Re: Italian National Team Thread

[Guest]

Italy tested out a new trident attack of Antonio Cassano, Mario Balotelli and Sebastian Giovinco in training.

Cesare Prandelli is trying out different options in the lead-up to Euro 2012 and will have to reduce his 32-man squad to 23 by May 29.

In a game between ranks he tested two opposing tridents, as one team lined up with Cassano on the right, Balotelli as centre-forward and Giovinco on the left.

The other team had Mattia Destro, Antonio Di Natale and Fabio Borini together.

It was also notable as the first game played by Riccardo Montolivo, who is on the road to recovery from a thigh strain.

The players from Napoli, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain have now joined the training camp, but did not take part in that session.

[zarola]

I love every single one of our attackers, I couldn't be anymore ecstatic.

[McLewis]

Criscito gone from the squad.

Who shall replace him? Money's on Balzaretti getting the call though Santon would be a more interesting option.

[Mr Nick09]

Current squad list reduced to 25 men

Gardiens : Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris SG/FRA), Morgan De Sanctis (Naples)

Défenseurs : Cristian Maggio (Naples), Ignazio Abate (AC Milan), Federico Balzaretti (Palerme), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Andrea Ranocchia (Inter Milan), Angelo Ogbonna (Torino).

Milieux : Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Rome), Thiago Motta (Paris SG/FRA), Antonio Nocerino (AC Milan), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina/transféré à l'AC Milan), Alessandro Diamanti (Bologne).

Attaquants : Antonio Cassano (AC Milan), Mario Balotelli (Manchester City/ANG), Sebastian Giovinco (Parme), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Mattia Destro (Sienne), Fabio Borini (AS Rome)

Two more men to cut, Ranocchia and...Destro?

[Patrick Bateman]

I hope Borini stays,the lad has being excellent this season for us,always gives 110% on the field,good honest player.I'll be happy for the lad.

[Great Leader Sprucenuce]

Is it possible another LB is called up to replace Criscito?

Either PDC or Santon should have gone regardless anyway IMO.

[Adit]

Ranochia (who i dont rate better than Albilol ) is the only player from Inter Milan

[TonyDaBeast]

diamanti and giaccherini to be cut

[juventus101]

I hope Giaccherini isnt cut. Even though i think Pepe deserves it more, Giacch still deserves it. My question is, 4312 or 352?

--Buffon--
--Maggio-- --Barzagli-- --Chiellini-- --Balzaretti--
--De Rossi-- --Pirlo-- --Marchisio--
--Giovinco--
--Di Natale-- --Balotelli--

Or

--Buffon--
--Barzagli-- --Bonucci-- --Chiellini--
--Maggio-- --De Rossi-- --Pirlo-- --Marchisio-- --Giaccherini--
--Cassano-- --Balotelli--

[Milantildeath]

I firmly believe in this squad
----------------------------Buffuon
Maggio-------- Barzagli------- Ogbonna------- Chiellinii

-----------------------------Pirlo
-------------------De Rossi-----Marchisio

-----------------------------Diamanti
------------------------Balo-------Cassano

[Forza]

25 Man Squad atm

CUT: Astori, Viviano, Bocchetti, Criscito, Cigarini, Schelotto, Verratti

Goalkeepers:
Gianluigi Buffon - Juventus
Morgan De Sanctis - Napoli
Salvatore Sirigu - Paris Saint-Germain

Defenders:
Ignazio Abate AC Milan
Federico Balzaretti - Palermo
Andrea Barzagli - Juventus
Leonardo Bonucci - Juventus
Giorgio Chiellini - Juventus
Christian Maggio - Napoli
Angelo Ogbonna - Torino
Andrea Ranocchia - Inter

Midfielders:
Daniele De Rossi - Roma
Alessandro Diamanti - Bologna
Emanuele Giaccherini - Juventus
Claudio Marchisio - Juventus
Riccardo Montolivo - AC Milan
Thiago Motta - Paris Saint-Germain
Antonio Nocerino - AC Milan
Andrea Pirlo - Juventus

