It is when you have unlimited subs and you want to take a look at some players while you have them at your disposal. That's the point of friendlies. Overall, I'm excited about the Azzurri right now. Once this revamped team develops chemistry, we will have a very solid team. My biggest disappointment tonight has been the defending. Should be much tighter.
Italy could easily have 4 goals right now. The chances were there, just begging to be finished. Not sure if some of these guys have nerves tonight or not, but Italy SHOULD have a few goals at least.
Motta, Bonucci and Pepe have been Juventini for two matches prior to this game. Molinaro hasn't been one since January. What's your point? Ridiculous Juventus trolling. You all blamed Lippi before, now its your boy Prandelli making the picks.
I don't think the problem has been finishing but, rather, that Italy is still 3 weeks away from starting its season. Most clubs are just now entering their 2nd phase of training.
Yep.. I noticed this throughout the first half.. there were moves being made, but the quality in the players showed. Cassano and Balotelli went forward with the ball, while others seemingly slowed play down, and broke up moves.
Must be! Lippi had the Juve bias and he ensured it stayed on even though he is no longer running the show.
Glimpses of hope, but still much work to be done. Just need to finish and and Pirlo on the pitch and we are much improved up front than last month. Backline will improve and most definitely needs to. Love what little I saw of Rossi. Don't think he will be a sub for long - too much pace and touch to sit. Still have rough patches, but enough positives today to have hope. Chins up fratelli.
My point is that we should do without the 'Juve block'. Motta, Bonucci, Pepe, Amauri....there are better alternatives. I hope they started only because they're currently fitter. And I'm mostly talking about the long term.
First two subs changed the game in my opinion. With Balotelli and Amauri on I felt we still had a chance to equalize, because the attack looked very dangerous in the first half.. but bringing on Borriello and Quaglirella just made it feel like Lippi's team minus the chemistry.
As compared to the World Cup, this side was definitely more dynamic. It was evident that the insertion of Balotelli and Cassano (although not at his best) sparked some creative flair. The biggest issue IMO remains our inability to score. In the World Cup and its lead up, we weren't creating chances. Now, we had chances, with all our "world class" strikers out there, and no one can capitalize. This, in turn, put more pressure on our defense and they were exposed on a mistake. They weren't terrible, however. Balotelli and Cassani were the most impressive players for me.
it was very clear that ivory coast were athletically superior towards the end, we ran out of gas and were just hitting hopeless long balls. we need more quality at the back, if that is only a matter of the team "gelling", or lack of talent from motta and bonnuci, i'm not sure, either way we did not look very solid in the back. i am a little upset at losing to the ivory coast. while it is a friendly, it is still yet another loss for Italy, and it looks bad. anyway im very confident in prandelli.
And, my point is that it's kind of harsh to even consider those 4-5 players a "Juve" block. Who else is still part of the Juve block, Candreva, Marchionni, heck Cassani spent some years there. Pazzini is being linked with us.... Let's not forget Prandelli was once a Juve player, as Nicky happaned to point out to us all LOL. Man, getting away from those Juventus players is just inescapable!
+1 Once again, a lot of these guys are still trying to find match fitness and shake off considerable rust. Just keep in mind that in Lippi's first friendly match as NT coach, just before WC 06 qualifying, we lost 2-0 against the mighty ICELAND. We all remember how that story ended though I'm sure.
Prandelli was a great Juve player but I hardly think that he feels some great allegiance to the club; otherwise, he would be Juve's manager right now.
hard to judge this game cuz of the heavy rain i saw last 30min and for the most part everyone was pretty good, i just with they'd stop rushing at times and look for the pass or help each other out...when someone got the ball get into empty space so they can pass....also stop with the impossible thru balls and hail mary long balls i think the top should be like this pepe----- rossi ----- cassano --------- borriello/guags-----