Zola, how he didnt get more of a go in 1994 is beyond me { i know he got that bullcrap red vs nigeria } Could have used him in the final. Even at france 1998 { or was he injured???} Would have liked to have seen Di Canio, even Massimo Maccarone.
Sacchi coached that side so most things he did where logic-defying. He was lucky to have so many champions in that team. He should went to France 98 because he did play a role in qualifying and he was in good form with Chelsea. Fabrizio Ravanelli missed out on France 98 because of illness. Roberto Mancini should have won more caps. He had a mediocre Euro 88 and Vicini hardly played him afterwards. Vialli was a disappointment at NT level and perhaps Mancini's absence had an affect. At least they were teammates at Sampdoria so they knew how to combine in attack. Atilio Lombardo should have won more caps too. Italy usually doesn't produce many world-class wingers but Lombardo was one of the best in the 90s, especially while he was at Sampdoria. Cassano, Giuseppe Signori, Ciro Ferrara and Roberto Pruzzo were other players should have won more caps too. It was also a shame that Salvatore Schillaci was just a one-season wonder and one-tournament wonder too.
I find it incredible that Di Canio never got a call-up. Also Lucarelli earlier in his career was an absolute bull. When I saw him for the U-21's i thought for sure he would have been a perfect vice Vieri I think Dor is spot on with Mancini and Lombardo.
Yep well said. Casiraghi, why didnt he go to France 1998? Surely would have been a better option than Chiesa? Scored that vital goal vs Russia too. Well I must admit aside from watching qualifiers and world and euro cup games I didnt watch that much serie A apart from the highlights show on Sunday's back then so I don't really know what I'm talking about. But what I do know is that Zola should have been called for sure.
Maldini went for a younger Vieri and Inzaghi over Casiraghi. By then those two were already bombers and goal hungry
Yeah I know Vieri top scored for Athletico that season and obviously deserved his place as did Inzaghi just wasn't so sure about Chiesa. Im going to look up his goal scoring records in Italy leading up to the cup. I know he played at Euro 96 and equalised vs the Czech's. Zola was a magician, but that penalty vs Germany at Euro 96 was awful!
By the way youre another one who's posts I enjoy reading. Keep it up mate I love your patriotic support for the Azzurri.
Enrico Chiesa Chiesa moved his early playing footsteps at amateur club Pontedecimo (1986–87). He then moved to Sampdoria, team for which he made his debut on April 16, 1989 in a 1-0 loss at AS Roma in the Serie A 1988-89.[1] He then played for Teramo of Serie C2 and successively Chieti of Serie C1 before returning at Sampdoria on 1992. Failing to impress, he then joined Modena in 1993-94 andCremonese in 1994-95, where he scored 14 goals in their Serie A campaign. In 1995 he returned again with the blucerchiati, forming a notable forward duo with Roberto Mancini and scoring 22 goals in 27 matches. In 1996 he was signed by rising club Parma, where he won a UEFA Cup and a Coppa Italia becoming one of the best forwards in Italian football, (when not injured or out of form) in a successful partnership with Hernán Crespo, the duo averaging 10-15 goals a season each. They also got a goal each in the 1999 UEFA Cup Final victory over Marseille. In 1999 he was signed by Fiorentina, a team looking to expand and bring in better players, in an attempt to keep club captain and talisman Gabriel Batistuta. Despite making regular appearances in his first season for La Viola, Chiesa was fighting for a place withPredrag Mijatovic among others, and also had spells where he was out of form, and in the end only managed 6 goals in the league. In2000-01, Batistuta had left to go to AS Roma and Fiorentina were plagued with injuries and financial problems; Chiesa became the main striker for the club, and scored 22 goals in 30 matches, finishing amongst the top 5 highest scorers in the league. After a very hard 2001-02 campaign, in which Chiesa played only five matches due to a serious knee injury, he moved to Lazio, where he however failed to play at his personal best. In 2003 he joined Siena and is considered a fan favourite also because of having been a key member of them in their whole Serie A history. Despite a very poor 2006-07 season in which Chiesa was not able to score a single goal,[1] he was confirmed by the club and new trainer Andrea Mandorlini explicitly stated he is still important to the team, and that he expects at least 15 goals by him in their2007-08 Serie A campaign.[2] However, he played only twice, scoring no goals before he was signed by Figline[3] in Lega Pro Second Division. He scored five goals with Figline, thus giving his contribution to the team's promotion to the upper level, Lega Pro Prima Divisione. In the following season, his last as a footballer, he played a limited number of games due to suffering a fractured leg, an injury who forced him to stay out of contention for most of the season.
i had hoped to see zola more as well...especially 94 final where baggio was injured...but just like this euro final, sometimes coaches have a hard time not letting their prime choice play in the final....like he did with chiellini. and how quickly he brought in di natale in 2nd half cuz he was desperate for goals. also same with cassano and rossi in this generation.....i wish we were able to see them work together in a major tournament. This euro cassano was half fit and 2008 euros had a lame coach. Rossi never had a major tournament either, its a shame
I feel Donadoni gets far too much criticism for Euro 2008. We only lost on penalties { were outplayed tho } to the eventual winners and had our best player in Pirlo not playing the game. Gattuso was also out and Cannavaro didn't go to the tournament because of injury. Not having Pirlo is like France not having Zidane. Also take into consideration in the first game against Holland they got off to a flying start by being gifted a total bs goal. I know what the rules state, but theplayers on the pitch played Holland offside, it was a bogus call. Give Italy a gift one goal lead and see what happens. Against Romania Toni scored on the stroke of half time to give Italy the lead only for it to be wrongly ruled out for offside. At 1-0 up, the game complexion is completely different. We more than likely go on to win that game comfortably. We could have got out of the group more comfortably at the very least and I think these are factors that should be looked at. Apart from the first game with Donadoni's squad selection I don't think he can be criticized at all.
I checked Casiraghi's stats for the 1997-98 season and he only scored three goals in 28 matches for Lazio. Reminds me of Pazzini, who scored the winner against Slovenia in the Euro qualifiers but had a poor season with Inter.
im judging by the game play...donadoni's team had no plans...it was basically cross from the wings to the middle and hope toni scores. By the 2nd round everyone knew his plans. judging by results is also misleading....so this year for ex croatia can say oh we lost in a group with italy and spain that went to the finals. or france and england who were a really shit team can say we lost to the 2 finalists.
big difference losing on penalties to the eventual champs without 3 of your best, most important players and also having decisions going against you in the other games. What youre saying is nowhere near what I'm saying. Pirlo Cannavaro Gattuso None played vs Spain and we still only lost on penalties. Offside goal called vs Romania at 0-0 which was onside. Holland go ahead from a ludicrous decision. France were crap and lost two games. England were completely outplayed vs us it wasn't funny. Croatia were robbed vs Spain that is different but it was the group stage not the quarters.