The Enigmatic Azzuris
Can the Azzuris win the World Cup after 24 long years?
Can they overcome the match-fixing scandal that's rocking Italian football?
Can goalkeeper Buffon who is accused of betting on matches, keep his concentration and his place in the squad?
Can manager Marcello Lippi abandon the traditionally defensive tactics and make the team more attack-minded?
Can Luca Toni provide Italy the goals that he has been consistently doing for Fiorentina (31 goals in the Italian league....incredible!) this season?
Can Totti overcome years of under-achieving with the national squad, inspire them to ultimate glory this summer?
Expected Starting Lineup...
Buffon
Zaccardo Cannavaro Nesta Zambrotta
Camoranesi Pirlo Rossi Totti
Toni Gilardino
Zaccardo Cannavaro Nesta Zambrotta
Camoranesi Pirlo Rossi Totti
Toni Gilardino
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Angelo Peruzzi (Lazio), Marco Amelia (Livorno)
Defenders: Cristian Zaccardo (Palermo), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (Juventus), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan), Fabio Grosso (Palermo), Massimo Oddo (Lazio), Andrea Barzagli (Palermo).
Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Simone Barone (Palermo).
Forwards: Luca Toni (Fiorentina), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Francesco Totti (AS Roma), Alberto Gilardino (AC Milan), Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Udinese).
Reserves: Morgan De Sanctis, goalkeeper (Udinese), Daniele Bonera, defender, (Parma), Franco Semioli (Chievo Verona), Marco Marchionni (Parma).
posted by Lucas @ 10:11 PM
9 Comments:
They alwazs flatter to deceive.But n the last edition, they were robbed off victory.
yeah...last time, the refs were outright biased against teams playing the home nation.
this time the italians have prepared very well but the match-fixing scandal can ruin all the good work...!
Also i think they are slightly weak in midfield. Iaquinta is an extra striker.
I think u r right....although Totti is likely to be just behind the 2 main strikers...in that sense, he will be part of the midfield. Either Totti or Del Piero is likely to be used as playmaker alongside Pirlo. I know Perrotta has been in awesome form for Roma but can he get a start??
I have now included what would seem Lippi's starting XI.
I really want to see how Toni fare among the big boys. No matter how well they do, it's still a great experience for him.
And I really agree that the midfield is weak. What I can say is: how well Italy fare in the World Cup depends on the work rate of the midfielders... and a bit of luck - NO INJURIES, that is.
I tip Gattuso to perform at his peak come June.
I've still not seen the best of Gilardino, atleast for Milan. Too bad, Superpippo had been sidelined for so long b'coz of injuries and that bulldozer Vieri. But he's a real predator. He can come off the bench and create some flutter in the opposition box. Del Piero will also mostly come on as a substitute. His starting will be made possible only if Totti injures himself or spits at opponent players.
Hopefully, Totti shd keep his cool this time!
@Soccerguy
I think Toni will play a big part this time if the midfield gives him the proper service. I think Rossi has been in better form this season than Gattuso and there is a chance that Lippi might opt for him. But Pirlo and Gattuso, having played for AC together, have better understanding.
Personally, Gilardino is not worth whatever Milan payed to Parma(?).
He is really over-hyped.I ll go with Inzaghi if i were Lippi.
I still dont know how Gilardino missed those 2 chances gainst BArca?
But then so did Henry...
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