Official Azzurri (Italy) Euro 2008 Thread (21 Viewers)

[Osman]

There is no doubt Del Piero should start if the position they are fighting for was a forward or a second striker, where you have less space to cover, and you just roam around the box. But even if Ale is way more physically fit now, the reason he was dropped from the NT, and what he complained about, was not working as a winger in Donadoni's position.

Its 4-3-3, but in essence its a 4-5-1 considering the work its required to do on the whole wing. Di Natale suits that tactical need really well. Del Piero doesnt not for a whole game atleast(though I would try him again in this wing forward position again, because the Del Piero we see now is a quite changed one physically and in quality impact),. He can come in and be decisive (way more so then Di Natale) with some time left, where he wouldnt need to track back so much, but hunts in the space around edges of the box where he is most deadly.

 

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[X Æ A-12]

Hey -- if there's one player I want dribbling the ball who is on a run with little between him and the goal but the keeper, I want that to be Di Natale. That guy rocks at counterattack goals and scoring on the dribble.

Yea I remember from the multiple chances he blew against Scotland in Bari.

 

[Vinman]

Has anyone seen those TSN/ESPN commercials for Euro 2008? I saw the Italian one last night and I was howling. I sense it'll cause quite a rumble in these parts, given the large number of people with Italian heritage in North America.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axqZ7HoOLtQ

I didnt like that commercial....we deserved better !!

try this-

He's pretty good. But then again, sometimes I think he's overrated. Disappears from the matches I've seen with Udinese on some occasions.

While in contrast, Del Piero was basically at the forefront of most of our successful attacks this season.

true...true

Yea I remember from the multiple chances he blew against Scotland in Bari.

he's not always on his game, thats for sure

a sub for DP, imo.....

 

[Brixity]

I am personally a fan of Di Natale. I like his speed, technique and passing. I also feel he has a a good understanding with Toni (think its 10 goals in 6 games for the pair). I dont get this "he's a choker" business or more accurately where it is derived from. Italia played Scotland in quite a crunch situation, away from home and he put in a good shift but I guess thats one example

Not many people here support an Italian team therefore follow Serie A so I'm revelling in the hope that relatively unknown guys like him shall prove their worth

 

[Extraordinary]

imo i think del piero must play alongside toni ... toni in the middle of the attack and del piero around the box .. they will be a great pair and i think they both can become top scorers in this euro

 

[Seven]

I don't think Del Piero should start. I say, let Di Natale tire the opponent's defense and bring in Del Piero after 60 minutes or so. Even if Del Piero is physically fit and has a lot to give for Italy, this might just suit everybody. I do admit Di Natale is fast and is a good player, but he just doesn't have what it takes to decide games against Holland, France and other countries Italy might face after the first round. Cassano should be behind Del Piero in the pecking order.

 

[X Æ A-12]

I don't think Del Piero should start. I say, let Di Natale tire the opponent's defense and bring in Del Piero after 60 minutes or so. Even if Del Piero is physically fit and has a lot to give for Italy, this might just suit everybody. I do admit Di Natale is fast and is a good player, but he just doesn't have what it takes to decide games against Holland, France and other countries Italy might face after the first round. Cassano should be behind Del Piero in the pecking order.

I would love to see A Cassano-Toni or Del Piero-Toni partnership. And I think Di Natale should come on after 70 mins so the defenses are tired and he can speed through them.

 

[Stevie]

both ways would work fine!

 

[Seven]

I just don't think Di Natale has got enough class to finish a game off.

 

[GordoDeCentral]

nor the confidence to start against a solid team like you pointed out

 

[Azzurri7]

nobody said he was better than DP(see my post above). But i kind of understand Donadoni's reasoning in not playing DP despite the obvious difference in ability between him and Di Natale. DP just doesnt fit in Donadoni's 4-3-3 as was evident in many games, especially the one against France.

Thats true. Btw, I was saying it in general not quoting you.

I don't think Del Piero should start. I say, let Di Natale tire the opponent's defense and bring in Del Piero after 60 minutes or so. Even if Del Piero is physically fit and has a lot to give for Italy, this might just suit everybody. I do admit Di Natale is fast and is a good player, but he just doesn't have what it takes to decide games against Holland, France and other countries Italy might face after the first round. Cassano should be behind Del Piero in the pecking order.

I don't really buy this let this player tire the opponents. You can tire the opponents when you put someone fast around min 65 to 90 which is Why Del Piero should start and not Di Natale. Del Piero has proved that he's not made up to play for 30min. I think he and us(fans) have had enough of this.

 

[king Ale]

I don't really buy this let this player tire the opponents. You can tire the opponents when you put someone fast around min 65 to 90 which is Why Del Piero should start and not Di Natale. Del Piero has proved that he's not made up to play for 30min. I think he and us(fans) have had enough of this.

This is the theory we all used to hear from the beginning of the season. people used to say we should start with Iaquinta to tire the opponents and then add Ale to the match to kill 'em. But at the end it was obvious that Ale could start and still kill the opponent. I don't know what more he could have done to prove that he has the full 90 minutes in his legs besides he had been a better player than both Di Natale and Cassano this season. He definitely MUST start though I don't see it happens because of Donadoni.

