Ukraine vs. Italia (9-12-07) Pre/Dur/Post [R]

FORZA AZZURRI 406 · Sep 8, 2007

vs.

Olimpiysky National Sports Complex: Kiev, Ukraine

It's time to move on from the France game.

Everybody stop arguing with each other and focus on this game because we're still in it.

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/standings/round=2241/group=2631.html Group B Standings

http://www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/fixturesresults/round=2241/match=83990/index.html Info about Match

Discuss.

FNU · Sep 9, 2007

Our last encounter. Italia 2 - 0 Ucrania. Euro qualifier in Bari, Italia.
[youtube]0kxF-yF_0AQ[/youtube]

Head to Head stats: We've beaten them 4/5 times. The one time we played them away we won.
Italy 5 410101
Ukraine 5 014110

KYIV29/03/1995 UKR0:2 (0:2)ITA

magik9113 · Sep 9, 2007

I'd like to see Aquilani start and he most likely will since Gattuso is out. He should help the fact that the midfield was not very involved offensively

tim10 · Sep 9, 2007

magik9113 said: ↑

I'd like to see Aquilani start and he most likely will since Gattuso is out. He should help the fact that the midfield was not very involved offensively
Click to expand...

That is going to hurt. Are you sure Gattuso is out?????

FNU · Sep 9, 2007

tim10 said: ↑

That is going to hurt. Are you sure Gattuso is out?????
Click to expand...

I think he got his second yellow today, so he's out against the Ukraine and I agree that it's going to hurt us.

tim10 · Sep 9, 2007

Well I think for this match we should try some different tactics espically up front, something like

------------------------------Buffon------------------------------
Oddo-----------Cannavaro-------------Bazaglri------------Zambrotta
---------------------Pirlo------DeRossi-------Perotta----------------
--Quaglirella/Cammo------------------------------------Di Natlie-----
-------------------------------Inzaghi/Iaquinta----------------------

Kqql · Sep 9, 2007

I can't belief Don kept ADP in for 83+ Minutes...

Alessandro Del Piero admits the tension of the lead-up to the France showdown affected the Azzurri.

Now Del Piero’s chances of starting in Ukraine on Wednesday evening in a must-win match have been hit by this performance.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sep9b.html
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cooca · Sep 9, 2007

Canna fury at French draw

Fabio Cannavaro has condemned his teammates for not doing more against France and the fans for drowning out the national anthem.

“I am not satisfied, as we certainly could have done more, put them under more pressure and caused problems. At the start we were very timid and waited around our area to get the ball,” he said after the 0-0 draw.

“It’s a shame, as I believe we could have pushed them a lot more and got a better result.”

The Azzurri had a very nervous start at San Siro and allowed France to pass the ball around comfortably looking for the draw.

“We tried to talk to each other, but could not seem to get out of our half. It was very difficult to break out of that situation in the first 20 minutes.

“There was fear that two strikers like Thierry Henry and Nicolas Anelka could burst into space with their pace, so we went too deep and did not give ourselves enough space either.”

Cannavaro’s former Juventus teammate David Trezeguet was on the bench, as Raymond Domenech preferred the Bolton striker.

“Perhaps David is more of a penalty area player, a fox in the box, whereas Henry and Anelka around more.”

Italy boss Roberto Donadoni drew criticism for fielding a 4-1-4-1 system that often left Pippo Inzaghi isolated.

“The Coach prepares the games and picks who is in the best shape. We did have a second striker like Alessandro Del Piero, albeit moved out wide on the left.”

Now they travel to Kiev for Wednesday’s crucial encounter with Ukraine and a win is needed to keep up the pace with France and Scotland.

“We are Italy and must always go for the victory, but away from home against a side with such fast forwards we should be careful about their counter-attacks.”

Cannavaro had pleaded with the fans before the game to respect the French national anthem, even after Les Bleus’ stinging criticism of Italian football. He was ignored, as the San Siro crowd completely drowned it out.

“It was disappointing. I have played many times at international level and have never heard anyone jeer the Italian anthem, so I don’t see why we should do that. It was very rude and I didn’t like it.”
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il Capitano is mad. I can imagine him giving a dressing room roar to our ragazzi.

I agree with him. We need to push forward more.

Kqql · Sep 9, 2007

tim10 said: ↑

Well I think for this match we should try some different tactics espically up front, something like

------------------------------Buffon------------------------------
Oddo-----------Cannavaro-------------Bazaglri------------Zambrotta
---------------------Pirlo------DeRossi-------Perotta----------------
--Quaglirella/Cammo------------------------------------Di Natlie-----
-------------------------------Inzaghi/Iaquinta----------------------
Click to expand...

