Official 2016 European Cup Thread (FORZA AZZURRI)!!!

Discussion in 'Italy: National Teams' started by Italy-Azzurri-Fan, Nov 14, 2015.

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How far will we go in 2016 European Cup?

  1. We will be celebrating in Saint Denis at the end!!!

    10 vote(s)
    16.9%
  2. We will be disappointed in Saint Denis for the second European Cup in a row.

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  3. We will get out in the Semifinals.

    5 vote(s)
    8.5%
  4. We will get out in the Quarterfinals.

    14 vote(s)
    23.7%
  5. We will get out in the Round of 16.

    6 vote(s)
    10.2%
  6. We will have an embarrassing Group Stage Exit.

    24 vote(s)
    40.7%
  1. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Hey All

    Since we have qualified for Euro 2016, I think its time to start making actual predictions and discussing how we can cope with the other teams, etc.

    The group stages draw is on December 12 at 6:00pm Italy Time.

    So how far do you think we will go?

    I honestly think we will surprise many teams and win this. Oh and by the way Berardi and Insigne are promised a spot at the Euros. I am too lazy to right it all here, but you can read my post on the other thread (Your Squad Pick for Euro 2016). After all we do have a world class defense, and probably the best midfield trio in europe. We are lacking in attack a little, but if Conte is able to get the right players there on time like Insigne, Berardi, and Gabbiadini we should be fine. It might look like Conte will start the same old players, but deep in my heart, I have faith in the Azzurri, and that sooner later Conte will realize and do what is best for our team. Almost all the recent tournaments we won, nobody expected us to go that far, and I think we are hungry and want it more than almost anyone else. Lets face it, we haven't won a Euro Cup for along time, and have only won one all together.

    Germany seems to be in decline and we always beat them. We played Belgium in a friendly with partly our B squad yesterday, but if you watched, Belgium were not superior to us, they just were quite lucky while we were unlucky in many moves. Belgium, France, and Spain will give us a hard time and cause us problems, but we can beat them. Spain is not as good as it was last generation, and France is not an unbeatable force at all. If we win this, I hope we face all of those tough teams somewhere, because winning a tournament is something amazing, but winning one after facing all the favorites and big teams, makes it even more of an achievement. If we cannot beat all the big teams, we don't deserve to win it in all honesty.

    By the way, who plans on actually going to France to see the tournament? I plan on going. Who is excited for this?

    So it might be a little early for this thread, but I thought why not start discussing now?
     
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  2. annoyingracoon01

    Aug 29, 2014
    Chicago
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think we'll go quarterfinals for sure. Possibly semis.
     
  3. Sal

    Sal Red Card

    Feb 9, 2013
    Club:
    AS Roma
    A new thread and no formation or squad to go with it? You are slacking @Italy-Azzurri-Fan.
     
  4. annoyingracoon01

    Aug 29, 2014
    Chicago
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I think his account is hacked.
     
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  5. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    No it isn't hacked.
     
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  6. Rosay

    Rosay Member+

    May 7, 2014
    Club:
    AC Milan
    i agree with your tune and love your positivity, i might be going. my dad said he really wants to go and he would bring me and my brother, but so far nothing booked yet
     
  7. annoyingracoon01

    Aug 29, 2014
    Chicago
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thats something a hacker would say...
     
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  8. Rosay

    Rosay Member+

    May 7, 2014
    Club:
    AC Milan
    It might be hacked, I haven't seen a formation in what seems like ages but probably only 24 hours for IAF
     
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  9. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    If you want a formation, here it is. Its one I posted many times before, but I honestly think this is our best starting squad:

    -----------------Giovinco--Gabbiadini-----------------
    --Insigne-------------------------------------Berardi--
    ----------------Marchisio----Verratti------------------
    --Darmian-----------------------------------Florenzi--
    ---------------Chiellini-----------Bonucci-------------
    --------------------------Buffon------------------------

    Candreva is a super sub.
     