 

[HelterSkelter]

If utilized properly,Del Piero will do very well as a sub.Lippi used him that way in the World Cup,and it paid dividends.Having said that,Lippi knew how to get the best out of Del Piero,something that Donadino probably does not know.I think the chancing of either of Del Piero,or Cassano starting are pretty slim.Donadoni prefers Di Natale and Toni upfront,and that's what we're most likely to see.Things might change as the tournament moves forward and different players hit form,but in the initial stages,the chances of a Di Natale-Toni forward line are pretty high.

 

[king Ale]

If utilized properly,Del Piero will do very well as a sub.Lippi used him that way in the World Cup,and it paid dividends.Having said that,Lippi knew how to get the best out of Del Piero,something that Donadino probably does not know.I think the chancing of either of Del Piero,or Cassano starting are pretty slim.Donadoni prefers Di Natale and Toni upfront,and that's what we're most likely to see.Things might change as the tournament moves forward and different players hit form,but in the initial stages,the chances of a Di Natale-Toni forward line are pretty high.

You can't compare the Del Piero of 06 with the current Del Piero. Not to mention that Totti hadn't been retired at that time. Today, Ale is one of the most (if not the most) in form players of the squad and it's sheer stupid to bench him.

 

[HelterSkelter]

Del Piero hasnt played for the NT for a while.I dont see Donadoni putting him in the thick of action straight away.Yes,he should start as far as his league form goes,but lets not kid ourselves...Di Natale and Toni are Donadoni's preffered starters.

 

[king Ale]

I know. Ale won't start but only an amateur such as Donadoni would make such decision.

 

[Alen]

There is no need to ask if Del Piero can play full 90 minutes.
Of course he can.
No need to ask who's the better one between Alex and Di Natale.
Classes separate them. Alex is much better and more experienced.

It's the damn tactics that make him inferior to Di Natale. Alex himself said he doesn't want to play that role.
It will be a torture for both Del Piero and the fans to watch him play as pure winger so if Donadoni is stubborn enough to play the same tactics no matter the result, then i don't want him to play Del Piero at all.
If he plays out of position people will again start calling him a choker who plays below average for the national team.
Donadoni should either play him in his original position or he shouldn't play him at all.

 

[aressandro10]

You can't compare the Del Piero of 06 with the current Del Piero. Not to mention that Totti hadn't been retired at that time. Today, Ale is one of the most (if not the most) in form players of the squad and it's sheer stupid to bench him.

IF the coach of italian national team is ranieri and using 2 striker up front partnering del piero with Trezegue who have played together for years, then only i would say del piero is the most in form player of the squad. But as the reality is concerened, Quaqralieorsomehing has made more impact in qualifying than Del Piero.

If i am in donadoni position, i would pick players who have performed and get result under my watch, my tactic, my direction, my assigned position than someone who failed to follow my direction but performed excellant a club level undersomebody else's managment. Its not as if Donadoni did not gave him the opportunity. He did and alex and inzaghi failed. He triedsomeone else and they succeed. itsjust as simple as that.

The time for will-he-succed-or-will-he-not-succed-experiment is over. The qualifying is over. now is he actual tournament. WE must not break the winning team. No use changing the whole working philoshophy of the team just for sentimental reason of accomodating one primadona. I say take Del Piero to EURO but use him only as backup if Plan A failed. if he can win the spot then Plan B is there to stay. If not,its back to the bench for PLan B.

 

[Christina]

IF the coach of italian national team is ranieri and using 2 striker up front partnering del piero with Trezegue who have played together for years, then only i would say del piero is the most in form player of the squad. But as the reality is concerened, Quaqralieorsomehing has made more impact in qualifying than Del Piero.

If i am in donadoni position, i would pick players who have performed and get result under my watch, my tactic, my direction, my assigned position than someone who failed to follow my direction but performed excellant a club level undersomebody else's managment. Its not as if Donadoni did not gave him the opportunity. He did and alex and inzaghi failed. He triedsomeone else and they succeed. itsjust as simple as that.

The time for will-he-succed-or-will-he-not-succed-experiment is over. The qualifying is over. now is he actual tournament. WE must not break the winning team. No use changing the whole working philoshophy of the team just for sentimental reason of accomodating one primadona. I say take Del Piero to EURO but use him only as backup if Plan A failed. if he can win the spot then Plan B is there to stay. If not,its back to the bench for PLan B.

I agree with that, but I also think he should've been given a chance to prove himself later on. I mean, he played him against France and he didn't have a great game but nobody really did. He had been deserving of a call up since about March, maybe even February. I just think that if he was willing to give Boriello a chance to fit into the squad, he should've been willing to do the same with Alex and Inzaghi, not base his judgement on 1-2 games (in which they were both on below-average form.) Surely Boriello got the call-up strictly due to his form.

 

[aressandro10]

I agree with that, but I also think he should've been given a chance to prove himself later on. I mean, he played him against France and he didn't have a great game but nobody really did. He had been deserving of a call up since about March, maybe even February. I just think that if he was willing to give Boriello a chance to fit into the squad, he should've been willing to do the same with Alex and Inzaghi, not base his judgement on 1-2 games (in which they were both on below-average form.) Surely Boriello got the call-up strictly due to his form.

Its just that Italy's qualifying was soo tight cause by the bad start that its damage control from france onwards. There is no luxury to give unperformed players o redeemed themselves.


Yeah... boriello should not have been there without proving himself in the qualifying first He got nothing ever del piero but maybe age, potential improvemet in the future and maybe less a primadona than del piero that make donadoni job as a coach much easier.