Delp, how is Esposito suddenly an untouchable on the NT (over Totti, no less)? The guy's been in Serie A for half a season. And Cassano was not diving. What game were you watching? Like most gifted attacking players, AC was tackled roughly, and often.
More fall out from today's game: Much as I love Totti, I'm beginning to wonder if Pirlo is making him obsolete. Pirlo is now Italy's midfield maestro: he directs the game through his wise passes and through balls. And Lippi himself acknowledged this by playing Totti as a striker. Problem is, Totti isn't quite a great striker. Against Russia and Scotland, we've seen him play very awkwardly in that role. In both games, Pirlo pushed the ball to him and Totti, being Totti, began elaborate passing moves--as though he were in Pirlo's role. And the result has been a kind of confusion and lack of ruhtlessness in front of goal. Then there's something else: Pirlo is now taking Italy's free kicks. So I wonder where this leaves Francesco.
i'm not sure why lippi doesn't leave Totti out of the striker role and put him in between the forwards and midfielders in a central attacking role. this is clearly where he is meant to be, he is the best in the world at it, and Italy have an abundance of fantastic young strikers. I am a big fan of Pirlo but i don't quite see him as the kind of player Totti is, at least not yet, so lets not get ahead of ourselves
Very nice game by italia but some people here are just plain idiots 1) Totti bashing is getting really old , get a life ... he was so calm and collective today , it reminded me of him in Euro 2000 . When idiot Gattuso started fighting ... Totti was keeping everything calm and kept his team focused ... and when Scotlands midfields were pushing him and stuff during the game to bother him he just smiled as if to say "I know what you're trying to do but it aint gonna work" He obviously couldnt play 100% because of the foot injury but no one is mentioning that because its Totti ... had it been Gilardino with a foot injury , everyone would be saying "oo poor guy he cant play good cause of his bad foot" !!! 2) Speaking of Gilardino , WORST PLAYER ON THE FIELD TONIGHT !!! Ive said this all along ... Vieri is still more dangerous than Gilardino ... and Lippi will start Vieri next game with Cassano next time ... I guarantee it 3) Pirlo is magnificent but people have to slow down with the whole "Hes a gazillion times better than Totti and dont even put Totti in there cause we have Pirlo" ... I like Pirlo alot but hes still like a Steven Gerrard for Italy , a defending midfielder 4) BUFFON IS SICK
does any1 know a site where i can watch italy-scotland goals? if there is a link can some1 send it? thanx
Some more points to make about this game: Totti started off poorly but by the mid point of the first half he started clicking. Cassano played well but like I said made a few unforced errors and he had a tendency to search out Totti free or not rather than pass to Gila or shoot himself. Gila was good in the first half. The second half not so. As an opportunist, we know he needs that split second to strike. It didnt happen this game mainly I think due to the fact Cassano and Totti seemed to prefer playing among themselves Pirlo was great as he has been with Milan all year. As well I think he played a great game against Sweden in Euro 2004. I think he is the playmaking midfielder we have been looking for. Gattuso does what he does has a lot of grit and personality Camaronesi had a few moments but he did not take over game as he has done with Juve. I still feel he looks uncomfortable on National. Chiellini played much better than Bonera. He will be recalled Materazzi made a couple of boneheaded plays. He is a bit of a loose cannon Cannavaro as the capitain was fine Buffon was there when we needed him I think we need a tall midfielder the likes of a Frank lampard or Steven Gerrard. Gattuso is ok up to a point but he isnt that big. You think Vieri could be converted into a midfielder
I am talking about the NT....he has had enough chances to prove himself. He is playing well now but realistically how long he is going to keep it up.
Of course we were. Chielleni did an admirable job filling in for Zambrotta though, Bonera was impressive as well. Cannavaro was as good as he always is, and Materazzi while mediocre didn't really screw up.
Full match Bittorent here(Spanish Comm): http://tracker.bittorrent.to:9898/torrents/919967489ed68d50a1850c41dac236f0132dc9d8.torrent
I believe that this was Chiellini's third cap (not positive) and every time I have seen him, he has impressed. In fact, I would include him as a first team regular and move up Zambrotta. Maybe a lineup like this would work: -----------------------------Buffon---------------------------- Bonera------------Nesta-----------Cannavaro-----Chiellini Camoranesi-----Gattuso---------Pirlo-----------Zambrotta ----------------Gila---------------Totti/Cassano-------------
i watched the last 20 minutes of this game when i found it on the local spanish station. i got it just in time to see pirlo's wonderful free kick for #2. it was glorious. italy looked to be in full control from that point on. scotland looked tired and chasing. forza inter
--------------Buffon-------------- --Bonera--Cannavaro--Nesta--Zambrotta-- --Camoranesi--Gattuso--Pirlo--Totti-- ---------Cassano------Vieri------------- Definetly worth a try. Vieri has been good this season and almost never dissapointed us (except in Euro 2004 where Trap was being a c*cksucking basterd)
out with the idea that Totti is a striker. He will be MUCH more effective between the midfield and strikers
We need to get off this idea that we design formations to fit in with particular players. Trap did that with the 4-2-3-1 at the Euro to accomodate Totti and play him directly between the MF and the lone striker. We all know how that worked out.
yes, and he had an out of form pair of strikers consisting of Christian Vieri and ADP in front of him...plus Totti's attitude hindered his performance as he only got to play against Denmark, so you can't say he got to show off his skills
Gumbacicc, coaches are either flexible or rigid and I am surprised that you advocate rigidity. Forcing players into sterile schemes that don't play to their strengths is not a formula for success (or beautiful soccer). I think Lippi has done well to call the most gifted players and to try to devise a formation that fits their talents. I think this is good on all counts--the players flourish in roles that suit them and the team develops a flowing style. And by the way, I don't think Trap was as modern as you make him sound. When the chips were down he reverted to type--ultra-traditional.
I appreciate you proving my point. You keenly point to the fact that Totti's wonderful attitude prevented him from sharing his "wonderful" skills. That is exactly the chance you take when you design a formation that fits a so-called key player, especially a hot-head like Totti that can hardly be relied upon. If the player is either on poor form or absent (due to DQ or injury) what then with the formation that you designed to accomodate that same player? Italy are good enough that they can field ANY of our eleven best and have a good shot of winning against ANYONE. No need to make a formation that fits Totti. He should strive to fit in the formation.
Building a team around Totti is a recipe for failure. He can't be trusted to play consistently or to maintain his cool. Hell, people are praising him for "not doing anything stupid". If you want to build your team around him, you shouldn't have to praise him for that! To paraphrase Chris Rock, you shouldn't be proud of not gonig to prison - you're not supposed to go to prison! Yes, at his best he's a phenomenal talent. I agree. But you can't build around him. I'm not sure who it was that compared Pirlo to Gerrard, but that's a bad comparison. Gerrard is a box to box player who runs a lot and tries to tackle a lot. That's not Pirlo. Pirlo's a much better version of Beckham. A pivote, if you will.