Italy at the 2008 Summer Olympics [R]

It would be nice to get some veteran leadership on that Olympic side. Imagine bringing home Euro AND the gold medal next summer. That would be amazing.

 

Remember that Nocerino, Montolivo, Curci, Viviano, Pellè are all eligible for the olympics...I think the 3 overage players will be Palladino, Chiellini and Aquilani, with no big names (or maybe Del Piero or Inzaghi instead of Palladino)... I don't see Totti and Nesta being recalled.

The 18-player roster (don't know if they changed the rule, i don't think so) imo will be:

Curci
Motta
Andreolli
Chiellini
De Ceglie
Montolivo
Aquilani
Nocerino
Rossi
Palladino
Pellè

Viviano
Criscito
De Silvestri
Cigarini
Dessena/Marchisio
Giovinco
Acquafresca

If Casiraghi wants another prima punta then probably Pazzini instead of Palladino...

 

I see Bianchi and Rosina both having a strong chance of making this squad if neither of them are selected for Donadoni's Euro squad. Personally though, if we are going to bulk up in experience I'd rather it be on our backline instead of up front. I personally felt that the weakest aspect of our U-21 team in the last U-21 Euro was our backline. Chiellini would be an obvious choice. Barzagli would also be a solid choice imo.

 

Really? Is there any article on the website that I can have a look with? Please in english.

 

If Italy really want to win the gold medal. I will love to see them bringing three players out of these four from my view:

Buffon
Cannavaro or Materazzi
Pirlo
Toni

As we said the defense line is weak for the U-21, so an important experienced center back must be a convincing player like Cannavaro or Materazzi. However, Materazzi sometimes are reckless in challenges but he can score with his head when there is opportunity from corner. Buffon would be great influences element too, just like Cannavaro or Materazzi that will bring to the team. They could paying more attention on attacking.

As for Pirlo, he is the master of everything. He can create chances and defense well too. He can control the game and the rhythm of the game as well. Don't forget about his deadly free kick that could "confuse" the keeper about the trajactory and curves of the ball will be. He could score too.

If Toni is in the squad, it will be the most promising winning passion in the team. He is huge and gigantic even the professional level defenders' hardly could stop him. Just imagine how would the young defenders could stop him down? Pull him down or foul on him?

So, if the team offence is strong enough, then we could just bring Buffon, Cannavaro or Materazzi, and Pirlo. Let the youngsters do the attacking. But, if our fire power is not enough, then we could just bring Cannavaro or Materazzi, Pirlo and Toni.

Anyway, this is my view, I know a lot of you won't accept this kind of view. Besides, Pirlo has been participated in Olympic 2004 before, no sure he will want to go for it again and will their club teams likely to let their star players participate the Olympics? This is the major problem.

 

if that is true, no chance for gold. the south american teams are always stacked and if you remember 2004, great keeping can keep you in a tournament (pelizzoli and pirlo pretty much were the two main reasons i felt italy got past mali). an experienced defender to pair chiellini and a good striker would go a long way i feel.

 

the president of the CONI responded to Casiraghi and looks like it will be an interesting decision. Ultimately it is Casiraghi's decision and I see his point of view. The youngsters earned qualification all on their own without help from any senior players so why add them now and try to insert them into set line ups. But also in the prospect of Argentina having Mascherano, Riquelme, along with Messi and Aguero and Brazil with Kakà, Robinho, and Pato it seems as if Casiraghi is conceeding a medal. For some reason we never take this competition as serious as other countries, yet we should since for the youngsters its a chance to make their mark while the senior squad will highlight the summer in EURO 08'. So contrary to Casiraghi it is in the best interest to bring the 3 allowed senior players to field the most competitive squad possible.

 

Viviano from Brescia is the clear choice to me for keeper, he is going to be a star and will surpass people's love affair with Curci and Amelia in no time. I do agree with previous posts though, central defense is a position where it would be wise to use a senior call up and striker as well, midfield is pretty stacked although I do have one player in mind i'd like to see (Enzo Maresca).

Leaving out EURO 08 players who I think will be chosen by Donadoni, I'd have to say Maresca for the midfield (sleeper Cristiano Doni), someone between Tavano and Maccarone (maybe Inzaghi) for the attack and in defense thats a toss up, Nesta would be unlikely to accept the call up and the best central defenders will be with Donadoni so not exactly sure.

