Official Azzurri (Italy) Euro 2008 Thread (34 Viewers)

[Vinman]

Typical Italy.They usually need a kick in the nuts before they come to their senses.

not under Lippi we didnt....

One bad game and you call our team pathetic Have some faith man. They're gonna own Romania on Friday and you'll praise them to high heaven afterwards anyways.

it wont be an easy game by any means, and I will hold praise until we reach the second round


my lineup for next game-

------------------Buffon--------------

Zamby-----Chellini---Gamberini-----Grosso

--------------De Rossi------Pirlo-------------

Camo--------------Cassano--------------DP

---------------------Toni--------------------------

 

Buy on AliExpress.com

[Salvatore]

I want so and so to start /fanboy.

 

[Stephan]

not under Lippi we didnt....



-

USA--Italy 1-1

 

[Bjerknes]

USA--Italy 1-1

USA! USA! USA!

We should have won that game.

 

[swag]

I don't think it's an overstatement at all. I'm not saying their defense is perfect but with the likes of Puyol and Marchenna, they are definitely stronger at the back than Portugal, Holland, and arguably Germany.

I'll agree with Holland. But their style of play with so much attacking on the flanks exposes them a hell of a lot.

But when Pepe is playing well, or Andrade, I would take the Portuguese CBs over Spain's anyday. But with the more recent exception of Bosingwa, who has been awesome the past couple of seasons, Portugal's wingbacks pretty much suck wind.

Germany has some great wingbacks, but I wouldn't consider their center-backs top class.

If I were a coach and had to choose, I would go with probably all three teams' backlines before Spain's though -- goalie kept out of it.

 

[Vinman]

USA--Italy 1-1

I hardly call that a kick in the nuts

 

[Alen]

USA! USA! USA!

We should have won that game.

I didn't hear the Italians back then complaining about the offside rule.
You remember that situation when an US goal was disallowed because one American player was blocking Buffon's view, eventhough he never touched the ball ?

That's the most stupid rule EVER ! (eventhough this rule saved our butts in the CL final 2003 when Shevchenko's goal was disallowed for the same reason)

 

[Bjerknes]

I didn't hear the Italians back then complaining about the offside rule.
You remember that situation when an US goal was disallowed because one American player was blocking Buffon's view, eventhough he never touched the ball ?

That's the most stupid rule EVER ! (eventhough this rule saved our butts in the CL final 2003 when Shevchenko's goal was disallowed for the same reason)

Yeah that's right, they weren't complaining. I wonder why that is...

In my view, they should have never amended the rule in the first place and kept it the way it was before.

 

[Bjerknes]

I'll agree with Holland. But their style of play with so much attacking on the flanks exposes them a hell of a lot.

But when Pepe is playing well, or Andrade, I would take the Portuguese CBs over Spain's anyday. But with the more recent exception of Bosingwa, who has been awesome the past couple of seasons, Portugal's wingbacks pretty much suck wind.

Germany has some great wingbacks, but I wouldn't consider their center-backs top class.

If I were a coach and had to choose, I would go with probably all three teams' backlines before Spain's though -- goalie kept out of it.

Well, both Puyol and Sergio Ramos are world class defenders. Capdevilla isn't world class but he's a solid left-back, while Marchena is not a bad stopper. So that makes 2 world class players.

Germany only has one world class player in Lahm as Metzelder and Mertesacker are a little below that level.

Portugal... well it's obvious Carvalho is world class, Pepe is pretty good but not world class, Ferreira isn't a bad player, and I don't know too much about Bosingwa but I don't think he's world class.

Holland doesn't have any world class defenders, so I have no idea why one would take their defense over Spain's.

Ramos - Puyol - Marchena - Capdevilla

Lahm - Mertesacker - Metzelder - Jansen

Ferreira - Carvalho - Pepe - Bosingwa

Boulahrouz - Ooijer - Mathijsen - van Bronckhorst

Player for player, I'd have to take Spain's defense out of the four. Puyol and Ramos are just too good.

 

[sateeh]

I'll agree with Holland. But their style of play with so much attacking on the flanks exposes them a hell of a lot.

But when Pepe is playing well, or Andrade, I would take the Portuguese CBs over Spain's anyday. But with the more recent exception of Bosingwa, who has been awesome the past couple of seasons, Portugal's wingbacks pretty much suck wind.

Germany has some great wingbacks, but I wouldn't consider their center-backs top class.

