Italy's Euro 2008 Qualifying Group [R]

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

  1. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Miccoli did ok and so did most of the guys on Palermo but I think the difference between picking them over others is they lost. Let's look at the winning players from thewinning club's first. I can't understand why Donadoni won't pick Iaquinta as I think he is a great oportunist......as well as a good forward.
     
  2. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006

    You pretty much said, and that's basically ALL he has to offer. Otherwise the guy was pretty much useless! That goal against Ghana was due more to horrible defending by Kuffour than anything else, and other that that the guy was virtually useless. All his "runs down the right" only resulted in corners because the guy lacked the dribbling ability, lateral movement, and creativity to do anything significant with the ball on his foot! He would basically run the ball up the wings directly into the corner, hold the ball there and hope that the opposing defender would chip it out of bounds. He ran this same routine at least a half a dozen times during the WC and was VERY frustrating!
     
  3. iamtomas

    iamtomas Member

    May 2, 2004
    Do we know where the Oct 13 match v Georgia will be played??
     
  4. Cassano

    Cassano Member

    Jul 16, 2004
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    The Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa.
     
  5. iamtomas

    iamtomas Member

    May 2, 2004
    Thanks very much, now I just need tickets
     
  6. decola

    decola Member+

    Sep 12, 2006
    Club:
    AS Roma
    I don't want to get into a long debate about it, I do agree with you somewhat (I don't think he's as crap as you make out though). Like you said, winning the corners was frustrating, but that was entirely the point, to constantly keep the German defence working, defending corners, closing him down and generally tireing them out. I think the effectiveness of that was diminished slightly though as Lehmann had a very good game and kept rising and claiming the corner kicks in the air.
     
  7. squadra_azzurri

    squadra_azzurri Member+

    Aug 10, 2004
    Toronto
    Club:
    SS Lazio Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    are you saying Lippi was not wise picking Iaquinta. Lippi knows what Iaquinta is capable of. and Lippi knew what he can get out of Iaquinta, Lippi was fully aware. I guess you share your thoughts with Donadoni for iaquinta in thinking hes useless. He scored 2 versus Juventus right? if he can put the ball at the back of the net thats great because noone in italy can do that right now, and Di Natale was a mistake goal so i consider we lost 3-0 v hungary. I dont see why Donadoni doesnt call him up, but not this huge game versus France, it would have been good if Iaquinta played v Hungary instead Inzaghi.
     
  8. jpick

    jpick Member

    Jul 5, 2006
    jacksonville, FL
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    it's hard to say di natale's goal was luck, and then say iaquinta should get called up, as his first goal was a non-existent penalty that he converted (barely i might add, amelia got a hand to it) and his second goal was he couldn't get out of the way of a nedved shot fast enough, and it hit him in the rear and luckily went in. if we discount di natale's goal as luck, then both of iaquinta's goals fall into the same category.
     
  9. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I remember reading Bill Walsh's book when he described fullback Paul Hofer. He was tired that his only star player of the pre Super Bowl 49ers was labeled an "overacheiver". He said you were either an acheiver or not and there was no such thing as luck or overacheiving. I agree with that belief and do not believe in luck. There is no such thing as luck or having luck. You are either a player or not. Things may bounce one way or another and the ref may miss a call but there is no such thing as luck! Iaquinta deserves to be on the team and luck has nothing to do with it!
     
  10. jpick

    jpick Member

    Jul 5, 2006
    jacksonville, FL
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    my point wasn't that iaquinta is lucky, my point was you can't say di natale or inzaghi are lucky and discount their achievements, unless you discount iaquinta's goals. my point was about a double-standard, not trying to discount iaquinta.

    as for luck itself, you can be lucky over the short term, but over the long-term, if you continually seem to get lucky, then it ain't luck, it has to be chalked up to instinct, positioning, etc.
     
  11. ArtemioD

    ArtemioD Member+

    Jun 2, 2006
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Lost in his 2 goal performance saturday was the way the pace of the game changed as soon as he came onto the field. Besides the 2 goals that he scored was an assist on Trezeguet's 2nd goal. 4 goals with him on the field in about 30 minutes is pretty good.
     
  12. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006
    I didn't say Lippi wasn't wise, but I'm not saying that Donadoni ISN"T wise in not taking him either. Iaquinta in his natural position of CF isn't bad, but in the position of a supporting striker/winger he is an average player at best, and this was the capacity he was being used in by Lippi. From what I can see we don't need a player like Iaquinta in that kind of role on the Azzurri, and outside of that 1 goal in the World Cup I will still defend my opinion and say that he was practically useless and that someone like Rocchi or even Di Vaio would've done better in that role than he did because they are stronger players in the technical aspects of the game.

    Also, as jpick pointed out, Iaquinta's brace for Juve this past weekend was FAR from anything to brag about. A pk that barely got through, and an accidental deflection in my opinion aren't exactly goals that will wow an audience. And it definitely isn't enough for someone to discredit Di Natale's goal against Hungary either.

    I remember last year when this forum was a non-stop shooting gallery for insults and criticisms against Iaquinta. No one here ever had any favourable comments towards him, and that didn't change even after Italy won the world cup because once again his performances just weren't that good! Now ironically enough that he's on the great almighty JUVE he's suddenly seen in more of a positive light by some people. I personally couldn't care less what jersey he's wearing, because in the end it doesn't change the fact that he is still just a big, fast, MEDIOCRE player!
     