Viviano (Brescia)
Motta (Torino)
Santacroce (Brescia)
Criscito (Genoa)
De Ceglie (Siena)
Marchisio (Empoli)
Dessena (Parma)
Bentivoglio (Chievo)
Giovinco (Empoli)
Russotto (Treviso)
Acquafresca (Cagliari)

Sirigu (Cremonese)
De Silvestri (Lazio)
Cerci (Pisa)
Abate (Empoli)
Pisano (Cagliari)
Forestieri (Siena)
Morosini (Vicenza)

Obviously some big names are not on the list I left out the Cigarini, Montolivo, & company because I put them in contention with EURO spots. So other then Forestieri (Siena), I'd like to see Fabio Ceravolo (Reggina) and Daniele Galloppa (Siena) get a look from Casiraghi. But overall that would be my initial 18 without the possible 3 senior members

 

Probably said that cause he knows that at this point he doesn't have a snowball's chance in hell at making the Euro squad.

By the way, what's the age limit to be considered an "over-aged" player?

 

I think a lot of veteran superstars, particularly those that are likely going to be part of the Euro squad, will probably pass up the opportunity to play in the olympics so that players that didn't get to go to Euro will at least have the opportunity to represent Italy in some other major tournament.

Personally, I also don't see Nesta or Totti accepting olympic invitations. Say Italy flops at Euro and then both Nesta and Totti are willing to play for the olympic squad then it may create a bigger media $hit storm in italy then there already is. The media and the fanbase will absolutly rip these two to shreds because they weren't willing to help out the Azzurri in a major tournament like Euro, but they were on the other hand willing to give up their time to play in the olympics.

 

It was said the 3 over age players for Brazil are Juan(AS Roma),Kaka(AC Milan),Robinho(Real Madrid);for Argentina Mascherano(Liverpool FC),Riquelme(Boca Juniors),Demichelis(Bayern Muchen).If the above list is true,the South American duo should be the favorite finalists.
For me,I'd like to see 3 of Pirlo,Maldini,Inzaghi in Italian olympic team.Nesta,Totti,Del Piero will also be a fantastic choice.
A reasonable choice for Casiraghi is to use the players who were born on 1983 or 1984.I will name Chiellini,Aquillani,Pazzini.Pallardino,Rosina,Donadel are OK either.

 

I think it is time for Maldini to really call a time out. Please let him retire. I would like to see Nesta (most probably he won't be there, but it is wise to find a mature defender in the team), Pirlo and Toni (if possible). With Toni, no one can stop him, especially in this U-23 Olympics games.

 

i honetly think italy will draw against honduras.

 

it would be nice to c totti come to the team...i think ne player that goes to the euro cup obviously wont get called up...maybe inzaghi because i think del piero will be called up for euros...totti if they say hey totti come outta retirement to play for gold medal wit sum youngsters...ok i dont mean to be rude or nething but cmon totti playin for u23's could be a piece of cake for him...hed be comin off of injury so maybe he doesnt wanna but due to roma not winnin in cl n scudetto he wants to prove sumtin? i do hope roma catch up n win serie a tho...id like to see totti inzaghi n maldini all play...wouldnt it be sumtin for maldini to play? he didnt win his wc trophy but hes still goin strong...if he doesnt retire maybe he uses this as the proper send off?

 

I doubt totti would...remember, about the time of the olympics he will just be recovered (or still recovering) from his surgery, so I doubt he will go, plus roma would probably strongly discourage it anyways.

 

i kno hed be comin off the injury...but wit time off to heal n this will prepare him for season again..ah who knos...a italy brazil final wit kaka/robinho v totti/maldini would be fun to watch wit all the youngsters too...

 

These would be the guys I'd say should be in contention just by rambling whats on top of my head: -

Emiliano Viviano (Brescia)
Gianluca Curci (Roma)
Lorenzo De Silvestri (Lazio)
Marco Motta (Torino)
Fabiano Santacroce (Brescia)
Domenico Criscito (Genoa)
Paolo De Ceglie (Siena)
Ignazio Abate (Empoli)
Claudio Marchisio (Empoli)
Daniele Dessena (Parma)
Antonio Nocerino (Juventus)
Luca Cigarini (Parma)
Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina)
Sebastian Giovinco (Empoli)
Guiseppe Rossi (Villareal)
Roberto Acquafresca (Cagliari)
Alessio Cerci (Pisa)
Andrea Russotto (Treviso)
Mario Balotelli (Inter)
Alberto Paloschi (Milan)
Graziano Pelle (AZ Alkmaar)

As far as the over-age players it really depends who goes to the Euros, but I'd look very closely at these guys in particular who've played for U-21's recently.

Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina)
Marco Donadel (Fiorentina)
Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria)
Alessandro Rosina (Torino)
Alberto Aquilani (Roma)
Giampoalo Pazzini (Fiorentina)
Raffaele Palladino (Juventus)
Rolando Bianchi (Lazio)
Alberto Gilardino (Milan)

If Alessandro Del Piero doesn't go to Euros, then he should be considered also!