All Roma midfield??
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Calcio Debate: Should Donadoni Play An All-Roma Midfield?
With Andrea Pirlo and Rino Gattuso both suspended against Spain, Roberto Donadoni has some choices to make in midfield. Anthony Sormani asks who should take their place…Italy have huffed-and-puffed but they have somehow sneaked through into the quarter finals of Euro 2008, where they will be up against possibly the most technically gifted side in the whole tournament; Spain.
The Azzurri’s preparations for the match are not ideal, as they will be without the Milan-duo of Pirlo and Gattuso. The former will be a huge miss, as his playmaking ability would have been a big weapon against the rather flat-looking Spanish backline. As for Gattuso, I agree with those who say that his absence is a blessing in disguise. Although the terrier did reasonably well against France, Spain are just the kind of quicksilver opponent that he has tended to struggle against in the past 12 months.
So who will replace these two Milanisti?
Well there isn’t too much choice, as Donadoni only opted to bring seven midfielders to Austria and Switzerland, the three from Milan, also including Massimo Ambrosini, the Roma trio of De Rossi, Perrotta and Aquilani, and Juventus’ Mauro Camoranesi.
Now that it has been conceded that Don’s 4-3-3 formation was a complete failure, it has left the Azzurri with too many forwards, and too few midfielders. Nevertheless Italy must now work with what they have got. There are growing calls for Donadoni to play the Roma triumvirate, with Mauro Camoranesi supporting the front two of Antonio Cassano and Luca Toni.
I am in favour of this theory, and would rather that Massimo Ambrosini start as a substitute. De Rossi, Aquilani and Perrotta know each other’s game telepathically, and they have a wonderful alternating rotor where they regularly switch positions. This system was put to devastating effect when Roma knocked out Real Madrid in the Champions League last term, beating them home and away. De Rossi and Aquilani were the pick of the bunch during this tie. While Spain have no midfielders from the Real line-up, the Roma trio will certainly draw inspiration from that knockout tie.
While Ambrosini offers a little more defensive protection and experience, Aquilani provides more dynamism, which may be needed against the Spanish, whose quick movements could embarrass Italy just like the Dutch did. Furthermore one can more than rely on De Rossi to guard the Italian defence. His performance against the French was possibly the best individual display in the entire third round of group matches. Playing Ambrosini could be a sign of fear from Donadoni.
Anthony Sormani
from : Goal.com