Friendly: Italy - Ivory Coast (August 10th, 2010) [R]

Re: August 11 Friendly

It's either Armenia or a non-euro team at a neutral site.

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

From Football Italia


'No one wants to play Italy'
Monday 28 June, 2010
Italy are reportedly struggling to find an opponent for Cesare Prandelli's inaugural match in charge of La Nazionale.

The FIGC have been trying to organise a friendly August 11, but their tardiness means Armenia are the only possible European opponent.

Sections of the Italian media believe this shows that Italy's problems go beyond the team itself and point to institutional confusion.

Prandelli has organised a training camp for August 9, but there might be no opponent to test out his theories until September 3 when Italy open the qualifying campaign for the European Championship against Estonia.

Mediaset understands Prandelli is unhappy with the FIGC's efforts thus far as it might mean Italy have to travel either to a neutral venue or somewhere far afield to play a friendly, which won't endear the Azzurri's new boss to the peninsula's clubs.

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

armenia is not good practice for azzuri, for armenians it'll be great


how could italy not get a friendly? im sure they will, maybe its cuz everyone is focused on world cup now

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

If they flew out to the NJ and played in the new Giants stadium the US national team would play them and they would have a full house

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

How about IReland, Czech Rep, Turkey, teams that missed the WC? Im all for the US friendly but not at Giants stadium ! I would want it in LA at the HomeDepot Ctr so I could go!

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

Curious. When I was thinking of a good adversary for this day, one of the very first teams that came to mind was Armenia.

I think adversaries like Armenia, Albania, Moldova or Macedonia would do fine. This is not a time to take on the big challenges just yet.

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

I think that date and stadium is already filled with a visit from Brazil.

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

Playing Norway is always fun

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

agreed! Plus I see Brazil always playing much inferior teams in friendles, they go to Dubai and play Bahrain, etc.... I think playing such inferior teams helps build teamwork between their players. Italy should do the same, play crap teams, beat them 5-0 and build your confidence and teamwork ability for the big boys.

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

In that case they should come play Canada

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

Brasile is playing Team USA in Red Bulls Stadium on August 11.

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

They are playing in the new Giants stadium AKA Meadowlands. Some of the ticket prices are nuts. Best seat- $385.00 and that's the face price

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

Prandelli's debut comes Aug 10 in London

http://www.football-italia.net/jun29q.html

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

Yes, Brazil always had a tendency of playng friendlies against minor opponents and it somehow seems to work. Italy should try the same, but now there are already talking of Uruguay, Ivory Coast and Egypt? Not really sure this is the best course of action.

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

I think Egypt would be my choice here. Uruguay game has 0-0 written all over it. Ivory Coast is an unpredictable game really, could go either way. Egypt however, should be able to test our defense, but not be able to break us down.. and give our new attack a chance to shine.

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

The Ivory Coast it is.

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

nice! Should be a good early test for the new team! Drogba should test our defense !

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

I really hope Prandelli can call a good squad for this match. Any result other than a victory won't do any good to start changing the impression gli Azzurri's left in all the matches played this year, and Ivory Coast is no walk in the park.

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

best of luck to prandelli, i hope to see the likes of cassano, rossi, borriello and perhaps miccoli

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

Where are you reading this? I think this is a good thing, throw them to the lions and see who is tough enough to sweat the shirt.

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

That's what I'm saying.

What's the point of these friendly games if the opponent is easy as hell? Chiellini said it best, Italy needs to play hard teams to get up for the games. It's a friendly, so might as well make it be against tougher opponents who will give this team a better measuring stick as to how they measure up against tough competition.

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

So Ivory Coast turns out to be an appropriate opponent if that's the approach mentality.

But playing weaker teams may be good for the squad's morale, as some say.

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

BTW, it had nothing to do with teams being focused on the WC, most of the teams had already picked opponents well before then. Another case of the federation embarrassing itself with its head asleep up its ass. We can't even put decent websites together, how can they expect to organize anything?

Ivory Coast is a good opponent, they are lucky they were available. Are you guys serious? Too scared to play a good team? No wonder some of these players have a softer mentality than a metrosexual out on the town. Especially with it being a friendly. You don't have to worry about losing at all. Haven't you guys learned anything?

It's a shame what our mentality has become. I watch old highlights of Italy and see forwards running straight through defenders. You think they were looking for any bit of contact? Hell no, they were going in to score. Now a Frenchman is tougher than one of our players, how sad.

 

Re: August 11 Friendly

Anybody know where you can buy tickets for this game?