Italy's Euro 2008 Qualifying Group [R]

Discussion in 'Italy: National Teams' started by Cassano, Jan 26, 2006.

  1. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006
    So you're gonna try to justify his role on the squad today based on his scoring totals from when he was 23 years old? Come on man! This season the guy managed only 2 goals in 20 appearances! 2 GOALS!!! All he had to do was score a brace (a far from impressive brace I might add) against Liverpool to get two call ups for the qualifiers against the Faroe Islands and Lithuania! Meanwhile someone like Gila that lead Milan in goal scoring was left at home! In my opinion Pippo is only receiving call ups based on DOnadoni's typical Italian coach's hesitance to try out new talent, and on INzaghi name recognition. In this case we might as well start calling up Vieri as well then based on that beautiful goal he scored for Atalanta last season!

    As far as I'm concerned I still don't see the legitimacy in giving Pippo as many call ups as he's been getting. Sure, he scored a brace against the mighty defense of the Faroe Islands, but against Lithuania the guy was practically invisible and was well contained by an average Lithuanian defense. Now imagine him trying to crack a French backline led by Thurham! This guy will get eaten alive!

    And for whoever tried using Pele's comments as a reason for further justification of Pippo's "quality", also remember that Pele didn't even include Inzaghi's name in his list of 125 greatest living soccer players. So take those comments for what they were.

    Plain and simple, INzaghi is and always has been nothing more than a really good goal poacher with good positioning, but horrible run timing and sub-par technical abilities.
     
  2. dah_sab

    dah_sab New Member

    Mar 8, 2001
    Austin, TX
    Nice post gonzalezraul. That's the best & most spirited defense of Pippo I've read. Wish I'd written it myself.

    I'm not bothered enough to get quite so bent out of shape about it, but despite my club allegiance I have always been an admirer of Inzaghi and especially the way he reacts to scoring -- like he's saying f**k you to everyone who ever doubted him. Such an angry little man.

    I'm not old enough to have seen Der Bomber play but it seems like a reach to say Pippo's better than Müller. Regardless, Inzaghi's goal-scoring record speaks for itself. Much like Trezeguet, "all" he does is score goals.
     
  3. Via Vetulonia

    Via Vetulonia New Member

    Mar 2, 2007
    Roma
    Yes, Müller was probably the best attacante d'area that ever was. Really, it's always two extremes here. "Inzaghi sucks" - "NO! He's better than Müller was!".

    I'm just saying that we can all agree that Inzaghi is a very skilled poacher, a penalty box striker. I don't see the point of playing an attacante d'area, who should be a seconda punta - as a prima punta.

    He will score goals no matter what, but using him as a prima punta in a tridente/4-2-3-1 is really odd to me. He doesn't help create or bring other players into action, he's not going to knock down long balls. He'll score a goal but he's not going to get any of the other 10 guys into the action like a ariete or a skilled seconda punta would.

    If Inzaghi is going to play, he can't play by himself. It's one thing when it's Milan with Seedort, Kaka and Pirlo that play 60 games a year with each other and he plays by himself because of injuries to other players.

    To be honest, I think gli azzurri should either use a Juve style tridente if Toni is healthy, perhaps Bianchi might be tried, being as he will have played a few more games before everyone else - plus Amauri fits into that system well, not to mention Di Natale and Quagliarella.

    If not that, then why not the Roma system of 03/04/05 with two mezze punte and a winger. Di Natale and Quagliarella plus Diana, perhaps.
     
  4. gumbacicc

    gumbacicc Member+

    Dec 7, 2004
    USA
    You were arguing that Inzaghi's success can only be attributed to his supporting cast. As such, I brought up an example of a time in his career when his supporting cast was not so good, yet he managed to become the top scorer in the world's most difficult league. Consequently, Juve recognized how good he was and quickly picked him up.

    And I think it is unfair to just bring up his scoring record in the Serie A this season, given the fact he was coming back from injury. You fail to mention that when he regained his fitness and was playing regularly in the Champions League, he scored six goals in 12 matches including the two that sunk Liverpool in the final.