  10. Rosay

    Rosay Member+

    May 7, 2014
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Good job
     
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  11. Afghan-Juventus

    Afghan-Juventus Member+

    Oct 14, 2012
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Afghanistan
    I'll be rooting for Italy.
     
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  12. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Okay so it is reported that Conte has decided on his first
     
  13. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Okay so it is reported that Conte has decided on his first 14 spots.

    Goalkeepers: Buffon, Perin

    Defenders: Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli, Darmian, De Sciglio

    Midfielders: Marchisio, Verratti, Parolo, Candreva, Florenzi

    Forwards: Eder, Pelle

    These are all players I was pretty sure were locked for Euro 2016 Spots, although I wasn't 100% sure about Parolo because almost all the times he featured, one of either Marchisio or Verratti was injured.

    Not listed yet, but I am almost 100% sure Giovinco is locked as well.

    So who do you hope the other 9 players will be? Also who do you predict? Honestly I think this can very well vary from the real predictions because throughout the qualifying campaign and friendlies, other than those listed above, he has been picking different players. Note: one must be a goalkeeper.

    Here are my predictions though:

    1. Sirigu: I am almost 100% sure he is locked in there, because he has always been our second goalkeeper we used since 2014 world cup, and is probably the second best after Buffon. It could be Padelli I suppose, but its just that Sirigu has always been second goalie after Buffon in recent Azzurri games.

    2. Giovinco: I am also pretty sure he is on the verge of being locked a place, because when he has featured, he has been doing amazing for the Azzurri, and was involved in both goals we scored against Norway. I have this deep feeling, he might make himself in the starting squad over Eder soon. Also Conte stated that Giovinco would be with us during the friendlies if only he was not injured.

    3. De Rossi: Despite Conte saying he might be a doubt for the euros, he has been a great defensive midfielder, and has always kept up with the game pace. He is in excellent form for Roma at the moment, and even though you could predict there were other reasons why he wasn't called for the friendlies according to what Conte said, I have this feeling he just didn't come because he was injured.

    4. Berardi: There have been really mixed conversations about whether he will be going to the Euros or not. But I honestly think he will be there definitely. Conte seems to really like this guy, and Berardi has proved that he really wants to come to the Euros. He has been working very hard for Sassuolo and has been in great form. I have this feeling in my head that the reason he is not in our squad for the upcoming friendlies was because he wanted to give the U21 a farewell with two more qualifying games before joining us, and since these games were friendlies, he thought he could do that. I am also 90% sure there is some agreement about him between Conte and Di Biagio. Its true he hasn't played for us yet, but usually in every tournament at least one player makes his debut there or in a friendly like right before the tournament (Immobile 2014 World Cup).

    5. Pirlo: Again similar to De Rossi, Conte made a statement that he might not feature. I actually take this more seriously about Pirlo, than I did about De Rossi, because he is at MLS and his not standing out there in anyway yet. But Pirlo and Conte have a great relationship with each other, and most of the players still want him, so I expect he will be there. I don't guarantee he will have a starting place, but I think he will be there.

    6. Gabbiadini: I am not sure what Conte thinks about Gabbiadini exactly specifically because he has been back and fourth in the squad and out. He wasn't with us every time, but he was for quite a bit of these qualifiers. I overall think Conte is fond of him, and he will make the Euros. He even started against Malta and had the best chance of the game before we scored, and was only subbed off because of injury. He is with us for these friendlies, and I expect him to play against Romania, or possibly even start. Despite him not playing that much in Serie A, he has been shining in the Europa League, and has actually been subbed on in Serie A many times this season.

