Official Azzurri (Italy) Euro 2008 Thread (33 Viewers)
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The league in my country is like serie C at best so most people here in Ireland follow the premier league because of the amount of coverage it gets here but when i started getting into football the Italian league was very popular as well and was getting a lot of coverage too because of a football programme called football Italia that was broadcast in the UK that i used to watch all the time. This as well as watching Juve play in the CL is how i came to support them.
I am following Italy at the moment because of the amount of Juve players playing for them and because i love the Italian game. If Ireland were at the Euros i would be following them but there not.
I am following Italy at the moment because of the amount of Juve players playing for them and because i love the Italian game. If Ireland were at the Euros i would be following them but there not.
Euro 2008 Preview: Italy - Romania
What: European Championships, Group C
Who: Italy (4th, 0pts) vs Romania (3rd, 1pt)
When: Friday 13 June 2008, 17:00 CET
Where: Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich
»Comments (11) Print This Story Send To A Friend Contact Us galleria zoom Do-Or-Die For Italy
Italy come into this match knowing that they simply have to win if they are to keep qualification for the knockout stages in their own hands.
The Azzurri were torn apart in their opening group match on Monday, losing 3-0 to Holland in Berne, with Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Wesley Sneijder and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst grabbing the goals.
Roberto Donadoni has since been crucified by the Italian press over his mind-boggling team selection after he chose the out-of-form Marco Materazzi in defence, left the in-form Fabio Grosso on the bench, and preferred Massimo Ambrosini to Daniele De Rossi in midfield.
Donadoni will surely make wholesale changes for the match against Romania, and there has been a press campaign for both Alessandro Del Piero and Antonio Cassano to start after they impressed as late second half substitutes against Holland.
It is not all doom-and-gloom for Italy, and a win here will put them back into the running for qualification. A defeat will see them eliminated, while a draw will leave them requiring both of the results to go their way in the final games of the group, when the Azzurri take on France.
Romania Out To Surprise Again
When the Group C draw was made, Romania were almost immediately discarded as the also-rans, with Italy, France and Holland expected to fight it out for the two qualification places.
However Victor Piţurcă’s men proved in their first match of the group against France that they are no pushovers, as they produced a superb tactical performance to draw 0-0, limiting Les Bleus to few chances the entire game.
While Romania rarely threatened themselves, they did prove that defensively they are a solid and organised unit, and they will surely set themselves up in a similar way against an Italy side who know that they simply have to win.
If the Tricolorii were to obtain a point in this match, it would mean that a victory in their final game of the group against Holland would be enough to qualify. For this reason a cautious approach at the Letzigrund Stadium is a virtual certainty.
It will be a special game for Christian Chivu, Paul Codrea and Adrian Mutu, who all play their club football in Italy, for Inter, Siena and Fiorentina respectively.
These two teams met in the quarter-finals of Euro 2000, with Francesco Totti and Pippo Inzaghi scoring in a 2-0 Azzurri win. The legendary Gheorghe Hagi hit the post for Romania, caused a serious injury for Antonio Conte, and was later sent off in an eventful game.
FORM GUIDE
Italy
09/06 (Euro 2008): Holland-Italy 3-0
29/05 (Friendly): Italy-Belgium 3-1
26/03 (Friendly): Spain-Italy 1-0
06/02 (Friendly played in Zurich): Italy-Portugal 3-1
21/11 (Euro 2008 Qualifier): Italy-Faroe Islands 3-1
Romania
09/06 (Euro 2008): Romania-France 0-0
31/05 (Friendly): Romania-Montenegro 4-0
26/03 (Friendly): Romania-Russia 3-0
06/02 (Friendly): Israel-Romania 1-0
21/11 (Euro 2008 Qualifier) Romania-Albania 6-1
TEAM NEWS
Italy
Roberto Donadoni will surely ring the changes for this game. Marco Materazzi and Andrea Barzagli are both set to be dropped, with Giorgio Chiellini and Fabio Grosso coming in to form a defensive reshuffle. Daniele De Rossi will certainly start in midfield, as will new captain Alex Del Piero up-front. Antonio Cassano is still only likely to be on the substitutes bench.