    Also, Inzaghi is still being selected for the NT because he remains one of the top strikers in Italy along with Toni, Gilardino and Del Piero. The blame you cast upon Donadoni for still selecting him can also be attributed to Lippi who also selected him en route to the World Cup.

    I don't understand how you can automatically predict that Inzaghi would fail against France. Quite frankly, that is mere speculation unsupported by anything of substance. He has shown throughout his career the ability to score against ANYONE.

    Nonetheless, he still goes down as on of the greatest strikers of all time, with a brilliant scoring record, a World Cup, a Toyota Cup, multiple Champions League trophies and scudettos.
     
  5. ArtemioD

    ArtemioD Member+

    Jun 2, 2006
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    The only reason Lippi included Inzaghi is because Vieri was hurt. If Vieri did not get hurt Inzaghi would not have been on the team. Fast Forward to now. If Vieri is healthy I myself would rather see him in there over Inzaghi any day of the week. One must remember that Vieri has the best strike rate of all the Italian strikers active. And he is much harder to contain because he is the most physical striker that has ever played the game.
     
  6. DDR

    DDR Moderator
    Staff Member

    Jun 13, 2006
    Club:
    AS Roma
    I think most people here right now are over rating Pippo based on the CL final. Don't get me wrong I've got nothing against Inzaghi, I actually like him. However I don't think he belongs on the National team any longer. He's too old and way past his prime.

    The man is born goal scorer and will always score, but it's pretty evident these days he can only score under given circumstances. He didn't shine durring the season and really didn't shine much in the CL. If he's to be on the NT then he should be used the way Lippi used him. Lippi threw him on the pitch knowing the circumstances were right for an Inzaghi goal. We were up 1-0 and they were down a man.
     
  7. Via Vetulonia

    Via Vetulonia New Member

    Mar 2, 2007
    Roma
    Well, this is the 2007 Thurham we're talking about. What happened?
     
  8. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006
    Exactly. The most i'd ever consider using Pippo for is in a super sub role, and the same goes for Del Piero. Personally I'd rather not use either of them anymore period and start focusing on gradually introducing new talent into the mix, but if Donadoni lacks the courage to do so then these old timers shouldn't be used in anything more than a substitute capacity.

    You guys can rant on and on as much as you want about Pippo and his tremendous goal scoring history. As far as I'm concerned when it comes to PRESENT-day situations there are numerous younger, more consistent, and more in-form strikers that I'd much rather have in international competition than Pippo. Pippo had his days on top. When he was younger he was able to compensate for his lack of technical skill. But now at 34 years old he doesn't have much left in him to compensate for that lack of skill. He can't physically overpower defenders, he has sub-par ball movement or creativity, and he's average in the air at best.

    Now, as far as him being able to beat defenders with well timed runs, which has been his saving grace throughout most his career, I don't even think he can use that to his advantage anymore. With his age and recent string of injuries, he also seems to have lost a step in terms of his acceleration and getting that first jump on defenders. And we all know that when Inzaghi can't beat defenders in that off-side position, then he's pretty much useless.

    Inzaghi has my respect for what he's done in his career. But if this NT is looking to build a good squad for 2008 then it has to start by reducing its dependance on older veterans that have lost a step or two, and start focusing on their younger guys (mid-late 20's) that are currently in the prime of their careers, and not on the DECLINE.
     
  9. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Obviously, Donadoni doesn't think so and that is all that matters at this stage. Eranio was used by Sacchi in WCQ matches and scored an important goal in leading the azzurri to WC 1994. Both Zola & Casiraghi were used in the WCQ runs to WC 1998 and weren't picked for the final 22 man roster. The bottom line is whomever is used during the qualifying phase doesn't mean they will automatically win a place on the squad next June.

