Name: Gianluigi Buffon Position: Goalkeeper Age: 28 Club: Juventus Bio: Considered by most one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Made his Italy debut at age 19. Pretty much a textbook case study in how the position should be played, but truly excels with his incredible reflex saves.
Name: Alessandro Nesta Position: Defender Age: 30 Club: Milan Bio: Impeccable central defender. What he lacks in size he more than makes up for with positional sense, toughness, and mobility. Widely considered one of the world's best.
YESS!! this is exactly what I've been wanting to see - ala Meet Mexico before Azteca. Hope this thread is just as good (along with matching threads for CR and Ghana). Rep!
Name: Fabio Cannavaro Position: Defender Age: 33 Club: Juventus Bio: Long-time veteran of the Italian national team, Cannavaro partners with Nesta to form a monster partnership in Italy's central defense. Reads, anticipates, and reacts to the game in front of him as well as any defender in the world.
Name: Gianluca Zambrotta Position: Defender Age: 29 Club: Juventus Bio: A longtime right winger converted to fullback capable playing either side for Italy. Brings a lot of skill going forward into the attack, can be caught out of position and exposed at times defensively.
Name: Fabio Grosso Position: Defender Age: 29 Club: Palermo Bio: Italy's left back. Haven't seen him play all that often, and didn't draw much of my attention when I have. Does seem to get forward a lot, is what I remember.
Name: Andrea Pirlo Position: Midfielder Age: 27 Club: Milan Bio: If you remember Pep Guardiola at the height of his game in Barcelona, Pirlo is that mold of midfielder. Not necessarily there to play the tough-guy role, he plays a more creative role from deep in Italy's midfield. Superb passing, and one of the best free-kick specialists in the world. Note to the US team - do not give this guy an opportunity to put one over the wall.
Name: Gennaro Gattuso Position: Midfielder Age: 28 Club: Milan Bio: Gattuso, fittingly, does the ugly work in Italy's midfield. He is a workhorse and keeps the game simple. Provides a similar role as Pablo Mastroeni, but has to cover a lot of ground in Italy's 3 man midfield.
Name: Mauro Camoranesi Position: Midfielder Age: 29 Club: Juventus Bio: People familiar with Mexican League Football recognize the Argentine-born Camoranesi from his time with Santos and even moreso at Cruz Azul. Exceptionally skilled in tight spaces. As Arena put it, very quick, but not fast.
Name: Francesco Totti Position: Midfielder Age: 29 Club: Roma Bio: One of the most recognizable figures in world soccer, as much for being a head case as his incredible talent. He is currently in recovery from an injured ankle, and if he can't make it back, Italy will struggle to replace his talent.
Name: Alberto Gilardino Position: Forward Age: 24 Club: Milan Bio: The guy scores a lot of goals. Over the past two seasons in Serie A, he's been one of the most consistent forwards. He's continued a strong scoring rate with Italy, and looked very lively in the recent Germany thrashing. Combines well with the players around him, and finishes.
Name: Luca Toni Position: Forward Age: 29 Club: Fiorentina Bio: He's been on an incredible goal streak this year, scoring 30 goals and likely the European Golden Boot winner. Arena calls him Italy's fastest player, and a tall physical presence who looks like he's performed a good partnership with Gilardino running off him.
I'll let others pick up some of the other players, most notable being Del Piero, Rossi, and Cassano...
Nesta is about 6'2", so his size is fine for a non-German. Also with Totti (he's recovered from his ankle but has missed the last game due to a bout with a flu) in the withdrawn role, Lippi plays a 4-man midfield. PS. Roma's Daniele De Rossi should not be confused with our "Is he or isn't he?" Giuseppe Rossi. PPS. Christian "El Bobo" Vieri is out.
Good thing we actually play the game, because, on paper, no way Italy loses to the USA. Thanks for the info on the players. I look forward to looking into their eyes, in person I might add, after the US upsets them 1-0. BRING IT!
I was under the impression that Cassano, languishing at Real Madrid, was not going to make the Italy squad.
He's a weak point, and unde the pressure of the World cup, I don't believe he'll get forward into the attack as much as you saw in friendlies
They are among the very best int he world. The problem is that you watch them vs Champion's League sides with similar talent