Re: Italy vs Spain in August Portieri - Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli) Sirigu (Paris St. Germain); Difensori - Balzaretti (Palermo), Bonucci (Juventus) Cassani (Palermo), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Zenit St. Pietroburgo), Maggio (Napoli), Ogbonna (Torino), Ranocchia (Inter); Centrocampisti - Aquilani (Liverpool), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Motta Thiago (Inter), Nocerino (Palermo), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pirlo (Juventus); Attaccanti - Balotelli (Manchester City), Cassano (Milan), Giovinco (Parma), Pazzini (Inter), Rossi (Villarreal). http://www.tuttomercatoweb.com/?action=read&id=286229
Re: Italy vs Spain in August Prandelli selecting Ogbonna is like him indirectly telling serie A clubs "SOMEONE BUY THIS GUY ALREADY." I find it interesting he did not select Matri. Everything is more less how everyone predicted the squad would look like. But for Palombo :
Re: Italy vs Spain in August whats up with palombo? is he playing with samp in serie B or did anyone pick him up? if he's not good enough for serie A he doesnt belong in national team. and wheres viviano? i thought he was 2nd choice i bet he'll play this line up ----------- buffon ------------ cassani-- ranochia--chiellini0-- criscito ------ de rossi --- motta ------------ balotelli ---- rossi ------- cassano --- ----------- pazzini ------------------ but thats weird seems like he only brought pazzini as a true striker, i wonder who he will replace him with in 2nd half
Re: Italy vs Spain in August I like the squad and looking forward to the match against Spain next Wednesday. I am happy that Ogbonna and Balotelli got a call up. If Prandelli can solve Balotelli sometimes uncontrolled behavior, the world better watch out. Viviano won't make the trip because of the serious injury he picked up during training last week. Matri didn't get called up because Prandelli chose Balotelli instead. I was hoping for Cassano to be dropped because his form is just terrible atm, while Matri has been playing regularly for the past 3 weeks now. What bother me to this day is...WHERE IS IGNAZIO ABATE?? What's taking Prandelli so long to call him up? trade place Cassani or Maggio already. Other than that is all good!! FORZA AZZURRI!!
Re: Italy vs Spain in August Good call on Abate, even without him its a solid squad. It'll be interesting to see how we fare against Spain.
Re: Italy vs Spain in August thats one serious attack we have there with Balo, Rossi and Cassano supporting Pazzo.... I would put Pirlo instead of Motta just because of his creativity and passing, he could really open things up for us on counter attacks against a very attacking minded Spain.
Re: Italy vs Spain in August The thing is we need ball winners who can run against spain. They hold the ball and like to control the game, pass after pass they try to confuse the opponent. I'm not sure if pirlo is up for that job...and also we gotta slowly transition from pirlo, we're too dependent on him. He shouldnt be in national team after euro 12
Re: Italy vs Spain in August It is imperative that we have a mobile midfield with at least two of Motta, De Rossi and Nocerino. ----------- Buffon ------------ Maggio-- Bonucci--Chiellini-- Balzaretti ---------Motta --De Rossi----------- ------------Nocerino---------------- -------Balotelli---------Rossi------- -------------Pazzini ----------------- Rossi would provide more pace to counterattack and more work-rate than Cassano. I don't see Spain fielding an attacking full back on the left so Balotelli's lack of defensive cover would not be too detrimental. Nocerino to play a shuttling role to limit Busquets or Xavi (whoever is the deepest for Spain.)
Re: Italy vs Spain in August Isn't ABate injured till the end of August or something? As for the squad, I really like what I see. Prandelli is sticking to his guns and focusing on maintaining a squad that is build on skill and creativity. I'll be honest, I'm not expecting us to come away with a win in this match, but at least we'll be able to give Spain's defense a really stiff challenge.
Re: Italy vs Spain in August Prandelli has probably the best call-ups out of all managers for a while. Hoping to see Giovinco-Rossi-Balotelli together.
Re: Italy vs Spain in August Seconded. I wonder what sort of marking system he will implement to close down the Spaniards. I would be really excited about that attack because of the speed and ability on the ball that could surely cause the Spanish defense problems. I think it's really important to not watch them play and let them continue to have possession like other teams let them do by continuously defending with 10 men, and not attempting to hit them on the counter every time, but actually holding on to the ball.
Re: Italy vs Spain in August 4-3-1-2 is the formation Prandelli prefers for Italy while for Fiorentina he used to 4-2-3-1 cause he had wingers. Lineup vs Spain.. ------------------Buffon----------------------- ---------Maggio-Cheillini-Ranocchia-Balza---- -----------------De Rossi----------------------- ------------Pirlo ----------- Marchisio---------- -------------------Monto---------------------- -----------Cassano -------- Balotelli---------- 100%!!!
