The Official Italy WC Thread (14 Viewers)

[Byrone]

FFS i loved the kappa range,those were mos def my favourite Juve jerseys.

 

Buy on AliExpress.com

[Stephan]

ah, who cares about the jersey, as long as the boys will play well.

 

[delpi25]

great team on paper lets perform for once but! expect to c some totti brilliance

 

[Il Re]

FFS i loved the kappa range,those were mos def my favourite Juve jerseys.

kappa jerseys were the best!!!

 

[Morra10]

-----------------buffon-------------------
--oddo---nesta---canna---zambo---
--cam-----pirlo/gattuso---de rossi-
----------------TOTTI--------------------
--------Luca------------Del Piero------


If lippi doesn't play Oddo. I would play Barzagli or Zaccardo and switch zambo to the right

 

[china man]

thank god no vieri

 

[Zé Tahir]

Playmaker Francesco Totti has been named in Italy's 23-man World Cup squad after returning from a three-month injury layoff last week.

The Roma forward broke his left leg and strained ankle ligaments during a Serie A match on 19 February and had surgery.

Gianluigi Buffon was also included, despite allegations that the Juventus goalkeeper bet on matches.

Filippo Inzaghi and Vincenzo Iaquinta gained the final two forward spots, but Cristiano Lucarelli was not included.

If further developments prevent Buffon from playing, Italy would only be able to replace him by citing an injury up to 24 hours before the Azzurri's opening game against Ghana on 12 June.

"He's a great person. I don't believe he did anything, but even if he did make an error, I would stand by him," Totti said.

Angelo Peruzzi and Marco Amelia were chosen as Italy's reserve goalkeepers.

Italy begin training in Florence next Monday, then will face Switzerland and Ukraine in friendlies on 31 May and 2 June.

At the World Cup, Italy's other Group E matches are against the United States on 17 June and the Czech Republic on 22 June.

Italy squad:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Angelo Peruzzi (Lazio), Marco Amelia (Livorno)

Defenders: Massimo Oddo (Lazio), Cristian Zaccardo (Palermo), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan), Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (Juventus), Fabio Grosso (Palermo)

Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Simone Barone (Palermo), Francesco Totti (Roma)

Forwards: Luca Toni (Fiorentina), Alberto Gilardino (AC Milan), Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Udinese)

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/italy/4774441.stm

Published: 2006/05/15 17:31:00 GMT

 

[baggio]

First thoughts on the team: I cant say there were any surprises in there, save Amelia. Even Iaquinta getting the nod ahead of Lucarelli didnt match that. Of course, when it's the third goalkeeper spot we're debating it isnt really a huge issue - Lippi probably thought he'd blend experience with youth. And that is exactly what he's done. Buffon, Peruzzi and Amelia are all at different phases of their careers that means they each have something different to contribute. About Iaquinta, I think it made sense to go with somebody with his sort of physical presence in the box - it was to a great extent a compromise Lippi made since he couldnt have Vieri at his disposal and personally, I dont think it's a bad call. Even at the expense of Lucarelli. For all effective purposes, the the attacking slots are going to be shared between Toni, Gilardino and Del Piero. Totti is a given if he is fit, so it's the front two that are going to be rotated, to be more specific, Toni will be a permanent fixture, while Del Piero and Gilardino would be contenders to play alongside him. Inzaghi would then be next in line - the sort of sub who'd come in at the 75th - 80th minute, looking to kill the game or perhaps save it with his instincts. The midfield is by and large a defensive one, that will look to strengthen the defensive capabilities of the squad given the attacking formation of the team. Pirlo would be essential, even though he's terribly out of form. I think Camoranesi is an equally important element of this squad since his versatility will serve us well. Barone, Perotta, Gattuso, De Rossi and co. have more functional roles but they're no less important. The defense again, is top drawer. I continue to think Nesta is a tad overrated given his recent performances, but I expect us to be pretty frugal with Canna running the back four. Zambrotta will be clinical as ever, while Oddo on the right is a good addition. Barzagli, Grosso and Zaccardo are the future of the Italian defense and it's only right they are on the plane to Germany, for the experience if nothing else. All in all, I think Lippi is playing to his plans. And the squad he's chosen is a balanced one, given his formation. Yes, I do miss Cassano for his temperament and maybe Marchionni for the speed on the flanks, but all in all it's a pretty well balanced side. On closer inspection, I think De Rossi, Toni, Del Piero and Camoranesi are the players to watch out for. Hopefully, all the way till the 9th of July.

 

[GRK]

Great squad. Forza Italia!

 

[Maher]

Great squad

 

[Matteo..]

I hear everyone talking about those six strikers and mentioning there are nearly no offensive midfielders. But guess what, both Totti and Del Piero can play there.

 

[Stu]

I'm quite surprised that Iaquinta got the nod ahead of Lucarelli in a season he scored 6 of his 9 goals from the penalty spot ( Though he was injured for a long time) - but I guess Lippi trusts him coz of his age and the fact that he played in qualification so I can only hope he performs

I am also surprised that Marchionni didnt get into the team, coz that means, as somebody mentioned, all our midfielders except Camo arent renound for attcking, so we definately cant expect an attcking midfield substitution occuring when things get desperate. But I guess this evens out with the fact that Lippi will play a 4-3-3.

I think Marchionni didnt get the place coz lippi chose an extra defender compared 2 the expected #

Marchionni isn't needed and Italy don't need another attacking midfielder. Lippi will play a 4-3-3/4-3-1-2 with Totti supporting the front two. A midfield trio of Camo, Pirlo and De Rossi or Gatto, Pirlo and De Rossi will give us good balance. Plus, all of the full backs in the squad (bar Zaccardo) are attack-minded.

 

[Dominic]

Marchionni as cover for Camoranesi amongst others, would've been very usefull. More usefull than Iaquinta, who's backup for a place that's already covered by 4 players.

 

[sateeh]

iaquinta is just useless and cap should've thought of getting a small forward, who could bet a better choice than vincenzo.

formation i think lippi would start with :

-------------------------gigi---------------------------------------

----grosso------------nesta-----------canna---------------zambro-------

-------------camo-------------pirlo---------------gattuso-------------

-------------------toti------------------------------------------

---------toni--------------gila----------------------------

goodluck to italy

 

[JCK]

Is it me or Vieri's absence would do this team good?

 

[Byrone]

Is it me or Vieri's absence would do this team good?

Your not the only one Jack,but just watch out for Vinni he'll rip u to pieces for that comment.he's pro Vieri.

 

[JCK]

I know he is, but I know that Vieri is worthless. He is Juve material in Serie B.

 

[Loppan]

I'm very optimistic about this team and I think it will go far in the WC.

 

[Azzurri7]

I just made a bet with my sister for 100$ who'll go further, I say Italy, she says Brazil.

 

[JCK]

I just made a bet with my sister for 100$ who'll go further, I say Italy, she says Brazil.

Who wins the bet if they both leave at the same stage?