    7. Insigne: There has been tons of complaints on these forums and also on other sites about Insigne not being with us for these friendlies. If you ask me why? I honestly do not know and really can't come up with any reason. The only reason I could possibly think of is because Conte wanted to test players he was pretty sure in his mind he didn't want to take, and wanted to make sure that they don't belong at Euro 2016, but again there is question to this. But I think Insigne should make it because he has been doing quite well for his club, and also Conte called him in the last qualifiers and was planning to start him against Azerbaijan actually before he dropped out with an injury. I also read that Insigne was aware he couldn't participate in these friendlies specifically for reasons that we will likely never know.

    8. De Silvestri: I still haven't listed a full back yet here, and I believe Conte will want more than just Darmian and De Sciglio, despite Florenzi able to play there. I think De Silvestri is a great player, and it seems Conte likes him. He showed this by calling him right after he was back from injury. Also he started against Croatia over De Sciglio, but had to be replaced cause of injury.

    9. Montolivo/El Sharaawy/Soriano/Bertolacci: I am not so sure who will take the 9th spot, but I am pretty sure it will be one of these players. All of them featured sometime in the Euro Qualifiers, so I predict it will be one of these.
     
  14. calabrese8

    calabrese8 Member+

    Feb 9, 2008
    Vancouver
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I think the same could have been said for Cassano missing out on the world cup all those years.... he decided to give doing streesch a farewell.

    But seriously though... just take a moment and think... do you really believe that a player would want to give a farewell tour to the U21 team?
     
  15. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Not necessarily in that way, but basically end his U21 career to join the senior team.
     
  16. Rosay

    Rosay Member+

    May 7, 2014
    Club:
    AC Milan
    He can do both, Euro 16, then u21 in 2017. All the former azzurri stars did that except Buffon I think
     
  17. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Really? I thought that wasn't allowed.
     
  18. Rosay

    Rosay Member+

    May 7, 2014
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Who said?
     
  19. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I think I remember reading it somewhere.
     
  20. Calcio Pauly

    Calcio Pauly Member+

    Jun 17, 2012
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Guys, Conte just called me. He said the real reason why Berrardi wasn't on the team is because he doesn't want everyone else to see him yet or get too much exposure. He also asked Juve not to buy him this year either for the same reason. He's going to be Conte's secret weapon.
     
  21. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Wait a minute seriously? I do't believe Conte just called you. Did you call Conte maybe, and he called you back? Also what about Insigne?
     
  22. Italy-Azzurri-Fan

    Nov 15, 2014
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Okay here is the seeding for pots:

    Pot 1: France, Spain, Germany, England, Portugal, Belgium

    Pot 2: Italy, Russia, Switzerland, Austria, Croatia, Ukraine

    Pot 3: Czech Republic, Sweden, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary

    Pot 4: Turkey, Ireland, Iceland, Wales, Albania, Northern Ireland

    Best Possible Draw: England, Hungary, and Wales.

    Worst Possible Draw: Germany, Poland, and Iceland.

    Draw I hope we get: England, Czech Republic, and Northern Ireland.
     
  23. calabrese8

    calabrese8 Member+

    Feb 9, 2008
    Vancouver
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Do you have to wear a helmet when you walk around in daily life?
     
  24. Calcio Pauly

    Calcio Pauly Member+

    Jun 17, 2012
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Insigne is going to be ok. Meaning, he's cool.
     
  25. Nek Sanalet

    Nek Sanalet Member+

    AC Milan
    Italy
    Dec 30, 2013
    NYC
    Club:
    AC Milan
    We probably won't go very far in The Euros, not with Conte at the helm. Hopefully once he quits we can build to the WC in 2018. I would love to see a 4 3 1 2 with these core young players (none over 25).

    -----Gabbiadini-----Berardi-----
    ------------Saponara------------
    --Baselli---Verratti---Banassi--
    De Sciglio-Romagnoli-Rugani-Darmian
    ---------------Perin------------

    Core Bench: Zappacosta, Insigne, Bernardeschi, Florenzi, Jorginho, Soriano.

    Sprinkle in a few older players like Marchisio, Bonaventura, Giovinco, Bonucci, and Candreva.
     
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