Re: Italy vs Spain in August Just because Palombo happens to be stuck with a Serie B team at the moment that doesn't mean he should be singled out. The guy is still a very effective player and a great ball winner. He's the type of player we need on this squad now. Oh, and correction on my original statement about Abate. It seems he ISN'T injured, as he's starting in today's Super Cup match against Inter.
Re: Italy vs Spain in August Playing in Serie B all year will make his form dip hard. He needs to be playing against top level. If he's included in the final 23 next summer, i will be disappoint.
Re: Italy vs Spain in August barcelona is still on their north american tour. i haven't been watching their games but did they send a full squad? if so, do you all think the barca players will play vs italy or be allowed to rest?
Re: Italy vs Spain in August Yet it makes perfect sense to take players like Cassano that barely even get to start regularly for their respective clubs just because they're in Serie A? Hardly makes sense to me. Palombo has been playing top flight football for quite some time now. One season in Serie B won't make him "dip" as bad as you're making it seem.
Re: Italy vs Spain in August If Cassano is not playing regularly or is out of form/shape then there is no point in selecting him. He should be looking for a new club. And yes you're form will dip if your competition week in week out is the likes of Nocerina and Varese and not Inter,Juve, Napoli ETC.
Re: Italy vs Spain in August Good selections from Prandelli. Not calling Abate was a mistake, though. He should play Ranoccia and Bonucci as center-backs with Chiellini on the left and Maggio on the right. We should not play three attackers either, given Spain play with five midfielders. Ideally Motta, De Rossi, Montolivo, and Aquilani would line up in centrocampo. Less sure about the strikers. Balotelli and Rossi are the stand-out players from the point of view of their skills, but maybe a big targetman like Pazzini would do well vs. Spain. I hope we give a good effort and come away from the game with something to show for it. I think our other test vs. a top team was the draw with Germany.
Re: Italy vs Spain in August This. I've been impressed with Prandelli since he's taken on the HC job. He seems up to the task of rebuilding the aging team and insert youth and energy... something we obviously lacked in the last WC. Wednesday's game is going to be a good measuring stick of where we are at as a team and how we handle playing against the current cream of the crop. Like mentioned before, I hope we don't get caught watching Spain pass the ball around. They are very much a possession style team and I really want to see Italy take that away from them and not play defense the whole game.
Re: Italy vs Spain in August Didn't stop Donadoni from selecting Juve players when they were playing in B for a season now did it? I also don't hear many people hear complaining about the selection of Ogbonna either...
Re: Italy vs Spain in August Well really it's an unfair comparison. Those players just won a scudetto eek:.....) and a world cup. Palombo and Samp were both terrible in a disaster of a season. I admire his loyalty, but this isn't a good move career wise. Serie B is a tough league, but there isn't much technical quality. How can we gage Palombo's form if he's not facing the top teams in the country? There is a difference between playing Inter away, and say Gubbio away. What if someone like Parolo is having a good season, do we sacrifice him just to select Palombo? I also think he's surplus to requirments. We have Pirlo, Montolivo and De Rossi that can fill that role better than he can. Prandelli should be looking at other players that have different qualities. Variety is good. In regard to Ogbonna, Prandelli selecting him is his way of saying "SOMEONE BUY THIS GUY." If Ogbonna is still in Torino by next spring and he makes the final 23, italian soccer is in worse shape than I can imagine. If he is a top talent, someone has to go and get him.
Re: Italy vs Spain in August I honestly think you're overrating the proposed role that Palombo has had, and will continue to have on the NT setup. The guy was never really selected for his superior "technical" qualities. Granted, he has a fairly solid skillset in his own right, but it's more his work ethic, grit, and commitment to the defensive aspects of the game that has made him a mainstay thus far. These are aspects of the game that Montolivo, Aquilani, or De Rossi aren't expected to provide. Considering the fact that we no longer have guys like Gattuso and Perrotta, we need workhorses like Palombo around (at least off the bench). Especially considering the fact that Nocerino has been anything but impressive thus far.
Re: Italy vs Spain in August I am trusting guys here on this forum to provide me a link to watch the game, as I'm taking 3 hours off of work just to watch this game.
Re: Italy vs Spain in August they dont have messi, but from what i recall they have most their full squad, they dont field them all at once but they are there so ya if thats the case, i dont think spain is bringing a full squad, prob a B team which is still good....i hope some of the barca players make it back for this game, i really like to see italy get tested by a real spain