If I were a coach and had to choose, I would go with probably all three teams' backlines before Spain's though -- goalie kept out of it.

i agree Portugal for me as well. The CBs are much better than any team i saw play. The only issue with them is the left back position.

Holland are pretty balanced imo, even though they don't have the best backline their wingers still defended pretty well along with Engelaar and De Jong. Van Basten basically recognises that the team is weak in the back, so you will always see Kuyt for example going back as far as the wing back position to defend.

Italy certainly have problems in the structure. The central midfielders get drawn out too much and they have no cover for an already weak defense. I think its irrelevant who plays in the back atm as they need De Rossi their sitting infront of of the backline to give if more protection and flow from the back.

 

[X Æ A-12]

-----------------------Buffon------------------
--Zambrotta----Panucci----Chiellini----Grosso--
-------De Rossi--------Pirlo---------Gattuso----
---------------------Cassano--------------------
--------------Toni-------------Del Piero----------


Thats my lineup against Romania.

Aquilani is a sub for Gattuso is were tied or down by the 60th minute.

I agree... except I think I would start Aquilani and leave Gattuso on the bench. I am really sad about Gattuso tho, he "was" such a great player. I am also not to sure about Panucci in the center. I don't trust him...

 

[francesco]

Sorry, I was trying to be sarcastic. I don't know anyone who doesn't rate him.

Marchena looks good because Puyol makes him look good. Same situation with Cannavaro making Matrix and Barzagli look good.

 

[rounder]

In the last game against Russia, Marchenna was better than Puyol. I don't think Matrix or Barzagli were ever better than Canna.

 

[Slow_Roll]

Imo Portugal - Germany > Spain although if Cannavaro would be fit I would rate Italy (with Chiellini) as atleast on par with Portugal and Germany. It's not so much about the individuals as I think someone like Germany works much better as a unit. These things are always based upon persons opinion and not so much on facts, Imo defence is Spains weak point although that depends alot on their midfield leaving too much space behind.

 

[Brixity]

Ramos - Puyol - Marchena - Capdevilla

Lahm - Mertesacker - Metzelder - Jansen

Ferreira - Carvalho - Pepe - Bosingwa

Boulahrouz - Ooijer - Mathijsen - van Bronckhorst

Player for player, I'd have to take Spain's defense out of the four. Puyol and Ramos are just too good.

I'd say Portugal has a better defence than Spain. Its a hard comaprison coz the right half of Spain's defence is good while the centre of Portugal is good. Carvalho is arguably as good as Puyol and Pepe is better than Marchena imo. And despite Ramos being a killer full back, I still think its better to have 2 very good CBs than 2 very good wing backs as I think a team has a greater chance of getting way with playing "above average" full backs...defensively at least. even if Paolo Fererra and Bosignwa attack poorly, there is enough midfield attacking amoury for their lack of marauding forward not to matter much

 

[Dominic]

Spain's big weakness is their defensive four. Ramos was good for Madrid this season, but he was the poorest of the four yesterday. The other three are just poor always, even Puyol.

 

[Alfio_87]

Puyol is very overated.

 

[Cuti]

Reports: Don to shuffle deck
Wednesday 11 June, 2008

There are reports in Italy that Roberto Donadoni is ready to ring the changes for Friday’s must-win Group C match against Romania.

The world champions are already under pressure after losing their opener 3-0 to Holland and know that nothing less than a win will do in their second game.

The Press have been quick to criticise Donadoni for his decision to leave out Roma star Daniele De Rossi and field Marco Materazzi in the place of Giorgio Chiellini against Holland.

And now it has been reported that the former Livorno man is set to insert Chiellini for Materazzi, who is suffering with a calf injury, and De Rossi in Gennaro Gattuso’s position.

Lyon stopper Fabio Grosso also made a good case for a start after coming on as a substitute in Berne and could have earned Don’s trust.

It has also been suggested that Alessandro Del Piero and Antonio Cassano could start with one alongside Luca Toni and the other as a trequartista in a 4-3-1-2 formation.

Yesterday the Azzurri squad went into the city of Vienna with their families, except for Cassano, who chose to sleep instead.

 

[Alfio_87]

Schuffle all you want we are going to play a formation the team has never played together with and we expect it all to click. Good Luck Done and Dusted.

 

[Slow_Roll]

Well it might not be a good idea to change everything but when you're failing to deliver you have to make changes.