Italy vs South Africa, friendly.

We are just hoping Italy doesn’t get mean with us and end up giving us 4 goals or so. But given how they play lately, I won’t be surprised if we lose 1-0 or even get a draw.

Here is South Africa squad:
Rowen Fernandez, Calvin Marlin, Aaron Mokoena, Bradley Carnell, Cyril Nzama, Nasief Morris, Vuyo Mere, Bevan Fransman, Brett Evans, Benson Mhlongo, MacBeth Sibaya, Kagisho Dikgacoi, Steven Pienaar, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Bamuza Sono, Lance Davids, Siyabonga Nkosi, Teko Modise, Delron Buckley, Siyabonga Nomvethe, Benni McCarthy and Thembinkosi Fanteni.


It’s unfortunate but we only have two players who can actually do something against Italy, Benni McCarthy and Teko Modise. Benni is that guy who scored more goals than Rooney, Schevchenko, Berbatov, etc for those who don’t know him.

Teko Modise is the most talented player currently in SA, and he’s the best playmaker we have in the country. He has incredible first touch, footwork, shot, and dribbling skills. I won’t be surprised if he outperforms Pirlo on the night.

I’m sure Serie A fans still remember Siyabonga Nomvete who used to play for Udinese. Well he’s still sh!t.

EPL, Bundesliga and Ajax fans will know that Steven Pienaar is average at best.

From there we basically have average players, who are responsible for the sad state of our football.

I wouldn't be surprised if you beat us to be fair. In a strange way...I hope you do.

They know Mokoena for all his misplaced passing and bad tackling.

How is Carlos Alberto Parreira doing as head coach? You don't half get through coaches, almost one per year.

Should be an interesting game, with Rosina and Montolivo finally making their azzurri debuts!! Loads of other youngsters are expected to play, with De Rossi being made captain of Italy for the first time!!!

Yeah, South Africa has a good chance to nick one. Its an experimental youthful Italy, but this is the right time to experiment... I just hope that one of these kids grabs this chance and make a big impression.... specially Rosina or Montolivo - this could beb their ticket for Euro2008!!

EMP wrote:How is Carlos Alberto Parreira doing as head coach? You don't half get through coaches, almost one per year.

Carlos has been doing very well in terms of the mandate he has got. His mandate is to prepare a competitive team for the World Cup 2010, while the results leading to that don’t matter much.

I would personally say he is doing a good job, but the problem is that he is sticking with the tried and tested failures far too often even though we have better youngsters coming up. The results are not very encouraging, but it is the football that gives people motivation. U see in Africa it doesn’t matter if u win when u are playing boring football, but fans will tolerate non-winning attractive football. Carlos is scoring big points by getting the team to play beautifully, and we are hoping results will follow later.

We are going to Ghana for the AFCON just for the experience coz we know we are far behind Ghana, Tunisia, Egypt, Nigeria and Cameroon. The objective now is to get as many friendly matches as possible even if it means getting embarrassed by Italy.

The media at home expects us to lose by 3 goals, so I guess losing by 1 or 2 will be considered an achievement.

Italy starting IX
Amelia,Zaccardo,Chiellini,Gamberini,Bonera,De Rossi,Mauri,Montolivo,Foggia,Rosina,Lucarelli.

3zycupid wrote:Italy starting IX
Amelia,Zaccardo,Chiellini,Gamberini,Bonera,De Rossi,Mauri,Montolivo,Foggia,Rosina,Lucarelli.

South Africa have a chance IMO.

Interesting selection by Donadoni - obviously forced by this weekends games, but what a great chance to test out the fringe players and some of the Azzurrini who are ready to step up into the full senior side.

A 4-2-3-1, a very creative attack ; Rosina, Mauri - who is in great form for Lazio and scored a technically brilliant goal against us last weekend, and Foggia who we have known about for some years but is now finding stability and regularity and this tranquil environment at Cagliari is proving the right environemt for him to flourish.

Good match so far, we are finding it very difficult to find space with Sud Africa pressing their defensive third so well, but we are getting balls into the box, in particular two fantastic balls from Montolivo for De Rossi who shoots over and again by Foggia for de Rossi who just failed to make contact.
A lot of our play is starting to go through the centre now and is settling down.

