Italia

[TechFootball85]

They probably should, true.

But Cameroon is a quality side, very much capible of taking full points off the Azzurri. And I think you may be surprised by a Honduras squad very much representing a high point of the development cycle. I don't fancy South Korea, but I sure wouldn't want to be playing any South Korean team if I was desperately needing 3 points to advance. The Olympics being as close to S. Korea as they are, you can expect a home game for them from a fan perspective as well.
I agree everything what you mentioned except the part I highlighted on. Of course Korea is geographically very close to China but that doesn't mean that there will be full of pro-Korea crowd in every Korea game. Many Chinese fans have bitter taste toward Korean football because their U23 and National side have never defeated their East Asian neighbor. (they have beaten us in U17, U20, and club levels several times though) I remembered that there were so much boos toward the Korean team during the Asian Cup 2004, as well as in friendlies, Olympic qualifiers, and so on. Plus, they really love Italian football so when Azzuri faces the Koreans, I am sure that most of the local fans who will attend the game will likely root for Italy.

In terms of traveling, playing the tournament in China is a positive for us but doesn't make big difference.

[tomwilhelm]

I agree everything what you mentioned except the part I highlighted on. Of course Korea is geographically very close to China but that doesn't mean that there will be full of pro-Korea crowd in every Korea game. Many Chinese fans have bitter taste toward Korean football because their U23 and National side have never defeated their East Asian neighbor. (they have beaten us in U17, U20, and club levels several times though) I remembered that there were so much boos toward the Korean team during the Asian Cup 2004, as well as in friendlies, Olympic qualifiers, and so on. Plus, they really love Italian football so when Azzuri faces the Koreans, I am sure that most of the local fans who will attend the game will likely root for Italy.

In terms of traveling, playing the tournament in China is a positive for us but doesn't make big difference.

Thanks for the correction and insight. And good luck to your side.

[TechFootball85]

Thanks for the correction and insight. And good luck to your side.
Thanks bro. Good luck to your team as well.

[DaveyGorgeous]

Rocchi gets Olympics call

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jul2k.html

[sardus_pater]

http://www.figc.it/it/204/19151/2008/07/News.shtml

ABATE Ignazio A.C. MILAN
ACQUAFRESCA Robert CAGLIARI CALCIO
BOCCHETTI Salvatore GENOA F.C.
CANDREVA Antonio UDINESE CALCIO
CIGARINI Luca PARMA F.C.
CODA Andrea UDINESE CALCIO
CONSIGLI Andrea ATALANTA BERGAMASCA
CRISCITO Domenico GENOA F.C.
DE CEGLIE Paolo JUVENTUS F.C.
DE SILVESTRI Lorenzo S.S. LAZIO
DESSENA Daniele PARMA F.C.
GIOVINCO Sebastian JUVENTUS F.C.
MARCHISIO Claudio JUVENTUS F.C.
MONTOLIVO Riccardo FIORENTINA ACF
MOTTA Marco UDINESE CALCIO
NOCERINO Antonio U.S. CITTA’ DI PALERMO
RANOCCHIA Andrea AREZZO A.C.
ROCCHI Tommaso S.S. LAZIO
ROSSI Giuseppe VILLEREAL C.F.
RUSSOTTO Andrea F.C. TREVISO 1993
SIRIGU Salvatore U.S. CITTA’ DI PALERMO
VIVIANO Emiliano BRESCIA CALCIO

no osvaldo. I don't get it. maybe it's just because fiorentina were trying not to give any players...

the final 18+4 list will be released on july, 23.

[VCFan]

http://www.figc.it/it/204/19151/2008/07/News.shtml

ABATE Ignazio A.C. MILAN
ACQUAFRESCA Robert CAGLIARI CALCIO
BOCCHETTI Salvatore GENOA F.C.
CANDREVA Antonio UDINESE CALCIO
CIGARINI Luca PARMA F.C.
CODA Andrea UDINESE CALCIO
CONSIGLI Andrea ATALANTA BERGAMASCA
CRISCITO Domenico GENOA F.C.
DE CEGLIE Paolo JUVENTUS F.C.
DE SILVESTRI Lorenzo S.S. LAZIO
DESSENA Daniele PARMA F.C.
GIOVINCO Sebastian JUVENTUS F.C.
MARCHISIO Claudio JUVENTUS F.C.
MONTOLIVO Riccardo FIORENTINA ACF
MOTTA Marco UDINESE CALCIO
NOCERINO Antonio U.S. CITTA’ DI PALERMO
RANOCCHIA Andrea AREZZO A.C.
ROCCHI Tommaso S.S. LAZIO
ROSSI Giuseppe VILLEREAL C.F.
RUSSOTTO Andrea F.C. TREVISO 1993
SIRIGU Salvatore U.S. CITTA’ DI PALERMO
VIVIANO Emiliano BRESCIA CALCIO

no osvaldo. I don't get it. maybe it's just because fiorentina were trying not to give any players...

the final 18+4 list will be released on july, 23.

But Montolivo is far more important to Fiorentina than Osvaldo. Maybe it had long been assumed that Montolivo would go so Fiorentina couldn't do anything about it but decided to hang on to Osvaldo because there were no such expectations on him in the first place? I still don't understand how Canini isn't on the first list. Or Bassi ahead of Sirigu.

