Prandelli wants Italy 'enthusiasm' By Football Italia staff Cesare Prandelli is ready to unleash Mario Balotelli and Giuseppe Rossi on Nigeria, but wants “more enthusiasm” around the Azzurri. Italy play Nigeria at London’s Craven Cottage on Monday at 19.45 GMT in an international friendly, following on from Friday’s 1-1 draw with Germany. “I have some pretty clear ideas on the systems, even if we have to establish which is the best one,” said the Coach in his Press conference. “Balotelli is the first choice centre-forward, but now we have to find out who is the ideal second striker.” Fiorentina hitman and current Serie A top scorer Rossi missed the game with Germany due to tonsillitis, but is now fit to start. “Rossi is ready and for the line-up we’ll have to see tonight’s training session. Balotelli, Riccardo Montolivo and Daniele De Rossi need to be evaluated. “I perform many experiments because I haven’t got much time. I’m not saying it’s a problem that we don’t have training camps, but it is a fact. “If I’d had more time then I wouldn’t have needed to call so many players and we wouldn’t have run into some embarrassing results. It’s not club Coaches who are the problem, but the fixture list and the directors. “The truth is that right now everyone is thinking about Serie A or the Champions League, but come June they will all be huge Italy fans. I’d like a little more enthusiasm around us now.” Italy (probable): Sirigu; Maggio, Ogbonna, Ranocchia, Pasqual; Candreva, De Rossi, Montolivo, Giaccherini; Rossi, Balotelli
ya insigne needs time....but i also like seeing candreva in the middle. He belongs more in the middle and is great at passing. i think he gets wasted on the wing.
It almost seams like Prandelli is holding his cards close to his chest. He has so much firepower upfront and has yet to utilize them in full. Wasn't that long ago that Prandelli didn't even know Rossi existed.
this is more than just a friendly for Angelo Ogbonna, he was born in Cassino, but he's of Nigerian descent, his family In Italy & Nigeria will be watching this game. on another note, why the F*ck is montolivo starting ?
I don't expect much from Nigeria Today. They just qualified for the WC 2 days ago and must still be hungover
did anyone see Nigeria thrash every team in U-17 world cup? apparently its the 4th time they win and there have been controversies that they use older players lol....but FIFA isnt doing anything. Its interesting that they can be so dominant in the youth tournament but their senior teams are never that good.
i don't know if i believe that.. some of these African team's can run for days. their main problem is always their defense.
Was Pasqual fouled on that? I missed it but the commentator claimed Pasqual indicated he was pushed from behind?