(There is no way ADP can start again and vs UK he's got use
4-1-3-2

Buffon------------------------------
PanuccuI have feeling he will the start-Cannavaro-Bazaglri-Zambrotta
DeRossi
Perotta-Pirlo-Di Natlie---------------
laquinta -Inzaghi

======================================

Italy vs Ukraine (w/Toni)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UBnAl6AInk

gcstorm9 · Sep 9, 2007

why dont we get sum1 up top to play n move the ball around?...our defense was great..in right place at right time...got job done..midfield was great..gattuso ran his ass off n pirlo was involved on everything! de rossi n camo/perrotta kind solidified it more...our problem was offense!!!inzaghi couldnt do nething up top wit no offense helping n del piero lost every dribbling contest!!..for gods sake we need a playmaker...put di natale in n quag instead of camo...he did nutin n an offensive power would be betta when u have gattuso/de rossi/ pirlo in mid...if gattuso is suspended then put in ambrosini...o n lastly buffon needs to go..jk, jesus if we didnt have him on our team we would not be world champs...hes a rock!

p.s. sry should have added i think zambrotta should play right n grosso on left...y is this poor kid not playin? he had an awesome world cup n i think hes a betta flank player than oddo...as much as oddo does well, his crosses have been horrible last few months wit milan/nat team...grosso could maybe provide sum service?

jpick · Sep 9, 2007

the news just keeps getting better for the azzurri, as gattuso and toni may now be joined by pirlo who picked up a calf injury. at least the midfield has depth, though, so pirlo and gattuso might not hurt as bad as toni, who is going to be tough to replace. I guess still go with inzaghi, but who knows.

I don't know if a lot of people go to the gazzaspace message board as its in italian, but they are ripping donadoni a new one over there. he has a lot of pressure, as now ukraine is do or die pretty much.

Borussia · Sep 9, 2007

http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazionale/Primo_Piano/2007/09_Settembre/09/donadoniparla.shtml

ArtemioD · Sep 9, 2007

If Italy stick with this 4-3-2-1 bull shit formation that Donadoni uses they are done and in fact I hope they lose because this guy does not deserve to coach Italy. I said it a 1000 times they do not have the players to make that system work like Milan.

tim10 · Sep 9, 2007

Well things are looking worse now...Pirlo has been ruled out for this game.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sep9g.html

I guess our line-up will have to adopt a different approach, this 4-3-2-1 doesn't work unless u have good creative midfielders, which we are lacking, the players who play in the role behind the strikers, are actually more shallow lying strikers NOT attacking midfeilders, with the call-ups we have, and given our injuries, I would say got for something like this:

-----------------------------Buffon------------------------
Oddo-----------Cannavaro-------------Bazaglri------Zambrotta
Cammorensi---------De Rossi--------Perotta----------Di Natlie
-----------------Iaquinta/Inzaghi--Quagriella/Iaquinta---------

Yup, the old fashioned 4-4-2

I know it's a bit make shit, and not really our style of play, but I can't see the current system working without Gattuso and Pirlo in the middle.

tdrazz · Sep 9, 2007

I dont think Iaquinta even got called up...

tim10 · Sep 9, 2007

tdrazz said: ↑

I dont think Iaquinta even got called up...
Click to expand...

Yeah he did, today.

tdrazz · Sep 9, 2007

sorry tim,i didnt read the last line...i hope Iaquinta makes a differace out there,crossing my fingers...

ArtemioD · Sep 9, 2007

tim10 said: ↑

Well things are looking worse now...Pirlo has been ruled out for this game.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sep9g.html

I guess our line-up will have to adopt a different approach, this 4-3-2-1 doesn't work unless u have good creative midfielders, which we are lacking, the players who play in the role behind the strikers, are actually more shallow lying strikers NOT attacking midfeilders, with the call-ups we have, and given our injuries, I would say got for something like this:

-----------------------------Buffon------------------------
Oddo-----------Cannavaro-------------Bazaglri------Zambrotta
Cammorensi---------De Rossi--------Perotta----------Di Natlie
-----------------Iaquinta/Inzaghi--Quagriella/Iaquinta---------

Yup, the old fashioned 4-4-2

I know it's a bit make shit, and not really our style of play, but I can't see the current system working without Gattuso and Pirlo in the middle.
Click to expand...

I'd put Aquilani in the middle with De Rossi. Perotta on the right and Ambrosini on the left with Di Natale and Lucarelli upfront. Or if you want some more offense they could put Quag in for Perrotta. Not many options with these players called.

Borussia · Sep 9, 2007

tim10 said: ↑

Yeah he did, today.
Click to expand...

I'd have wondered if he didn't ... when you have to replace Toni and Gilardino.

