on the team, and not only is he presently hurt, he's 30.
Inzaghi is the most frustrating player I've ever seen. He's either really on, or really, really off. When he's really off, he makes everyone around him look bad. The guy is what, 34? He's pretty much done, at least at the international level.
Del Piero is not a runner. Why Donadoni plays him like that I'll never know. If he doesn't want to use Del Piero like Juventus does, as a support striker up high in the middle, then don't bother calling him up and making him look like crap. At 32, his last hurrah is likely Euro 2008 at the latest.
Lucarelli just blows. I dunno why people like him, he's just clumsy and not very good at leading a line. He seems to have to be the centre of attention for the rest of his team to be effective (as he was in Livorno), and that's not Italy's tactical MO. Stop calling this guy up, Donadoni. He's 31 and playing in an inferior league....
Di Natale isn't bad, but he's not international quality, and there isn't exactly room for him to improve, seeing as he turns 30 in October.
Iaquinta is actually, in my opinion, the best option for a Donadoni coached team. He's big, fast and strong, and can play wing or forward. But he's supporting cast, not a main event. At 27, he's one of the younger Italian options. There might be room for him to improve as he just entered his prime.
Quagliarella is one of those guys that Italy must prime up at once. He's arguably the best young striker at their disposal.
Gilardino was the great white hope, but he has stalled his development and at the moment is not the best option, though I'd call him up over Lucarelli or Inzaghi.
Di Michele didn't look good for Italy, despite his good performance for Udinese/Palermo. Bonazzoli is not a great option, and Rocchi, while not bad, is over 30 as well, and its time to look long term.
Miccoli and Rosina should be considered viable options for testing if Italy wants to be more than an also-ran at Euro 08.
For today's game... I'd start Quagliarella and Iaquinta, with Del Piero subbing in for one of them around the 65th minute.
The biggest trouble spot is clearly on forward. Luca Toni seems to be the only pure striker on the team, and not only is he presently hurt, he's 30.
Inzaghi is the most frustrating player I've ever seen. He's either really on, or really, really off. When he's really off, he makes everyone around him look bad. The guy is what, 34? He's pretty much done, at least at the international level.
Del Piero is not a runner. Why Donadoni plays him like that I'll never know. If he doesn't want to use Del Piero like Juventus does, as a support striker up high in the middle, then don't bother calling him up and making him look like crap. At 32, his last hurrah is likely Euro 2008 at the latest.
Lucarelli just blows. I dunno why people like him, he's just clumsy and not very good at leading a line. He seems to have to be the centre of attention for the rest of his team to be effective (as he was in Livorno), and that's not Italy's tactical MO. Stop calling this guy up, Donadoni. He's 31 and playing in an inferior league....
Di Natale isn't bad, but he's not international quality, and there isn't exactly room for him to improve, seeing as he turns 30 in October.
Iaquinta is actually, in my opinion, the best option for a Donadoni coached team. He's big, fast and strong, and can play wing or forward. But he's supporting cast, not a main event. At 27, he's one of the younger Italian options. There might be room for him to improve as he just entered his prime.
Quagliarella is one of those guys that Italy must prime up at once. He's arguably the best young striker at their disposal.
Gilardino was the great white hope, but he has stalled his development and at the moment is not the best option, though I'd call him up over Lucarelli or Inzaghi.
Di Michele didn't look good for Italy, despite his good performance for Udinese/Palermo. Bonazzoli is not a great option, and Rocchi, while not bad, is over 30 as well, and its time to look long term.
Miccoli and Rosina should be considered viable options for testing if Italy wants to be more than an also-ran at Euro 08.
For today's game... I'd start Quagliarella and Iaquinta, with Del Piero subbing in for one of them around the 65th minute.
They might origin from former French colonies, but it's France who made them the players they are. If it hadn't been we would see much better African sides anyway. Because let's think this one through:
there are only so many "Africans" living in France. There are many Africans living in Africa. Logically you'd expect African teams to have more talent. Apparently that's not the case. Conclusion? Something happens in France.
Get that? You fucking moron.
there are only so many "Africans" living in France. There are many Africans living in Africa. Logically you'd expect African teams to have more talent. Apparently that's not the case. Conclusion? Something happens in France.
Get that? You fucking moron.
