[WC] Italia vs USA [17-06-2006] (8 Viewers)
- Thread starter Elvin
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Zambrotta only change for Azzurri Saturday 17 June, 2006
Gianluca Zambrotta coming in for Fabio Grosso was the only change for Italy in the final training session ahead of tonight’s USA encounter.
Coach Marcello Lippi refused to name his line-up, but confirmed that Juventus full-back Zambrotta and Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso had recovered from thigh strains and are ready for action. As he is a very versatile defender, it wasn’t entirely clear which of the two Palermo players – Fabio Grosso on the left or Cristian Zaccardo on the right – would make way for Zambrotta.
The final training session in Homburg this afternoon appeared to confirm that Grosso will be the one to step aside after Lippi criticised him for not pushing forward enough in the 2-0 win against Ghana. The team practiced set-pieces, including corner kicks, and some different tactical systems.
Zambrotta is expected to be the only change from the side that took on the Africans, so Simone Perrotta, Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi remain in midfield. Despite experimenting with Pippo Inzaghi upfront yesterday, Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino start upfront supported by Francesco Totti.
USA boss Bruce Arena has hinted at changes following the disappointing 3-0 defeat to the Czech Republic. Striker Eddie Johnson is expected to start with DaMarcus Beasley dropping to the bench after he was criticised by the Coach. Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Lewis also risk the axe.
FIFA also announced that there will be a minute’s silence ahead of the match between Italy and USA in honour of Fritz Walter, the captain of the World Cup winning 1954 German side and for years a hero to local side Kaiserslautern. The stadium the Azzurri will be playing in is named after Walter and he died at the age of 81 on June 17, 2002.
This will be the ninth meeting between Italy and America in all competitions, with six Azzurri victories and two draws – both of which were on US soil with a 0-0 on May 30, 1984 in New York and a 1-1 result on June 6, 1992 in Chicago. In this time, the peninsula side has scored 28 goals and conceded just two.
The 7-1 thrashing handed out in the 1934 World Cup remains to this day Italy’s biggest ever win in this tournament and the heaviest US defeat. They also crossed paths in Italia ’90, the hosts emerging 1-0 victors thanks to Giuseppe Giannini’s goal after Gianluca Vialli had missed a penalty. Their most recent meeting was a 1-0 friendly result sealed by Alessandro Del Piero in 2002.
A positive scoreline would take Coach Lippi to 20 games unbeaten on the Nazionale bench – their longest streak since 1939. The former Juventus boss last tasted defeat in the 1-0 qualifier in Slovenia on October 9, 2004.
Italy (probable): Buffon; Zaccardo, Nesta, Cannavaro, Zambrotta; Perrotta, Pirlo, De Rossi; Totti; Gilardino, Toni
USA (probable): Keller; Cherundolo, Pope, Onyewu, Lewis, Reyna, O’Brien, Beasley, Convey, Donovan, McBride
Ref: Larrionda (Uru)
Gianluca Zambrotta coming in for Fabio Grosso was the only change for Italy in the final training session ahead of tonight’s USA encounter.
Coach Marcello Lippi refused to name his line-up, but confirmed that Juventus full-back Zambrotta and Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso had recovered from thigh strains and are ready for action. As he is a very versatile defender, it wasn’t entirely clear which of the two Palermo players – Fabio Grosso on the left or Cristian Zaccardo on the right – would make way for Zambrotta.
The final training session in Homburg this afternoon appeared to confirm that Grosso will be the one to step aside after Lippi criticised him for not pushing forward enough in the 2-0 win against Ghana. The team practiced set-pieces, including corner kicks, and some different tactical systems.
Zambrotta is expected to be the only change from the side that took on the Africans, so Simone Perrotta, Andrea Pirlo and Daniele De Rossi remain in midfield. Despite experimenting with Pippo Inzaghi upfront yesterday, Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino start upfront supported by Francesco Totti.
USA boss Bruce Arena has hinted at changes following the disappointing 3-0 defeat to the Czech Republic. Striker Eddie Johnson is expected to start with DaMarcus Beasley dropping to the bench after he was criticised by the Coach. Pablo Mastroeni and Eddie Lewis also risk the axe.
FIFA also announced that there will be a minute’s silence ahead of the match between Italy and USA in honour of Fritz Walter, the captain of the World Cup winning 1954 German side and for years a hero to local side Kaiserslautern. The stadium the Azzurri will be playing in is named after Walter and he died at the age of 81 on June 17, 2002.
This will be the ninth meeting between Italy and America in all competitions, with six Azzurri victories and two draws – both of which were on US soil with a 0-0 on May 30, 1984 in New York and a 1-1 result on June 6, 1992 in Chicago. In this time, the peninsula side has scored 28 goals and conceded just two.
The 7-1 thrashing handed out in the 1934 World Cup remains to this day Italy’s biggest ever win in this tournament and the heaviest US defeat. They also crossed paths in Italia ’90, the hosts emerging 1-0 victors thanks to Giuseppe Giannini’s goal after Gianluca Vialli had missed a penalty. Their most recent meeting was a 1-0 friendly result sealed by Alessandro Del Piero in 2002.
A positive scoreline would take Coach Lippi to 20 games unbeaten on the Nazionale bench – their longest streak since 1939. The former Juventus boss last tasted defeat in the 1-0 qualifier in Slovenia on October 9, 2004.
Italy (probable): Buffon; Zaccardo, Nesta, Cannavaro, Zambrotta; Perrotta, Pirlo, De Rossi; Totti; Gilardino, Toni
USA (probable): Keller; Cherundolo, Pope, Onyewu, Lewis, Reyna, O’Brien, Beasley, Convey, Donovan, McBride
Ref: Larrionda (Uru)
Black Mamba said:
Lol no Juve lost to Liverpool and Arsenal because they plain sucked
And well theres the Capello factor but thats besides the point...
But youre right. Italy underestimated S korea in 2002 and we all saw what happened (even though I still think that match was fixed)
And well theres the Capello factor but thats besides the point...But youre right. Italy underestimated S korea in 2002 and we all saw what happened (even though I still think that match was fixed)
your talking about france magic ended, but what has italy done in recent years after 2000 euro final :confused2
secondly, before arg big win against serb, they were not tital pretenders, say what you want, that they have good players and etc, but things what have happened in previous tournaments, have made them vanish. yes we know messi and riquelme and etc as players, but as a team, argentina didnt do well before so many didnt hope much from them. they said even themselves that reaching quarters is a good result in this wc.
germany is big because they play at home, just look what happened when they played against azzurri away. and even now, they had problems with poland and let in 2 goals against costa rica, bad defending!
secondly, before arg big win against serb, they were not tital pretenders, say what you want, that they have good players and etc, but things what have happened in previous tournaments, have made them vanish. yes we know messi and riquelme and etc as players, but as a team, argentina didnt do well before so many didnt hope much from them. they said even themselves that reaching quarters is a good result in this wc.
germany is big because they play at home, just look what happened when they played against azzurri away. and even now, they had problems with poland and let in 2 goals against costa rica, bad defending!
setting a record of undefeated matches. and in a convincing way
well, I say them as favourites anyway. They might choke later in this tournament, I'm not Nostradamus.
true
Their defence was beautiful against Poland in a though match. I guess they'll grow in the tournament.
anyway, the game has started
well, I say them as favourites anyway. They might choke later in this tournament, I'm not Nostradamus.
true
Their defence was beautiful against Poland in a though match. I guess they'll grow in the tournament.
anyway, the game has started