Taib · Sep 9, 2007

I think we must play our 4231 formation that has brought us th five victories in this group. Pirlo is almost certainly ruled out for this game. Gattuso is suspended. I want to see this team play:

-----------------------------Buffon------------------------
Oddo-----------Cannavaro-------------Bazaglri------Zambrotta
-----------------De Rossi--------Perrotta---------------------
---Quagliarella--------------Aquilani--------------Di Natale-----
----------------------------Inzaghi---------------------------

It leaves De Rossi and Perrotta to cover the defence and lets the three attackers support Inzaghi.

Deleted User x · Sep 9, 2007

is it definate toni won't play on wednesday? i heard on goltv news that he was upgraded to questionable vs france, and likely to start against ukraine.

DDR · Sep 9, 2007

tim10 said: ↑

Well things are looking worse now...Pirlo has been ruled out for this game.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sep9g.html

I guess our line-up will have to adopt a different approach, this 4-3-2-1 doesn't work unless u have good creative midfielders, which we are lacking, the players who play in the role behind the strikers, are actually more shallow lying strikers NOT attacking midfeilders, with the call-ups we have, and given our injuries, I would say got for something like this:

-----------------------------Buffon------------------------
Oddo-----------Cannavaro-------------Bazaglri------Zambrotta
Cammorensi---------De Rossi--------Perotta----------Di Natlie
-----------------Iaquinta/Inzaghi--Quagriella/Iaquinta---------

Yup, the old fashioned 4-4-2

I know it's a bit make shit, and not really our style of play, but I can't see the current system working without Gattuso and Pirlo in the middle.
Click to expand...

Aquilani for Perotta

Kqql · Sep 9, 2007

I agree w/everyone that worst player last night was ADP.

Camoranesi did it quite well, while Del Piero was the worst of the Azzurri lot. More realistically, it was a 4-5-1 formation - not a best option to try to win such a vital game.

It’s sad to stress it, but Del Piero really appeared to be a sort of ghost wandering around the pitch, a real shade of his former self. But it wasn’t 100% his fault. The manager should have employed him as a second striker beside Inzaghi, who seemed too lonely upfront to be a constant threat for an experienced French defence – even though the Milan hero created the only great chance of the match hitting the bar.

Unfortunately Donadoni persisted in his mistake, as he replaced Del Piero only a few minutes from time. Indeed, the other two replacements seemed quite ill advised as well. After Anelka made France's only chance of the second half, the former Livorno manager seemed to lose his nerve, thinking that Perrotta could be more useful than Camoranesi to counter Abidal and Malouda.

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=408480
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I think it's time to start Aqualini ........................vs UK.

Donadoni blames Bayern

“It is a shame about Toni, as his injury is not serious, but it is painful,” explained the Italy Coach.

“As soon as he kicked the ball, he felt these bad twinges in his thigh. I think in Germany they underestimated the extent of the problem. I really doubt he will play the next game with Bayern Munich.”
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/sep9h.html
Click to expand...

forza venti · Sep 9, 2007

Kqql said: ↑

(There is no way ADP can start again and vs UK he's got use
4-1-3-2

Buffon------------------------------
PanuccuI have feeling he will the start-Cannavaro-Bazaglri-Zambrotta
Click to expand...

I have a feeling Panucci may start as well. I don't know why...

Originally Posted by Taib
I think we must play our 4231 formation that has brought us th five victories in this group. Pirlo is almost certainly ruled out for this game. Gattuso is suspended. I want to see this team play:

-----------------------------Buffon------------------------
Oddo-----------Cannavaro-------------Bazaglri------Zambrotta
-----------------De Rossi--------Perrotta---------------------
---Quagliarella--------------Aquilani--------------Di Natale-----
----------------------------Inzaghi---------------------------
Click to expand...

That is what I would pick with our current pool of people...though, as I said above, for some reason I think Panucci may start.

rizzuto123 · Sep 9, 2007

Taib said: ↑

I think we must play our 4231 formation that has brought us th five victories in this group. Pirlo is almost certainly ruled out for this game. Gattuso is suspended. I want to see this team play:

-----------------------------Buffon------------------------
Oddo-----------Cannavaro-------------Bazaglri------Zambrotta
-----------------De Rossi--------Perrotta---------------------
---Quagliarella--------------Aquilani--------------Di Natale-----
----------------------------Inzaghi---------------------------

It leaves De Rossi and Perrotta to cover the defence and lets the three attackers support Inzaghi.
Click to expand...

Gosh I hope Donadoni has the guts to play this formation, with these players. I find it a bit pathetic that italy rely on Inzaghi for offence when he is 33 and is a player who can't always be trusted. Italy better win or else Donadoni will get axed.