Italia

[ADRossi]

While I remember, props to the under-21 team for advancing despite losing quite a few of their players to the senior squad. Immobile is a MONSTER

 

[Domenico]

Squad for the Holland friendly:

Gk: Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli), Marchetti (Lazio), Sirigu (Paris St. Germain);

D: Abate (Milan), Astori (Cagliari), Barzagli (Juventus), Gastaldello (Sampdoria), Peluso (Juventus), Ranocchia (Inter), Santon (Newcastle);

M: Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Diamanti (Bologna), Florenzi (Roma), Giaccherini (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Nocerino (Milan), Pirlo (Juventus), Verratti (Pars St. Germain);

F: Balotelli (Milan), El Shaarawy (Milan), Gilardino (Bologna), Giovinco (Juventus), Osvaldo (Roma)

Still no Cassano.

 

[Shaun]

Cassano can't even play 90 minutes. Gilardino though? Also, where is Ogbonna?

 

[Y&h]

Finally, Marchetti gets the well deserved call. To me he is the next in line to that spot after Buffon but for some reason, Prandelli prefers freaking De Sanctis ... I swear, he just doesn't bring any calm influence to the defense.

 

[Native]

Hope we fuck that jube scum but I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[Alessandro]

Nice to see Santon and Rannocchia get a chance...

The expected Italy XI vs. HOL - Buffon; Abate, Barzagli, Ranocchia, Santon; De Rossi, Pirlo, Montolivo; Candreva, Balotelli, El Shaarawy

 

[Wallace]

Candreva? Are they really lacking trequartista now?

Or did the guy improve by 10 folds?

 

[Alessandro]

I predict Diamanti to get the start over Candreva...

 

[Batman]

That line-up looks good.

 

[Pajo]

Candreva is having one hell of a season tho...

 

[Y&h]

Nice to see Santon and Rannocchia get a chance...

The expected Italy XI vs. HOL - Buffon; Abate, Barzagli, Ranocchia, Santon; De Rossi, Pirlo, Montolivo; Candreva, Balotelli, El Shaarawy

Totally agree on the formation, except for the keeper position. Italia needs to show signs of growth outside of the shadow of Buffon with either Marchetti (whom I prefer) or Sirigu.

 

[Bergpavian]

This is Prandellis formation:

Buffon; Abate, Barzagli, Astori, Santon; De Rossi, Pirlo, Montolivo; Candreva [or Diamanti], Balotelli, El Shaarawy

Alessandro. :notbad:

 

[Fapuccino]

no rano? what a cocksucker

 

[Dylan]

Astori over Ranocchia How many games has Astori even played this year?

 

[Y&h]

Astori over Ranocchia How many games has Astori even played this year?

This is what I said a while ago in Ranocchia's thread...

I want to see Prandelli favoring Barzagli & Bonucci over Ranocchia with his current form and well deserved praise.

In all honesty, I can't explain this only that Prandelli has something against Inter. Last season, he decided to call Astori instead of Ranocchia for the Euros after Barzagli picked that injury. I was amazed, thinking maybe that Ranocchia's lack of playing time may have justified his decision but then again Astori never played for Italia a lot. This is the other issue, why is Prandelli pushing Ranocchia after he built the new national team after the 2010 Wolrd Cup around Buffon, Chiellini, Pirlo, and Ranocchia in that order... What changed all of a sudden?

 

[Fapuccino]

I know stats arent everything, but when considering tackles, aerial duels, interceptions, clearances, for a defender you can get a decent idea of how good they are.

whoscored ranks rannocchia as #1 defender in the world. Ik stats arent the be all end all, but come on....astori?

 

[spork]

You guys are forgetting that as long as Froggy's not playing, he's less likely to succumb to an injury.

 

[Y&h]

Yeah, which I'm very happy for.

 

[Visca]

Yeah why would you want him to play in a meaningless friendly and potentially get injured 2 weeks before the derby?

 

[Dylan]

To potentially establish himself in the first team and play in big international games which can only improve his game?