Attackers:
Mario Balotelli - Manchester City
Fabio Borini - Roma
Antonio Cassano - AC Milan
Mattia Destro - Siena
Antonio Di Natale - Udinese
Sebastian Giovinco - Parma

~~~

Players per club:

Juventus - 7
Milan - 4
Napoli - 2
Roma - 2
PSG - 2
Palermo - 1
Torino - 1
Bologna - 1
Parma - 1
Inter - 1
Man City - 1
Udinese - 1
Siena - 1

[zarola]

Personally I would play Ogbonna at LB and Chiellini in the middle
screw Balzaretti
please cut Diamanti I will spaz if I see him on the final squad. and Giaccherini too, he's garbage.

[ErPupone]

Personally I would play Ogbonna at LB and Chiellini in the middle
screw Balzaretti
please cut Diamanti I will spaz if I see him on the final squad. and Giaccherini too, he's garbage.

Agreed, which is why I had Ogbonna down as Criscito's backup.

[Forza]

Ranochia (who i dont rate better than Albilol ) is the only player from Inter Milan

he wont get any game-time either... ogbonna, chiellini, barzagli and bonucci are all better than him, so he's the 5th choice CB.

diamanti and giaccherini to be cut

Agreed.

Personally I would play Ogbonna at LB and Chiellini in the middle
screw Balzaretti
please cut Diamanti I will spaz if I see him on the final squad. and Giaccherini too, he's garbage.

I agree with this too, Balza doesn't deserve a starting spot really. Maggio + 3 CBs will be better in defence.

Buffon
Maggio - Barzagli - Chiellini - Ogbonna
Pirlo
De Rossi - - - - March/Noce
Montolivo
Cassano - - - - Balotelli

[ErPupone]

Buffon
Maggio - Barzagli - Chiellini - Ogbonna
Pirlo
De Rossi - - - - March/Noce
Montolivo
Cassano - - - - Balotelli

That's the best possible 11 we could field imo.

[McLewis]

Destro and Rannochia make up the final cuts to the squad.

Italy now have their 23.

Awesome to see that Borini is among them

[Great Leader Sprucenuce]

Prandelli cocked up not taking PDC or Santon IMO but whats done is done....

I agree with FR's line up with one change..... Giovinco for Montolivo.

[Luca]

Buffon
Maggio - Barzagli - Chiellini - Ogbonna
Pirlo
De Rossi - - - - March/Noce
Montolivo
Cassano - - - - Balotelli

That's the best possible 11 we could field imo.

You think Montolivo as the TQR is the best Italy could do?

[McLewis]

I think Montolivo will be the most realistic option. The one Prandelli will most likely go with. I think we'd all like to see Giovinco start over him though, but it's highly unlikely even though he's been in far better form.

[M99]

Gigi

Bonnuci-Barzagli-Chiellini

Maggio-De Rossi-Pirlo-Nocerino-Giaccherini

Cassano-Di Natale/Balotelli

[Tomwin Lannister]

Di Natale has to be in the starting XI. The best striker Italy currently has.

Montolivo is the TQ role is sad but realistic. I'm looking forward to the last friendly game against Russia (I think) on the 1st of June. I want to see what Prandelli has in mind.

[Luca]

I think Montolivo will be the most realistic option. The one Prandelli will most likely go with. I think we'd all like to see Giovinco start over him though, but it's highly unlikely even though he's been in far better form.

Giovinco could function but it isn't his best position in my opinion.
Hearing that Prandelli was trying an attacking trident of Giovinco-Balotelli-Cassano was really attractive to me.

I honestly think that Italy isn't well suited to Prandelli's preferred 4-3-1-2, better off going with a 4-3-3 or some sort of variation.

The 3-5-2 is another viable option only because of Juventus' core having great chemistry, holding down that formation but not having Criscito might be seen as a limitation now.

[zarola]

I swear to *bleep* god if I see that pony-tailed *censored* starting our matches ZSKDJAKSJDASKD

this could've been a fantastic team.


Now I see Bonucci , Abate, Diamanti, Giaccherini, Balzaretti and I shiver. Hopefully they will never see a second of playtime.

IF we're going to introduce randoms to our team why not introduce ones that are at least young or have done *bleep* something all year. The fact that Giaccherini gets the go ahead of Simone Pepe is absolutely *bleep* disgraceful, not that I would die for Pepe to be in our team, ( I wouldn't mind him) , but REALLY.... what has Giaccherini done ? and look at what Pepe's done, numerous of times he's put juve on his *bleep* back, that trophy is all his, giaccherini did nothing for it.

Who is this Diamanti shit? 29 years old, never got a call up... must be good.
Balzaretti? again 29 years old and he's done nothing all year and he was mediocre last season. Abate? Loses big games, all he's got is speed, he can't defend, he's so clumsy. Bonucci on the team is no one's fault but a lack of Italian CB talent.

