Hi it's my first time to create a new thread, I didn't go thru the old threads, so sorry if this is duplicated or being discussed before. As Ventura is the NT now, somehow his surname reminds me Ventola, haha. I liked him cos he was handsome and could arguably compare with David Beckham in the 90's. And with his skill, he could play along with Baggio, Ronaldo and Zamorano in Inter at that time until Mostro Vieri arrived. However, there were many good Italian forwards in that period, he couldn't even reach the edge of Azzurri. Another one i would name is Pasquale Foggia, i think he was a great version of Candreva, but Donadoni and Lippi still attached with downhill Camoranesi in 2008-2010. So let's throw some names! I was born in 80s, and I am the host, so please don't give me the names back to 70s, lets focus the players in or after 90s. I guess someone would mention Miccoli
Despite him being so up and down for club these last two years, De Rossi ALWAYS shows up for his country. He had a great game against Belgium, his absence was certainly felt against Germany.
Foggia's peak was relatively short. I agree that he was probably good enough to play for Italy at some point. Italy could have used a creative winger like him circa 2008. Unfortunately he was pretty much done by the age of 30. I don't remember if he was injury prone. Who remembers Dario Hubner?
Foggia was OK in my eyes. I liked Mauro Esposito. Wasn't he on the 06 world cup shortlist or went to the training camp or something?
Holy shit. I just looked up pictures of Mauro Esposito and he looks exactly like a cross between Inzaghi and Giaccherini
When I was a kid, I thought Enrico Chiesa would be a superstar, but he never really made the jump after a great season at Samp (22 goals in 27 games).
Dario Hubner was a goal machine who unfortunately bloomed too late. By the time he peaked, Italy already had strikers like Bobone, Inzaghi, Montella etc.
Pino "BATMAN" Tagliatela was good enough to play for Italy in the mid 90's IMO. At least as a 3rd keeper. But we had the hulk Angelo Peruzzi as our starter
Yep. Something went down when Lippi was at Inter between the two @falvo can probably provide details. Seems like almost all the players Lippi snubbed was down to something personal between them.
I am not sure but I think Panucci refused to be put into a game while he was on the bench and that started it. The same thing happened at Roma when Fabio Capello wanted to put him in against Reggina in Reggio but he refused. Fabio then applauded him sarcastically but supposedly they remained friends and actually played golf together the next day.
Yea he had issues with Panucci as he did with Baggio too. I think his issues with Panucci was something to do with his so . Can't remember. How could anyone not remember the legend Dario Hubner! chiesa was awesome, he was a star really. Went to shit when he left parma. I always remember this goal he scored where thd ball was crossed from the wing to the center of the pitch, about 25m out from goal, a parma player ran towards it and chested it (think it was Benarrivo ), Chiesa ran towards him and took the ball of his chest with his right thigh then smashed a left foot vollley in. Amazing goal, can't recall who it was against, maybe samp.
This thread is making me nostalgic. Chiesa & Crespo were such a strikeforce Still as good as Chiesa was, I thought it was shitty of Maldini to bring him to France over Zola. Especially since Zola helped Italy qualify. Does anyone remember what his reasoning was? Also I really thought this MADMAN could have helped Italy's dull 1998 midifield
Yes, the reason was because Maldini was a cock, no doubt Zola wasn't called up because he played outside of Italy (think he was at this time. But that's not why Maldini was a cock, he was cock insisted that drl piero be the star of the world cup, there was zero reason to play an off form adp over an inform Baggio (well he was always in form) but maldini just kept leaving ghe pony tail on yhe bench, it was as retarded as some other knobhead not making any subs going before extra time then penalties. Alessandro Rosina, theres another one from P.Foggias time who had serious talent.
Paolo Maldini said his dad Cesare Maldini always had a high esteem for Roby Baggio and that is why he picked him over Zola, even though Gianfranco scored against England in the qualifying round. I'm not sure exactly why ADP played over him but in my honest opinion, since 1970 onward, Baggio was the best Italian player ever. Watching Sfide on rai and they are now talking about Fabio Cannavaro....
Man those Parma teams of the late 90s could have been special had they stayed together. Cannavaro, Thuram, Buffon, Crespo, Veron, Chiesa, Fiore, Dino Baggio, Fuser, to name a few. Defintely could have used Di Canio's creativity over the likes of Moriero.