Probable XI: Buffon; Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso; De Rossi, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Camoranesi, Toni, Del Piero
Romania
Romania will play the same disciplined system they employed successfully against France. Ciprian Marica will recover from a head injury but will probably be on the bench, with Daniel Niculae preferred. Christian Chivu will again play in centre midfield following his outstanding performance on Monday. Nicolae Dica may get the nod on the left of midfield after impressing in training this week.
Probable XI: Lobont; Contra, Tamas, Goian, Rat; Nicolita, Codrea, Chivu, Dica; D Niculae, Mutu
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Italy – Alessandro Del Piero: Restored to the Italy line-up after impressing as a substitute against the Dutch, for the first time possibly in his international career, the Italian nation is actually relying on the Golden Boy to dig them out of a hole. The 33-year-old has just had his best season in a decade, finishing top-scorer in Serie A, and will surely be high in confidence.
Romania – Christian Chivu: The Inter man was an absolute colossus against France. He was authoritative and oozed class in an unfamiliar centre midfield position. Having played in Serie A for a number of years now, he will know his opponents well, and if he can take charge in the middle-of-the-park like the Dutch did, then Romania may fancy their chances of another upset. Chivu will be up against old Roma colleague Daniele De Rossi.
PREDICTION
The pattern that this match will follow is very easy to predict. Italy simply have to win and will be on the front foot, while Romania will sit back and play for the draw as, if they get a point, they know that a win in their last group game against Holland will guarantee qualification. Italy to just pinch it, with Del Piero grabbing the winner.
Italy 1-0 Romania
What: European Championships, Group C
Who: Italy (4th, 0pts) vs Romania (3rd, 1pt)
When: Friday 13 June 2008, 17:00 CET
Where: Letzigrund Stadion, Zürich
»Comments (11) Print This Story Send To A Friend Contact Us galleria zoom Do-Or-Die For Italy
Italy come into this match knowing that they simply have to win if they are to keep qualification for the knockout stages in their own hands.
The Azzurri were torn apart in their opening group match on Monday, losing 3-0 to Holland in Berne, with Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Wesley Sneijder and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst grabbing the goals.
Roberto Donadoni has since been crucified by the Italian press over his mind-boggling team selection after he chose the out-of-form Marco Materazzi in defence, left the in-form Fabio Grosso on the bench, and preferred Massimo Ambrosini to Daniele De Rossi in midfield.
Donadoni will surely make wholesale changes for the match against Romania, and there has been a press campaign for both Alessandro Del Piero and Antonio Cassano to start after they impressed as late second half substitutes against Holland.
It is not all doom-and-gloom for Italy, and a win here will put them back into the running for qualification. A defeat will see them eliminated, while a draw will leave them requiring both of the results to go their way in the final games of the group, when the Azzurri take on France.
Romania Out To Surprise Again
When the Group C draw was made, Romania were almost immediately discarded as the also-rans, with Italy, France and Holland expected to fight it out for the two qualification places.
However Victor Piţurcă’s men proved in their first match of the group against France that they are no pushovers, as they produced a superb tactical performance to draw 0-0, limiting Les Bleus to few chances the entire game.
While Romania rarely threatened themselves, they did prove that defensively they are a solid and organised unit, and they will surely set themselves up in a similar way against an Italy side who know that they simply have to win.
If the Tricolorii were to obtain a point in this match, it would mean that a victory in their final game of the group against Holland would be enough to qualify. For this reason a cautious approach at the Letzigrund Stadium is a virtual certainty.
It will be a special game for Christian Chivu, Paul Codrea and Adrian Mutu, who all play their club football in Italy, for Inter, Siena and Fiorentina respectively.
These two teams met in the quarter-finals of Euro 2000, with Francesco Totti and Pippo Inzaghi scoring in a 2-0 Azzurri win. The legendary Gheorghe Hagi hit the post for Romania, caused a serious injury for Antonio Conte, and was later sent off in an eventful game.