  13. falvo

    falvo Member+

    Mar 27, 2005
    San Jose & Florence
    Club:
    San Jose Earthquakes
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I herd them say in the domenica sportiva that there are only 7 Italian born central defenders playing for the big clubs in Italy. That's not a great number considering all the top club's. Milan, Inter, Juventus, Roma,
     
  14. dah_sab

    dah_sab New Member

    Mar 8, 2001
    Austin, TX
    I think this points out the genius of Lippi in his team selection for the World Cup. Iaquinta is a center forward. Lippi didn't use him in that position, but rather as a right winger charged with running his ass off up & down the right side in the last few minutes of matches. Iaquinta did as he was told w/o complaining & w/o suggesting after the Ghana match that maybe he should be starting up front since he just scored a goal.

    Lippi selected a selfless team player who worked his ass off playing out of position. Not only did he fulfill a role Lippi needed, he set an example for the rest of the team, showing how selfless team play is one vital component of a tournament-winning team.

    It's the little things like this, in conjunction with your superstars doing what's expected of them, that help teams win big tournaments. And I don't think the role Iaquinta filled should be shrugged off as something just anybody could have done. Yes there are some players who could have run up & down the wing busting their ass but how many would have done so w/o having their egos bruised?
     
  15. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006

    Granted, but wouldn't it have made more sense to use a natural winger in that position in the first place instead of try to convert our center forwards into wingers? I understand what you're trying to say and I appreciate Iaquinta's work ethic and team spirit, but logically speaking he just did not sink into that role or adapt as one would've hoped. As we've pointed out already all his big runs up and down the right wing really did was either result in the ball being turned over to the opposition,a throw in, or (if we were lucky enough) in a corner kick in our favour. Otherwise though it did not do much in terms of the desired final result which was to generate some scoring opportunities.

    I'm all for hard working players, but unfortunately sometimes a lot of heart and work ethic just does not compensate for a lack of overall technical ability.
     
  16. malicia

    malicia New Member

    Sep 11, 2006
    a cold dark place
    Club:
    FC Barcelona
    Exactly! If he's not good enough at his own position, why should he be there at all? Matrix was iffy at first, but pulled his form up incredibly. Iaquinta didn't.

    Coaches aren't infallible. Often they select players for other reasons: friends (Arena), family (LaVolpe), astrology (Domenech), the list goes on. Iaquinta just isn't national team material imho. Stop-gap player maybe. But there are other better options.
     
  17. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006
    There are better options. At first I thought Lippi was bringing him because we didn't have too many suitable CF's who could replace Toni in the event that he went down with injury, and because Iaquinta is a pretty decent PK taker. But when i saw he kept using him as a winger all it did was make think "what the hell is the point of this guy even being on the team, let alone the field!?". Anyways, I doubt very many ppl have shed a tear over the fact that iaquinta has pretty much fallen off the Azzurri radar.
     
  18. Via Vetulonia

    Via Vetulonia New Member

    Mar 2, 2007
    Roma
    Well, it worked with Bettega and Riva...
     
  19. jpick

    jpick Member

    Jul 5, 2006
    jacksonville, FL
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    you just compared those two to iaquinta, renounce your italian citizenship immediately or else you will be forcibly thrown into exile :D
     
  20. gumbacicc

    gumbacicc Member+

    Dec 7, 2004
    USA
    I'm not the biggest Iaquinta fan in the world, but to say that he was practically useless at the World Cup is untrue. Apart from the goal against Ghana, he was critical in the Germany match, working his ass off on the wing.

    I wouldn't have any problem with Donadoni selecting him as a substitute player.
     
  21. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006
    So we should select him based on one courageous performance against Germany last year? Doesn't seem like a justifiable reason to me...
     
  22. Kqql

    Kqql Member

    Sep 22, 2003
    Matrix on his injury ......................



     
  23. gumbacicc

    gumbacicc Member+

    Dec 7, 2004
    USA
    No, he should be selected because he deserves it. He has proven to be a quality Serie A striker for years now and could not have gotten off to a better start with Juve.

    There is no doubt in my mind that he can be very serviceable with teh NT, as he has been in the past, in a limited role off the sub's bench.
     
  24. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006
    It's your opinion and ur entitled to it. Personally think that there are currently better options though.
     
  25. Kqql

    Kqql Member

    Sep 22, 2003
    RECAP


    W/O Camo, Toni, Di Natale, and Matrix

    Italy 1 vs Lithuania 1
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOQLTuc3fOE

    France 3 vs Italy 1
    http://video.uefa.com/Video/Competi...?RURL=http://video.uefa.com/video/index.html#

    -> W/Camo, Toni, Di Natale and Matrix

    Italy 2 vs Ukraine 0
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UBnAl6AInk

    Georgia 1 vs Italy 3
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW5EA40bXTQ

    Italy 2 vs Scotland 0
    http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/italy+vs/video/x1kj6a_italia-vs-scozia-20

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrSaCy_YaHE

    -> W/O Camo, Toni, Zamorotta, and Di Natale

    Faroe Island 1 vs Italy 2
    http://youtube.com/watch?v=_81vJJnsOcg

    http://video.uefa.com/Video/Competi...?RURL=http://video.uefa.com/video/index.html#

    -> W/O Camo and Toni

    Lithuania 0 vs Italy 2
    http://video.uefa.com/Video/Competi...?RURL=http://video.uefa.com/video/index.html#

    -> W/O Toni and Matrix + W/O Di Natlie for most of the game

    Italy 0 vs France 0
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSJKo3fDXxk

    http://video.google.com/videoplay?d...33&start=30&num=10&so=1&type=search&plindex=6

    ==================================

    W/O Camo, Gattusso and De Rossi
    Hungary 3 - Italy 1

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZGotL3bAivg
     

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