Italy's Class of '88 (U-19s) [R]

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

Goal!!!!! Italy gets off the mark first on a goal by Christian Tiboni in the 21st minute. Strike partner Salvatore Foti got the assist.

 

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

Bleh .... the Ivorians have tied the game in the 27th through Alassane Diomande.

 

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

And Italy takes the lead again 5 minutes later ... same combination of Tiboni from Foti. Italy already has half the total number of goals they scored in 5 games at the Euro tournament last spring.

 

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

Had to step away, but it's now tied again with 30 minutes left in the match. Fofana equalized in the 53rd minute. Italy had made one subsitution at halftime, with Russotto coming on for D'Attoma. And after Ivory Coast's goal, defender Manuel Angelucci has come on in place of Tiboni. Sort of a strange order to things, making an offensive sub when in the lead and a defensive one after the game is tied again. But I guess Rocca must've figured out (too late, apparently) that they shouldn't have 3 attackers on the field - although Russotto is more withdrawn. Hope Russotto can create some magic. Meanwhile, skipper De Silvestri has received the first yellow card of the game and will have to worry about suspension for the rest of the group phase.

 

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

The FIFA tracker is pretty minimal so it's hard to tell for sure, but it really seems like Italy is on its heels. The Ivorians have outshot them 14-5 (10-4 in shots on goal). That's a lot of shots. Corners are 8-3. Doesn't sound good at all. I think Italy may just be trying to hold on for the point, the way we fans always hate. But if so, it's probably not so much a tactical choice as a desperate one.

Meanwhile, Russotto has already been subbed out, making way for Marco Dalla Costa. Don't know if he got hurt or was simply that ineffective in the 20 minutes since he came on.

 

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

Wow. 3-3. Italy took the lead in the 86th minute through Mandorlini only to give up the equalizer practically before the celebrations had ended.

 

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

Incredible. 4-3 Italy. Foti.

 

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

And 4-3 is the final. Phew. I love U-17s.

 

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

Okay, here's the official table for Italy. Only bad news is Foti got booked at the end, probably for excessive celebration, I'm guessing.

[1] ALFONSO Enrico (GK)
[2] BRIVIO Davide
[3] DE SILVESTRI Lorenzo (C)
[5] CREMONESI Michele
[6] GRECO Daniele
[7] D ATTOMA Tommaso (46' <- RUSSOTTO Andrea 76' <- DALLA COSTA Marco)
[8] PALERMO Simone
[9] TIBONI Christian (56' <- ANGELUCCI Manuel)
[11] FOTI Salvatore
[15] MANDORLINI Matteo
[18] MANCOSU Marco

Coach ROCCA Francesco (ITA)

Goals Scored:
TIBONI Christian (ITA) 21' , DIOMANDE Alassane (CIV) 27' , TIBONI Christian (ITA) 32' , FOFANA Ismael (CIV) 53' , MANDORLINI Matteo (ITA) 86' , KOUASSI Koffi (CIV) 87' , FOTI Salvatore (ITA) 89'

Cautions:
DE SILVESTRI Lorenzo (ITA) 59' , FOTI Salvatore (ITA) 89'

 

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

FIFA Article about the game:

http://www.fifa.com/en/news/feature/0,1451,109643,00.html

Comments from Rocca confirm that Russotto was removed (after 30 minutes, not 20, but still...) because he was not contributing, and that Italy started with a 3-man defense, switching to 4 when Angelucci entered the game.

Some photos:


De Silvestri and Tiboni celebrate a goal


Salvatore Foti

Looks like Tiboni and Foti have adopted a shorn look.

 

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

Finally, an article about the game at the Italian fed's site. Apparently, they don't work on weekends.

http://www.figc.it/english/primo_piano_04/primo_piano_04.htm

BTW, here's the full squad picture:

 

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

I'm looking forward to it as well. In contrast to the WYC last summer, the US fans are not highly confident coming into this one. But I think it's a tossup. Italy scoring 4 goals in the first game was pretty freakish, considering they scored 4 in 5 games during the qualifying tournament last spring. I'm guessing the US will be a bit better prepared to deal with Italy's tall forwards than the Ivory Coast was. Somebody said in the pregame thread on the US board that Italy and the US had played a friendly last spring which finished 1-1. They had the lineups and everything, so I believe it, but the FIGC site never mentioned anything about it. Very strange.

Here's the latest article from the FIGC site (mostly a lot of blah blah blah):

http://www.figc.it/english/archivio..._settembre_2005/190905_u17/primo_piano_04.htm

 

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

Nothing that I know of, unfortunately. I should point out that Galavision is also showing this game in the US, on tape delay, tonight at 9:15 pm Eastern. But I assume that doesn't help you out in Canada.

Your only bet is probably going to be a textcast. The Match Tracker at www.ussoccer.com is far better than the Livescore Card at www.fifa.com although its commentary might be skewed in favor of the US. Fifa's doesn't have any commentary just dryly lists fouls, shots, etc etc.

 

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

Why do I always forget to check there!!! I checked at Maxxed forums and saw nothing and assumed that meant there was nothing. Anyway ... thanks!

 

Re: Italy's Class of '88 (U-17s in Peru) [R]

Mystery solved. This game took place in April of 2004 when these were the U-16s. The poster had said "last April", and I assumed it meant this past April. Duh. I think I need more sleep ... I've been making too many silly mistakes.