Although the Euro is an important tournament, Italy rarely does well in this Cup...they made 4th place when they hosted it in 1980 then missed in 84 after they had won the world cup 2 years earlier. They did ok in 88 then made WC 90 3rd place & missed the Euro again in 92. Then they made the WC final in 94 and sucked again in Euro 1996...They made the Euro final in 2000 but then lost to France then they sucked again in EURO 2004 while winning the WC 2 years later in 06. Therefore, if you look at the pattern its almost like they care more about the WC and not the Euros or at least they need the 4 years to recuperate between the Cups. I for one won't be all that disappointed if Italy doesn't make this tournament. This is not because I don't want them qualify and not see them do well because I really do but I'd think they need the time to rebuild for WC 2010. Let's face it, I doubt Cannavaro, Matrix and many others will still be on the team in 2010.....We need to find new young blood and rebuild! WCQ starts next September.
Thought people might like to see this report from The Guardian today. Domenech has already started his whining and taking a swipe at Italia. B*tch.
This guy never ceases to amaze me. Still, he's good for 1) a laugh, and 2) giving the Azzurri some added motivation.
I don't think that's very fair. The only time we've seen him play for the Azzurri in like the last 6 months was in that friendly against South Africa, and he actually performed very well once he came on in the second half almost scoring twice and creating some decent chances. I've always been confident in Gila as a player and the prospect of him braking out of this funk that he's been in over the past year. A player of that talent doesn't just stop playing well. With his last few performances with Milan you can easily see the rise in his confidence and I think it will only continue to build as the season progresses. I have no doubts that he will eventually reclaim his place on the Azzurri as a regular.
, i have huge doubts still. he did this last year where he had like 6 goals in 6 or something like that and then he went back to slumping, so i am still holding out my praise, thugh i have left him on my fantasy team, so that counts for something.
lol, oh that one, i forgot you were in that one, i thought you were talking about another one, i'm an idiot.
Yep...looks like Gila's form is back http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcN1LhI4jWI and luca Toni is in fine form http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St7B_pSZw7M http://www.dailymotion.com/search/bayern/video/x3crti_bayern-munchen-gladbach-20_sport
Well if Vieri was in form or even not injured he would probably have got the call to be on the final 23 man roster for WC 2006. I think he would have gone before before Pippo and maybe even before Gila or Iaquinta as he was always Lippi's top choice and main man. If he finds his form he is deadly!
Gila always played well for Lippi, but I think if Bobo was fit he would have gone ahead of Pippo or Laquinta @ the WC But Don' bud Luccerlli probably will be ahead of Bobo
FIXED SPELLING! Lucarelli has a little advantage because he was Donadoni's man at Livorno but maybe his playing in Russia might hinder his chances. Then again he did scoree recently against South Africa when the CT picked a "B" team, so who knows? I feel a little sorry for Super Pippo as it looks like his time has passed although I think he is the leading scorer with 3 goals during the Euro Qualifying run. Unless he starts showing something with Milan, I think his azzurri days may be over.
If Bobo was healthy I think Inzaghi would have been watching the World Cup from the stands. Lippi always said how he admired Iaquinta's versatility. But then again you never know. One thing is for sure though, if Aimo Diana was healthy Simone Barone would have been at home watching the World Cup.
I don't at all! Lets face it, in spite of sub-par form with Milan last season (3 goals all season I believe?) he has still been a frequent call up by DOnadoni for over a year! On top of that, he has been quite disappointing in every single match other than that 2 goal performance against the Faroe Islands last summer! Inzaghi got MORE than his fair share of opportunities under DOn, and at 34 years old, I'm afriad it is definitely time to start giving some younger, more in-form players the opportunity to shine. But as far as it stands, it looks as though Lucarelli may have cemented his place on the NT as Toni's back up at center forward. His history with Don does play a huge part, but that brace against South Africe only helped his cause even more. As for Vieri, as much as I love the guy and what he has given to the NT in the past, I am still very skeptical with the idea of bringing back a 34 year old center forward that had spent over a year on the injury list. Granted, he worked hard during the summer and has displayed fine form with Fiorentina, but in my opinion dropping ADP and Inzaghi and bringing in Lucarelli and Vieri instead isn't all the much of a step forward for the National Team. Then again, at this point we don't have a wealth of options to back up Toni at center forward. Hopefully Boriello can keep up his strong form though.
Considering that Inzaghi was on a roll with Milan that season, scoring goals in the double digits primarily as a SUB, while Vieri only managed a handful of goals with both Monaco and Milan, it can be highly disputed as to whether or not Lippi would've given him the nod over a then in-form Inzghi. But of course, we all know full well how much Lippi adored Vieri, so his chances would've been very strong indeed.
I agree with you about 34 year old center forwards starting at the national team level. Its just that you wonder why father time has to step in the span of maybe only 1-2 years and all of a sudden these stars seem to be washed up? You see players like Brian McBride having no business to start in the World Cup at 34 years of age but then they perform well and continue to score at the club level. Club and Euo league play is a much better and higher level than the World Cup teams are at. Italy is a little different that the EPL. In the end only 23 players get picked with 3 GK's usually 8 midfielder's & defenders and unfortunately, you can only bring 4 forwards. You have Toni, Iaquinta, Totti, DelPiero, Lucarelli,Gilardino,Di Natale,Quagliarella or Rocchi? I mean who do you take??? Let's face it even though Del Piero ,Totti & Inzaghi are washed up in November, I doubt we've seen the last of them at Coverciano.
Italy can't keep calling up players in there mid thirties, at some point you have to but your foot down and say no, Inzaghi and Vieri as much as I like them dont belong on this team.
No way! If there is any player in the world who can write his own ticket and walk onto a national team whenever he wants, its Francesco Totti!