Italy 1 Romania 1 – Italian player ratings

Buffon  7

A number of good saves. Fantastic effort to stop Mutu’s strike. Good hand and foot coordination.

Zambrotta 3

One of the weaker games I’ve ever seen Gianluca play for the Azzurri. What was he thinking when he conveniently set up Mutu’s goal. Seemed unfocused.

I thought he was one of the few Italians who actually played better against the Dutch.

Chiellini  6.5

Solid effort. Italy looked a lot tighter at the back. Set up Panucci’s goal.

Panucci  6.5

Christian is never destined to be a great central defender. He had a good game though. Thanks for the goal. That was never a penalty foul. Interesting to see if Donadoni has the courage to select one of the squad’s specialist centre backs for the game against the French.

Grosso  6

Nice runs up the flanks. Nice diving shot block in the first half. At times seemed to be everywhere on the pitch.

De Rossi  5.5

Thought we would have seen a more dominant performance from Daniele. A second half diving header from a Luca Toni tapdown produced a great save from the Romanian goalie. 

Pirlo  5.5

Worked hard. Similar to his game against the Dutch tiled hard and did not get the results (outputs) he wanted or deserved.

Perrotta  5.5

I felt Simone was worthy of his selection. Seemed to add a bit of a physicial dimension to Italy’s midfield.

Camorenesi 3

A much improved performance over what he showed against the Dutch. However can someone explain to me why we perservere with Mauro when we have players like Cassano and Aquilani in the squad?

Del Piero  5

Not a bad game. Deserved a bit more luck.

Toni  7

Grafted. Got himself in good positions to set up his team mates. His goal should never of been disallowed.

Cassano had a good game. Good timing with his introduction into the game early in the second half. Lets have Antonio in the starting line up against the French.

Man of the match: Lobont the Romanian goalkeeper. Followed on from Van der Sar’s great performance for the Dutch. It seems all goalies are saving their best games for when they play the Azzurri.

 

 

 

 

Italia’s unique unicorn formation

Things are finally looking up for the Azzurri.

We’re the only nation that’s qualified for Euro2008 where a unicorn has recently been found.

This has got to be a good sign.

Maybe there’s something in this and Donadoni should play a solitary striker upfront.

Italia’s unique unicorn formation: 4-3-2-1  

Italy vs Romania – who will play?

 

The thinking and analysis behind the game has begun.

It seems Donadoni is keen on 4-3-1-2.

Italy does well when they use a trequartista (that is attacking midfielder that sits behind the front pairing).

We can also expect a change of personnel.

Predictions suggest:

Buffon

Zambrotta, Chiellini, Pannucci, Grosso

De Rossi, Pirlo, Camoranesi

Cassano

Del Piero, Toni

 

I like the formation. I have hesitation with the following players.

Panucci

I felt Christain looked cumbersome against the Dutch. He looked slow and laboured on the ball. I can’t recollect him making any telling tackles. He also was the unfortunate player that got injured behind the goal line and played Van Nistelrooy onside. Don’t forget the Italian defence needs to nullify Adrian Mutu. Forget Panucci.

 Camoranesi

Did nothing. Did not create any chances. Lacked any courage or conviction to stop the Dutch midfield’s domaniation of the game.  The only thing good about his performance against the Oranje was watching him get subbed. I’d rather have the guts and conviction that Rino Gattusso offers. Forget Camoranesi.

Del Piero

Impact player at best (use him off the bench). Does not have pace or strength on the ball to cause alarm. Di Natale should be allowed another opportunity. If not ADN then lets try Quagliarella or Boriello. These guys were selected as our strikers, lets give them game time.

 

 

3-0 and then what happens

 

I’ve just checked the history books to see what’s become of teams that lose 3-0 in the first round of a Euro tournament. It does not look that flash.

Portugal 2004

Bulgaria lost 5-0 to Sweden. They ended up finishing bottom of their group with no points. In total Bulgaria conceded 9 goals and scored only the one. That goal was against Italy and cost the Azzurri progression to the next round (due to infrerior goal difference).

Belgium/Holland 2000

Denmark lost 3-0 to France. It turned out to be a dreadful tournament for the Danes. They scored no goals in their three games and lost by three to the Dutch and a brace to the Czechs.

 England 96

The biggest loss in the first round was experienced by the Czechs losing 2-0 to the Germans. Both teams would meet again in the finals.

Sweden 92

No big losses in the first round of games. The only hammering in group play was dealt to the Russians by the Scots, CIS lost 3-0. Neither team progressed to the next round.

Germany 88

No real thrashings in the whole tournament. A few 3-1 and 2-0 results throughout group plays. Italy lost 2-0 to the Soviets in one of the semis. The Dutch went on to match this by beating the Soviets 2-0 in the final. 

France 84

No thrashing in the first round. Group A was interesting (one for the trainspotters). A case of what you can do, I can do better. In the second round France beat Belgium and Denmark bet Yugoslavia both games ending 5-0. In the second round France bet Yugosalvia and Denmark beat Belgium both games ending 3-2. Both semis went to extra time. France won theirs against Portugal. Denmark lost to Spain on penalties.

Italy 80

No thrashings. No goals really. In group play, Italy went through unbeaten. Which sounds good, but in three games they only scored the one goal. They beat England 1-0 (Marco Tardelli scored the goal) and drew 0-0 with both Spain and Belgium.