Leonardo Bonucci admits he was surprised to be left out of the Italy squad, though is focusing on winning the Scudetto with Juventus.

“There was a little bitterness at not being called any more, but I still feel that I am part of the Azzurri project, seeing as I played in almost all the games,” the defender told Sky Sport Italia.

He was dropped for the friendlies against Poland and Uruguay in favour of his friend, Torino starlet Angelo Ogbonna.

“In football you can never take anything for granted. When Antonio Conte didn’t tend to use me at Juve, Cesare Prandelli would still call me up for Italy. Now the situation has been turned around completely.

“I know Angelo and we do hang out together in Turin. He is a lovely lad and deserves all the attention he is receiving at the moment.”

Juventus were top of the Serie A table until their match with Napoli was postponed due to flooding, so they are two points behind Udinese and Lazio, with a game in hand.

“We can aim for the very top. Scudetto? Yes, but we must also keep our feet on the ground. This is a hard-fought tournament in which we can have our say, but it will be very, very difficult because there are many teams crammed into a few points.”

Bonucci, you have been benched way to many times for Italy. Ogbonna hasn't in Serie B and has been fantastic. It will be a tough battle, but I would go with Bonucci as he does have more experience as he does play for Juventus, having proven his defensive abilites in Bari, his value and being with Italy back in World Cup of 2010.

However, Ogbonna is a great defender... so who ever goes. To be honest, I wouldn't mind at all.

What I see is.

1) Chiellini
2) Ranocchia
3) Barzagli
4) Bonucci
If there is an injury... Ogbonna comes in.

Leonardo should not get too flustered; it was only a friendly after all.

Looking ahead, Barzagli will not be able to play at this high of a level come 2014, where he will be 33-34, so Bonucci still has that to look forward to, and Prandelli has not finalized anything yet...except Chiellini.

There is a ton of competition, but rather have that than see Bonucci start unconditionally.

Nothing to worry about really... just testing out other options. Ogbanna is lookin pretty promising tho

Camurrìa.Sto.Stronzo wrote:Bonucci, you have been benched way to many times for Italy. Ogbonna hasn't in Serie B and has been fantastic. It will be a tough battle, but I would go with Bonucci as he does have more experience as he does play for Juventus, having proven his defensive abilites in Bari, his value and being with Italy back in World Cup of 2010.

However, Ogbonna is a great defender... so who ever goes. To be honest, I wouldn't mind at all.

What I see is.

1) Chiellini
2) Ranocchia
3) Barzagli
4) Bonucci
If there is an injury... Ogbonna comes in.

That is nice CB depth for sure

Bah, I would put someone like Astori as the last option, but we all know he won't end up to the final cut.

Ogbonna is still young. Barzagli is playing great right now so I think he is a lock for Euro 2012. I think at the end of the day Bonucci will be called and Ogbonna will be the odd man out this time. But our future and for the 2014 WC, Ogbonna, Ranocchia, Chiellini and Bonucci will be a formidable CB unit.

juve_gigi wrote:Ogbonna is still young. Barzagli is playing great right now so I think he is a lock for Euro 2012. I think at the end of the day Bonucci will be called and Ogbonna will be the odd man out this time. But our future and for the 2014 WC, Ogbonna, Ranocchia, Chiellini and Bonucci will be a formidable CB unit.

By the next two years, we might find new CB's though. They come and they go. But I agree.

Pino Skype

Bonucci > Ranocchia.

Although Ranocchia has more potential to be the better player which is why I reckon he starts. However this season and last he has been nothing but a mess

Bonucci should play instead of Ranocchia

Oh my God. No one honestly thinks Bonucci is better. He's better at corners, but he's not at ranocchias level in anything else.

What do you guys think Italy's strongest defense is right now?

Criscito-Chiellini-Barzagli-Maggio
Criscito-Chiellini-Ranocchia-Maggio
Chiellini-Barzagli-Ranocchia-Maggio

???

pasquale22 wrote:Bonucci > Ranocchia.

Although Ranocchia has more potential to be the better player which is why I reckon he starts. However this season and last he has been nothing but a mess

Ranocchia > Bonucci

In 5 years, this will ring more true...

a line back without someone who is good in the air its a trash;

there should be someone who is a monster in the air to take BONNUCI place if the plan is to drop him no matter if NATIONAL TEAM or JUVENTUS