    At this point in time however, these are the most important players that will be getting Italy thru the qualifying process. Does this mean this is the final roster for Euro 2008? No it just means at this point in time, this is probably the strongest lineup available to the CT. This happens with every qualifying run. I've never seen the full group of players used in the qualifying phase taken to the finals. There is still a full season and 10 months away to debate on who will be on the final team and I'm sre others will emerge. We just can't predict the future.
     
  10. decola

    decola Member+

    Sep 12, 2006
    Club:
    AS Roma
    That;s good news, Coupet is a really good goalie. Any idea who their second goalie is? Is it still Barthez? If so, good good, because Barthez is prone to screwing up.
     
  11. Matteo4Azzurri

    Sep 2, 2006
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Quagliarella got 7 goals today :eek:
     
  12. Cassano

    Cassano Member

    Jul 16, 2004
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    either Landreau or Frey. Frey was called up in June if I'm not mistaken.
     
  13. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006
    lol, so I read. Although it was against a lowly local side, it's still good to see that Quags' eye for goal is only getting stronger and stronger.
     
  14. gumbacicc

    gumbacicc Member+

    Dec 7, 2004
    USA
    Was the other team playing a goalkeeper? ;)
     
  15. Via Vetulonia

    Via Vetulonia New Member

    Mar 2, 2007
    Roma
    Well, if Frey plays, it may be worse because he obviously knows the Azzurri strikers and oh, I forgot, he was probably the best keeper in A last year and will be number two behind a certain Buffon this year.
     
  16. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
  17. jpick

    jpick Member

    Jul 5, 2006
    jacksonville, FL
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    that's pretty awesome, sounds like it will be a great environment. at least, this time, most of the team will have two games under their belts, unless last year, where they had zero games.

    can't wait to see that match
     
  18. FNU

    FNU BigSoccer Yellow Card

    Mar 6, 2007
    Monte Vesuvio
    Club:
    SSC Napoli
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    But on the flip, the strikers know him well too. ;) I still rate Coupet higher than Frey, although he's no pushover. Advantage us? Hope so.
     
  19. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006
    One player that I'm still anxious to see thrown into the mix is Miccoli. He's finally back in Italy with a guaranteed starting spot with Palermo. He has also been fantastic in pre-season friendlies and if healthy, he can easily be one of the top forwards in Italy. We've been wondering who can become our new #10, and personally I think that Miccoli has the tools to do so if he stays healthy.
     
  20. Kqql

    Kqql Member

    Sep 22, 2003
    G Rossi scored 2 goal against Frey last season.....

    http://www.fcparma.com/it/Dettaglio.aspx?Id=109114&mediatype=video

    but looks Frey will not be starting..

     
  21. Via Vetulonia

    Via Vetulonia New Member

    Mar 2, 2007
    Roma
  22. Via Vetulonia

    Via Vetulonia New Member

    Mar 2, 2007
    Roma
    Speaking about well defined roles, as an attacante d'area Montella was blatantly superior, not to mention the fact that he had a lot more tools in his box.

    I wonder how he's going to do at Samp.
     
  23. gumbacicc

    gumbacicc Member+

    Dec 7, 2004
    USA
    We'll have to agree to disagree on this point as we've discussed it extensively. I believe we've both made our views very clear.
     
  24. Reazzurro90

    Reazzurro90 New Member

    Jun 10, 2006
    Connecticut, USA
    If he was so foolish France wouldn't have defeated Italy 3-1 in Paris....


    Let's not underestimate him. He's unusual to say the least, but definitely not stupid.

    But anyways, do you guys think the friendlies and games the teams have been playing lately, plus the friendly against Hungary, the suppercoppa and the two league games should give the players enough form to face the French?

    If so, then I believe Donadoni can take us through there. I believe he's a capable enough coach. He's improved drastically.
     
  25. jpick

    jpick Member

    Jul 5, 2006
    jacksonville, FL
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    all i can say is, considering those few weeks plus relatively non tumultuous and full preseason with materazzi and most likely toni able to play and fully fit, it should be much better than last year, not even counting that now the azzurri have the revenge factor and are at home. another week would have been really nice, but compared to last year, the squad should be much better prepared.
     

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