FORM GUIDE
Italy
09/06 (Euro 2008): Holland-Italy 3-0
29/05 (Friendly): Italy-Belgium 3-1
26/03 (Friendly): Spain-Italy 1-0
06/02 (Friendly played in Zurich): Italy-Portugal 3-1
21/11 (Euro 2008 Qualifier): Italy-Faroe Islands 3-1
Romania
09/06 (Euro 2008): Romania-France 0-0
31/05 (Friendly): Romania-Montenegro 4-0
26/03 (Friendly): Romania-Russia 3-0
06/02 (Friendly): Israel-Romania 1-0
21/11 (Euro 2008 Qualifier) Romania-Albania 6-1
TEAM NEWS
Italy
Roberto Donadoni will surely ring the changes for this game. Marco Materazzi and Andrea Barzagli are both set to be dropped, with Giorgio Chiellini and Fabio Grosso coming in to form a defensive reshuffle. Daniele De Rossi will certainly start in midfield, as will new captain Alex Del Piero up-front. Antonio Cassano is still only likely to be on the substitutes bench.
Probable XI: Buffon; Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso; De Rossi, Pirlo, Ambrosini; Camoranesi, Toni, Del Piero
Romania
Romania will play the same disciplined system they employed successfully against France. Ciprian Marica will recover from a head injury but will probably be on the bench, with Daniel Niculae preferred. Christian Chivu will again play in centre midfield following his outstanding performance on Monday. Nicolae Dica may get the nod on the left of midfield after impressing in training this week.
Probable XI: Lobont; Contra, Tamas, Goian, Rat; Nicolita, Codrea, Chivu, Dica; D Niculae, Mutu
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Italy – Alessandro Del Piero: Restored to the Italy line-up after impressing as a substitute against the Dutch, for the first time possibly in his international career, the Italian nation is actually relying on the Golden Boy to dig them out of a hole. The 33-year-old has just had his best season in a decade, finishing top-scorer in Serie A, and will surely be high in confidence.
Romania – Christian Chivu: The Inter man was an absolute colossus against France. He was authoritative and oozed class in an unfamiliar centre midfield position. Having played in Serie A for a number of years now, he will know his opponents well, and if he can take charge in the middle-of-the-park like the Dutch did, then Romania may fancy their chances of another upset. Chivu will be up against old Roma colleague Daniele De Rossi.
PREDICTION
The pattern that this match will follow is very easy to predict. Italy simply have to win and will be on the front foot, while Romania will sit back and play for the draw as, if they get a point, they know that a win in their last group game against Holland will guarantee qualification. Italy to just pinch it, with Del Piero grabbing the winner.
Italy 1-0 Romania
Hey idiot, I was born in Turin and lived there until I was 16. My older brother was apart of Drughi until he got into a fight with the Milan fans, then was arrested, charged and quit the firm, and yes, he was one of the members who organized the stealing of the FDL flag and forced the demise of one of Italys most historic Milan firms.
So quit talking like your some kind of Italian philosopher or Juventus mastermind, because you clearly aren't.
I GUARANTEE you have never frozen your ass off in the Delle Alpi like I have. I GUARANTEE you have never taken a Inter flag like I have. I GUARANTEE you've never stepped foot into Italy, let alone know the capital of it.
So quit talking like your some kind of Italian philosopher or Juventus mastermind, because you clearly aren't.
I GUARANTEE you have never frozen your ass off in the Delle Alpi like I have. I GUARANTEE you have never taken a Inter flag like I have. I GUARANTEE you've never stepped foot into Italy, let alone know the capital of it.
So it's GUARANTEE time is it?
I GUARANTEE that doesn't make you any more of a Juve fan than someone who's never had the opportunity to freeze in Delle Alpi, steal Inter flags, step in Italy, or know Rome is the capital of Italy. You were given the simple luck to be born in Turin. That doesn't make you better or know more than the guys who had the unfortunate chance of being born somewhere else, yet would give their right hands and more to partake in the experiences you've had. So pipe down and quit being such an ignorant ass. You might enjoy yourself.
And one other thing, I GUARANTEE they would not sully the memory of such adventures by using it against or holding it over other Juventino on a friggin' internet forum.
I GUARANTEE that doesn't make you any more of a Juve fan than someone who's never had the opportunity to freeze in Delle Alpi, steal Inter flags, step in Italy, or know Rome is the capital of Italy. You were given the simple luck to be born in Turin. That doesn't make you better or know more than the guys who had the unfortunate chance of being born somewhere else, yet would give their right hands and more to partake in the experiences you've had. So pipe down and quit being such an ignorant ass. You might enjoy yourself.
And one other thing, I GUARANTEE they would not sully the memory of such adventures by using it against or holding it over other Juventino on a friggin' internet forum.
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