Italia

[Alex de Large]

Goalkeepers: Amelia (Livorno), De Sanctis (Sevilla)
Defenders: Barzagli (Palermo), Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Cassetti (Roma), Grosso (Lyon), Materazzi (Inter), Oddo (Milan), Zambrotta (Barcelona)
Midfielders: Ambrosini (Milan), Aquilani (Roma), De Rossi (Roma), Perrotta (Roma), Pirlo (Milan), Semioli (Fiorentina)
Forwards: Borriello (Genoa), Di Natale (Udinese), Palladino (Juventus), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Munich).




WHERE IS ROSSI?!

 

[shahz_nerazzurri]

Rossi is still way to young to be in the Azzurri's. Give him a couple a years, with Italy U-21.
The really good news for me is no Delpiero.

 

[Choppin Onions]

Borriello and Palladino? :dielaugh:

I guess somewhat forgot to tell Donadoni about a certain player named Antonio Cassano, who's been ripping shit up for Doria. His attitude is borderline childish at times, but find me another Italian forward who has the innate talent that Cassano has.

 

[lonewolf19]

Rocchi deserve a call up than Palladino who rarely features for Juve.

 

[Suneet]

Cassano will be the difference come summer. I'm sure he's gonna be on the plane.

 

[M.Adnan]

As long as Donadoni is Italy's manager, I hope they lose all their games and never score any goal.

If was Italy's coach, I'll kick the following players out of the NT right away: Palladino, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Barzagli, Cassetti, Oddo and Amelia.

And no, it's not because many of them are bbilan or gobbi players, it's because they're overrated and not good enough. I'd still keep Buffon, Zambrotta, Cannavaro and Gattuso, although they're scums, but they're still good enough to represent their NT.

I feel sorry for great players like Toni, De Rossi and Materazzi. But how can a NT not include a goalkeeper like Marco Storari? Where's Manuel Pasqual? and where's Alessandro Rosina? Riccardo Montolivo, anyone? Donadoni, you're a moronic Bilanista and you'll be lucky if you coach a team in Serie B.

 

[rockball]

Come on..Pirlo surely has to be there. Along with Cassano, he is one Italian who has the technique and flair to make a difference which we have seen at Milan and Italy level.

 

[M.Adnan]

Materazzi has been replaced by Gamberini (who's one of the best defenders in Italy IMO). Matrix seems to be injuried.

 

[Suneet]

As long as Donadoni is Italy's manager, I hope they lose all their games and never score any goal.

If was Italy's coach, I'll kick the following players out of the NT right away: Palladino, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Barzagli, Cassetti, Oddo and Amelia.

And no, it's because many of them are bbilan or gobbi players, it's because they're overrated and not good enough. I'd still keep Buffon, Zambrotta, Cannavaro and Gattuso, although they're scums, but they're still good enough to represent their NT.

I feel sorry for great players like Toni, De Rossi and Materazzi. But how can a NT not include a goalkeeper like Marco Storari? Where's Manuel Pasqual? and where's Alessandro Rosina? Riccardo Montolivo, anyone? Donadoni, you're a moronic Bilanista and you'll be lucky if you coach a team in Serie B.

:star:

Rosinaldo, Montolivo, Cassano supporting Toni. Now that is what I call World Cup winning.

 

[Alex de Large]

Palladino, Ambrosini, Pirlo or Cassetti should never go.

Barzagli and Oddo are ok, cause there are not a lot of good defenders right now.

 

[snake]

hope they all crash and burn. either in a plane or in the first knock out round. id take either.

 

[Suneet]

hope they all crash and burn. either in a plane or in the first knock out round. id take either.

Why helal??

Australia are no where near Europe last time I checked.

 

[minterke]

It's ok...it's post-World Cup elimination pain...it heals....

Portugal got cockslapped, always nice to beat those bitches.

 

[shahz_nerazzurri]

Portugal should do and die in shame. This is one of the weakest Azzurri teams on paper, that I have seen in at least the last 10 years, and I cant believe how easily they brushed off Portugal's challenge.

No Gattusso, No Matrix, Zambrotta got injured half and hour in to the game, and Grosso came on, Palladino in the starting line up, players like Gamberini and Boriello coming in the second half, one would expect the likes of Quaresma, Deco, Ronaldo, Nani, Maniche, Petit to do better against this team.

Toni is a top top quality forward. Seriously Bayern got him so cheap this summer, Imagine a duo of Ibra-Toni in our starting lineup. He uses his height to perfection, and his finishing skills are better than any other player in the world.
DiNatale was pretty impressive as well. Hell even Ambrosini and Palladino had good games.
Amelia also established himself as number 2 to Buffon for Euros, no one needs Abbiati and DeSanctis, great goal keeping.

For Portugal the only bright spot was Quaresma, great player this guy is. Portugal's Man of the Match, and not because of the goal, he was the creator of almost all of Potugal's attack. Ronaldo, while not being completely horrible, still looked lost, outside of his comforted EPL zone. Maniche was almost invisible.


Funny fact, its Italy vs Portugal, only one Inter player on show, and that too on the Portugese side.

 

[Handoyo]

Having Toni and Ibrahimovic would truly be something, really...

Speaking of Toni, I've never seen such a late bloomer. He was nothing special during his Brescia days but since 2003/2004, when he exploded in Serie B with Palermo, that guy has been absolutely immense.

 

[Choppin Onions]

Italians seem to be late bloomers in general. Toni, Matrix, Di Natale all come to mind. Gamberini might be the next one.

 

[Hammoudi]

Cassetti is versatile, and he is offensive-minded due to his Lecce and Zeman days I guess, I think he will be of help to the Azzurri.

I am not saying Pirlo isn't good, but like Adnan said, he is overrated. He can't defend well neither dribble, his biggest asset is his accurate passes (long and short) and dead ball situations. Such players are good for clubs, but not so much for NT.

 

[Khalifa]

Pirlo is a coachs player...i dont think we have enough tactical intelligence to appreciate him. I used to dislike him, but he's a rare one...soooo

I was a bit worried about Matrix's comeback into the team, but my god, this guy is literally using his head..his sense of positioning improved alot that he doesnt have to do a tackle anymore, he's literally heading everything out...and thats why he's getting less cards n fouls.

 

[rockball]

There was an article on goal.com about 10 wonderkids in Italian football mentioning the likes of Paloschi, Rossi and others. Surprising to see Balotelli's name not mentioned there...maybe he is not yet considered Italian or is too young even for the U21 now.

But Italy do seem to be having a good number of youngsters coming through

 

[Khalifa]

http://goal.com/en/articolo.aspx?contenutoid=582282