Don't even bother Seven, I've had that conversation numerous times and they never seem to understand.
I definitely think Italy should play 3 up front. Rosina, Foggia, Miccoli, Quagliarella, Di Natale and Camoranesi to fight for the wing positions, and Toni, Iaquinta, Bianchi and Tommaso Rocchi for the central spot. I'm not ruling out Marchionni, Del Piero, Inzaghi, Lavezzi and Semioli either.
I definitely think Italy should play 3 up front. Rosina, Foggia, Miccoli, Quagliarella, Di Natale and Camoranesi to fight for the wing positions, and Toni, Iaquinta, Bianchi and Tommaso Rocchi for the central spot. I'm not ruling out Marchionni, Del Piero, Inzaghi, Lavezzi and Semioli either.
Iaquinta picked in Kiev
Christian Panucci, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Antonio Di Natale will start at the Olympiyskiy Stadium in Kiev this evening.
The real shock is that Cristiano Lucarelli – who plays for Ukrainian club side Shakhtar Donetsk and was tipped to start upfront – is not even on the bench.
The former Livorno hitman sits in the stands along with Alessandro Del Piero, but Pippo Inzaghi gets the spot on the sidelines.
Roberto Donadoni was expected to make sweeping changes from the side that drew 0-0 with France last Saturday and he completely transformed the squad.
Veteran Panucci earns his first start after a three-year absence from the Azzurri at right-back, sending Massimo Oddo on to the bench.
Massimo Ambrosini steps in for the suspended Gennaro Gattuso, while Mauro Camoranesi and Simone Perrotta complete the midfield with Andrea Pirlo.
Former Udinese teammates Iaquinta and Di Natale resume their partnership upfront in what seems to be a 4-4-2 system that could mutate during the match.
The Italy bench comprises of Marco Amelia, Oddo, Fabio Grosso, Daniele De Rossi, Alberto Aquilani, Fabio Quagliarella and Inzaghi.
Ex-Milan star Andriy Shevchenko leads the line for Ukraine in this crucial Euro 2008 qualifier.
Check back on the Football Italia website for half-time, full-time and post-match reports.
Ukraine: Shovkovskiy; Kucher, Yezerskiy, Rusol, Shelayev; Gusev, Kalynychenko, Tymoschuk, Gay; Nazarenko, Shevchenko
Italy: Buffon; Panucci, Cannavaro, Barzagli, Zambrotta; Camoranesi, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Perrotta; Iaquinta, Di Natale
Ref: Webb (Eng)
channel 4
Christian Panucci, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Antonio Di Natale will start at the Olympiyskiy Stadium in Kiev this evening.
The real shock is that Cristiano Lucarelli – who plays for Ukrainian club side Shakhtar Donetsk and was tipped to start upfront – is not even on the bench.
The former Livorno hitman sits in the stands along with Alessandro Del Piero, but Pippo Inzaghi gets the spot on the sidelines.
Roberto Donadoni was expected to make sweeping changes from the side that drew 0-0 with France last Saturday and he completely transformed the squad.
Veteran Panucci earns his first start after a three-year absence from the Azzurri at right-back, sending Massimo Oddo on to the bench.
Massimo Ambrosini steps in for the suspended Gennaro Gattuso, while Mauro Camoranesi and Simone Perrotta complete the midfield with Andrea Pirlo.
Former Udinese teammates Iaquinta and Di Natale resume their partnership upfront in what seems to be a 4-4-2 system that could mutate during the match.
The Italy bench comprises of Marco Amelia, Oddo, Fabio Grosso, Daniele De Rossi, Alberto Aquilani, Fabio Quagliarella and Inzaghi.
Ex-Milan star Andriy Shevchenko leads the line for Ukraine in this crucial Euro 2008 qualifier.
Check back on the Football Italia website for half-time, full-time and post-match reports.
Ukraine: Shovkovskiy; Kucher, Yezerskiy, Rusol, Shelayev; Gusev, Kalynychenko, Tymoschuk, Gay; Nazarenko, Shevchenko
Italy: Buffon; Panucci, Cannavaro, Barzagli, Zambrotta; Camoranesi, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Perrotta; Iaquinta, Di Natale
Ref: Webb (Eng)
channel 4
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