Italia vs Romania – who’s in, who’s out

 

After reading various websites (articles, blogs, quotes) I’ve tried to work out who (from the loss against the Dutch) in the Italian squad are the Barack Obamas (i.e. should stay in the contest) and who are the Hilary Clintons (bushed out).

Barack Obamas (should stay)

Buffon, Zambrotta, Grosso, Pirlo, Toni, Cassano, Del Piero

Hilary Clintons (Roberto please don’t ever think of selecting these guys again)

Materazzi, Barzaghli, Ambrosini, Gattuso,

People seem to feel neutral about these players (the Switzerlands, who lets face it are out)

Panucci, Camaronesi, Di Natale

From the players who didn’t play against Holland:

Chiellini and di Rossi are popular choices

Perrotta neutral, and there seems to be reserved confidence around giving Aquilani a game.

To the fan, everyone would love to see Cannavaro playing (if only the Pope was still Italian).

 

 

 

 

Captain o’ Captain

 

Rumours suggest Del Piero will be skipper.

Not only will Alex start against the Romanians but he will also be wearing the armband.

 

Italy win Euro 2008 popularity comp

Italy currently have the most fans on Facebook’s Euro 2008 pages.

1	Italy	32,229
2	Portugal	28,999
3	Greece	20,036
4	Germany	17,022
5	Croatia	17,009

Their support has not dwindled despite their loss to the Dutch.

Italy lost 1-0 and went on to the final

 

 

Are Italy poor starters?

 

At every tournament all the pundits always comment on how Italy are notoriously poor starters. I’ve heard this comment every 2 years (time difference between Euro and World Cups). So I’ve just believed it.

 

But this year I became aware of Italy’s unbeaten opening game record at Euro tournies. Six games, no losses, four wins and two draws.

 

Obviously the Dutch ruined this a couple of days back.

 

I’ve now checked World Cup records. Since 1962, Italy has only once lost an opening game. That was against the Irish in the USA 90 tournament.  Italy went on to lose the final to Brazil on penalties.

 

So in the last 12 tournaments, Italy’s opening game record at the World Cup has been:

 

Won      7

Drawn   4

Lost       1

More information about the Italian unicorn

 

The finding of a one horned roe deer (for all intents and purposes a unicorn) in Prato (near Florence) is a very good sign.

 

We are the only country that’s qualified for Euro 2008, in which a unicorn has recently been sighted.

 

There is something mystical happening here. I sense the fortune of our beloved Azzurri is about to change. Shame our one horned friend did not appear before our colossal loss to the Dutch.

 

Donadoni needs to apply logic to this finding and develop a unique Italian unicorn formation. 4-3-2-1

 

Buffon

 

Zambrotta  Chiellini  Barzaghli  Grosso

 

Gattuso  Pirlo  De Rossi

 

Cassano  De Natale

 

Toni

 

 

The formation will suit the dynamics of our squad.

 

That is we would have Toni playing up front as a target man (and/or a decoy) sucking up the attention of the Romanian central defenders and playing the ball down for the second line support strikers.

 

The key is that Cassano and De Natale would not be sitting to far behind Toni.

 

The tiered approach would also allow a bit more bulk to the midfield, which went missing in action against the Dutch.

 

The defensive prowess of Gattuso and De Rossi will allow Zambrotta and Grosso to complete runs up the flanks.

 

Let’s celebrate the arrival of the unicorn.

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.

 

 

Fascetti slams Donadoni and asks him to play Cassano

Eugenio Fascetti hasn’t set the footballing world alight by winning cases of trophies as a coach. Maybe his biggest claim to fame was being Antonio Cassano’s coach at Bari. No surprises then when he urges Donadoni to play Antonio.

Fascetti slammed his fellow tactician’s selections, and questioned whether Andrea Barzagli was the right man to fill in for injured captain Fabio Cannavaro in central defence.
 

“Andrea Barzagli? If Palermo have conceded about three goals a game over the last two years, there must be a few problems in their defence,” he said.

“The midfield did not convince me, either. Milan arrived fifth in Serie A, but last night their entire midfield was lined up and on the bench watching were Simone Perrotta, Daniele De Rossi and Alberto Aquilani.

“The initial line-up was wrong and we handed the first half to Holland.”

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.

Del Piero worries me

Ok so we lost to the Dutch 3-0. I don’t feel worried and I don’t feel stressed. I still think we have other options and enough in reserve to salvage something from this tournament.

I’ve checked a number of websites today. Pundits, bloggers, administrators, fans and others have said Alex is the answer. Now I’m worried. Not everyone has said this. But enough have said it to cause me concern. At one point he was even being touted as possible captain.

Not even when DP was younger were people touting him as the Azzurri’s ultimate solution. Throughout his career Del Piero has always had to battle for the ‘10′ jersey.

First it was against Roberto Baggio. I still have not forgiven Cesare Maldini for not using Roby as his ace in Italy’s 98 mondiale. Baggio and Viera were a potent combination.

Then it was DP against Totti.

Granted Alex did score a great goal in extra time against the Germans in 06. But no way I say. Pirlo and/or Cassano are our game breakers. If not one of these two then lets push Donadoni to give Aquilani a go.