[Canadian Azzurri]

But Montolivo is far more important to Fiorentina than Osvaldo. Maybe it had long been assumed that Montolivo would go so Fiorentina couldn't do anything about it but decided to hang on to Osvaldo because there were no such expectations on him in the first place? I still don't understand how Canini isn't on the first list. Or Bassi ahead of Sirigu.

The Canini thing baffles me as well. I like Bocchetti from what I saw of him at Toulon; but Ranocchia is only 20 (b. 88) and inexperienced compared to Canini (who was critical for Cagliari last year).

[sardus_pater]

The Canini thing baffles me as well. I like Bocchetti from what I saw of him at Toulon; but Ranocchia is only 20 (b. 88) and inexperienced compared to Canini (who was critical for Cagliari last year).

I am guessing cagliari (same as Fiorentina and other teams) have asked to limit the call up to 1 player. Let's say it was like an unofficial veto that casiraghi preferred to agree to for "political" reasons.

too many inexplicable choices not to suspect something like that went on behind the scene.

[VCFan]

I am guessing cagliari (same as Fiorentina and other teams) have asked to limit the call up to 1 player. Let's say it was like an unofficial veto that casiraghi preferred to agree to for "political" reasons.

too many inexplicable choices not to suspect something like that went on behind the scene.

Exactly. Casiraghi's always been spot on with his call ups before, so this bizarre roster had to have been impacted by club considerations.

[mattteo]

I am guessing cagliari (same as Fiorentina and other teams) have asked to limit the call up to 1 player. Let's say it was like an unofficial veto that casiraghi preferred to agree to for "political" reasons.

too many inexplicable choices not to suspect something like that went on behind the scene.

I guess he focused on the core 18 players and, since I think the rules state that 22 players must take part in the training camp, he chose 4 players who play in lower divisions (Russotto and Candreva play in serie B, Sirigu and Ranocchia in serie C) and aren't even starters....also keep in mind that lower teams don't really have the power to oppose an olympic call-up for one fo their players), while the big name players who didn't make the final 18-men cut were left at home to train with their club but were still listed as reserves (there is an additional 15-men list of players who can be picked as replacements in case of injury). I really doubt that if Rocchi is hurt then Candreva will be picked ahead of Osvaldo.

I don't know about the club limit though...I just think players, especially defenders, weren't picked for their ability only but also for their versatility (Bocchetti can play in 2 positions, same for Criscito, Motta and De Silvestri)....Osvaldo got screwed by the political Rocchi call-up.

[FiveToOne]

Team announced - Rossi made it:


http://lettersfromvagabondia.blogspot.com/2008/07/giuseppi-rossi-on-italian-olympic.html

http://olympics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/the-starting-line-chinese-to-sarkozy-dont-even-bother-showing-up/?hp

http://www.soccerway.com/news/2008/July/03/italy-names-olympic-squad

[VCFan]

Team announced - Rossi made it:


http://lettersfromvagabondia.blogspot.com/2008/07/giuseppi-rossi-on-italian-olympic.html

http://olympics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/the-starting-line-chinese-to-sarkozy-dont-even-bother-showing-up/?hp

http://www.soccerway.com/news/2008/July/03/italy-names-olympic-squad

Who actually thought that he wouldn't make it? :confused:

[Kqql]

Who actually thought that he wouldn't make it? :confused:

Donadoni :p

[Pit-182]

A gold metal would be nice after the not-so-great euro 2008.

[DaveyGorgeous]

A gold metal would be nice after the not-so-great euro 2008.

True, though still not as comforting... :rolleyes:

[VCFan]

True, though still not as comforting... :rolleyes:

I know this may sound weird, but I would rather have Italy win a gold medal at the Olympics than be the champions of Europe. The reason is that aside from national pride, what's the point in having a team of proven champions win another championship? It would be of far greater import to me if the younger players, the next generation of the Azzurri, prove themselves against the very best. How this team does at the Olympics is perhaps more important than some people (not you DaveyGorgeous, but others) realize.

Of course, this could easily be me trying to cope with our disastrous Euro campaign as well :o

[tomwilhelm]

I know this may sound weird, but I would rather have Italy win a gold medal at the Olympics than be the champions of Europe. The reason is that aside from national pride, what's the point in having a team of proven champions win another championship? It would be of far greater import to me if the younger players, the next generation of the Azzurri, prove themselves against the very best. How this team does at the Olympics is perhaps more important than some people (not you DaveyGorgeous, but others) realize.

Of course, this could easily be me trying to cope with our disastrous Euro campaign as well :o

Italy's Euro campaign (losing to the eventual champion via shootout in the quarters) might be disappointing, but I really think we should reserve disastrous for the French.

[VCFan]

Italy's Euro campaign (losing to the eventual champion via shootout in the quarters) might be disappointing, but I really think we should reserve disastrous for the French.

In the most technical sense, I agree that it was disappointing rather than disastrous. But in the emotional sense, it was pretty devastating and it did our reputation no credit.

Ah well, time to move on. Does anyone know if the team has convened yet in Rome?

[Pit-182]

True, though still not as comforting... :rolleyes:
Hehe really true.

But even tough football is not a very great "olympic sport" a gold medal:

1) At least will be a gold medal for Italy
2) would put the lights on our young players... the azzurri of the future.

Italy now needs new forces for 2010.

[FNU]

The Olympics better than the EURO??? :confused: No way dude. The Olympics isn't even close, look at the teams competing for one. Argentina is most likely going to win it, I think we can make at least 3rd place.