The fact that I see goal.com commenters complain about ogbonna being in serie b on the team is HILARIOUS. he was italy's best defender against usa, what a boss, he's going to be fantastic and fully deserves that starting LB position.

At least all of our strikers are beasts. can't complain about a single one of them unless balotelli does stupid shit.

[ErPupone]

Buffon
Maggio - Barzagli - Chiellini - Ogbonna
Pirlo
De Rossi - - - - March/Noce
Montolivo
Cassano - - - - Balotelli

That's the best possible 11 we could field imo.

You think Montolivo as the TQR is the best Italy could do?

At the moment, yes. It's sad, but it's true. Aquilani was option number 2. Those are the only two players that would fit in to what Prandelli is trying to do with our midfield. The idea is great with that rotating diamond, I've always said I think Montolivo could do a good job at it, unfortunately he's had a disappointing season. But realistically, he's the only player in this team that could fit into that role. Giovinco could be a trequartista, but it wouldn't work out in the way that Prandelli envisioned with the constant interchanging of positions in midfield.

The lack of quality in the wide positions is what disappoints me the most, aside from a drop in quality at CB. Giaccherini is an ok player, but not national team material at all. Really, we haven't had a decent wide player capable of actually crossing the ball since Camoranesi.

[leemhuis]

Italy will not make it out of the group. Ireland and Spain will. At one time Italy and Netherlands were equal now we are a much stronger team and we are a much smaller country. Serie A is good because of foreigners, not Italian player.

[Luca]

I swear to *bleep* god if I see that pony-tailed *censored* starting our matches ZSKDJAKSJDASKD

this could've been a fantastic team.


Now I see Bonucci , Abate, Diamanti, Giaccherini, Balzaretti and I shiver. Hopefully they will never see a second of playtime.

IF we're going to introduce randoms to our team why not introduce ones that are at least young or have done *bleep* something all year. The fact that Giaccherini gets the go ahead of Simone Pepe is absolutely *bleep* disgraceful, not that I would die for Pepe to be in our team, ( I wouldn't mind him) , but REALLY.... what has Giaccherini done ? and look at what Pepe's done, numerous of times he's put juve on his *bleep* back, that trophy is all his, giaccherini did nothing for it.

Who is this Diamanti shit? 29 years old, never got a call up... must be good.
Balzaretti? again 29 years old and he's done nothing all year and he was mediocre last season. Abate? Loses big games, all he's got is speed, he can't defend, he's so clumsy. Bonucci on the team is no one's fault but a lack of Italian CB talent.

The fact that I see goal.com commenters complain about ogbonna being in serie b on the team is HILARIOUS. he was italy's best defender against usa, what a boss, he's going to be fantastic and fully deserves that starting LB position.

At least all of our strikers are beasts. can't complain about a single one of them unless balotelli does stupid shit.

Diamanti would probably do better than Montolivo as the trequartista, no doubt in my mind.
Montolivo just offers absolutely nothing.
You have Pirlo, DDR, Marchisio and Montolivo in the midfield. All four of them operate too similarly, there is no width, there is no creativity directly behind the strikers either. This is a big time failure of a midfield.

Balzaretti and Maggio
I take back all the nice things I said about Maggio as a fullback.
I would start Abate and Ogbonna. Chiellini and Barzagli in the centre.
That's probably the only good thing I can take from this game about the defense, the fact that Chiellini wasn't there. His absence showing that he is Italy's most important defender? Absolutely.

Balotelli was immense, loved his play, the man can make something out of nothing but he needs to make a couple of his tries end up in the net once the tournament does begin. Also, his aggressiveness tracking back might be his downfall, picked up a yellow for a stupid challenge and was involved in another brush up afterwards challenging for the ball in the air. He needs to relax because no referee will give him the benefit of the doubt.

I think I want to see:

Balotelli
Giovinco-Cassano
Marchisio-Pirlo-DDR
Ogbonna-Chiellini-Barzagli-Abate
Buffon

With Di Natale first off the bench

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