Chiellini just had a good chance but failed to test Fernandez enough, width from the defence down the right could be a problem, we don't see Zaccardo attack as agressive or direct as Chiellini, so balance with two central deep midfielders could be a problem, i'd like to see Montolivo play with more offensive agression, but so far, all we need to compliment the performance is a goal!

Excellent line up from Donadoni, hats off to him!!

The only change I would have suggested from that line up was to start Mesto instead of Zaccardo.

It will be too much to expect these young talents to suceed in their first attempt - they haven't really played/practiced together much.... but Donadoni gets to see how some of Italys brightest talents do at International level... this will also give these guys some international experience so early in their career.

Well done Donadoni.

Goooooooooooooooooooooooo Rosina!!

3zycupid wrote:Italy starting IX
Amelia,Zaccardo,Chiellini,Gamberini,Bonera,De Rossi,Mauri,Montolivo,Foggia,Rosina,Lucarelli.

Yeah, it's a decent selection of players...but does Donadoni know what to do with them?

HT 0:0
hope Gilar will come on soon.

bluenine wrote:Excellent line up from Donadoni, hats off to him!!

The only change I would have suggested from that line up was to start Mesto instead of Zaccardo.

It will be too much to expect these young talents to suceed in their first attempt - they haven't really played/practiced together much.... but Donadoni gets to see how some of Italys brightest talents do at International level... this will also give these guys some international experience so early in their career.

Well done Donadoni.

Goooooooooooooooooooooooo Rosina!!

3zycupid wrote:Italy starting IX
Amelia,Zaccardo,Chiellini,Gamberini,Bonera,De Rossi,Mauri,Montolivo,Foggia,Rosina,Lucarelli.

Especially with Mesto, he gives much more offensively thatn Zaccardo who worries me. Zaccardo is o.k, but he gets caught flat on turns and tends to lose the movement of players. Mesto is more agressive and is a great crosser and assured.

The end to the half was quite scrappy, Fernandez using his fist to clear from De Rossi and Morris removing a real goal area tussle! Some excellent balls being played into the box by Foggia, Lucarelli is just missing with the timing of his runs, but its an encouraging performance creatively, all we are missing is a goal, and its an excellent tactical experiment by Donadoni, he's starting to mould this side to his own vision now and lets hope he can continue it Blue!

If Donadoni does not know how to use players like Rosina, Foggia, & Montolivo then who can???? They are the players of his own heart, or have you forgotten the great Roberto Donadoni???

Deano Ashton (ENG)(ITA) wrote:Yeah, it's a decent selection of players...but does Donadoni know what to do with them?

bluenine wrote:If Donadoni does not know how to use players like Rosina, Foggia, & Montolivo then who can???? They are the players of his own heart, or have you forgotten the great Roberto Donadoni???

Deano Ashton (ENG)(ITA) wrote:Yeah, it's a decent selection of players...but does Donadoni know what to do with them?

No...I've just seen him manage Italy . At the end of the day Bluey...if he gets the results and we qualify...I'm happy with him. I just have to say I'm always a bit sceptical of his decisions. I guess that's the same with any manager...and I understand that after winning the world cup...expectations are high, but a lot of the performances have been under par.

I'm not gonna complain because we are in a good position now. I need one of my two nations in that tournament!

Yo Pirlo, good to see you here, mate! Long time!!!

I can't watch the game (am in India), but good to hear that Foggia is giving a good account of himself... he is coming of age this season, and its the right time for him to push for a azzurri squad role.

how are Rosina and Montolivo doing?? And what about young Gamberini? He could be the next Nesta/Cannavaro, and continue the italian defending legend!!

Pirlo wrote:

bluenine wrote:Excellent line up from Donadoni, hats off to him!!

The only change I would have suggested from that line up was to start Mesto instead of Zaccardo.

It will be too much to expect these young talents to suceed in their first attempt - they haven't really played/practiced together much.... but Donadoni gets to see how some of Italys brightest talents do at International level... this will also give these guys some international experience so early in their career.

Well done Donadoni.

Goooooooooooooooooooooooo Rosina!!

3zycupid wrote:Italy starting IX
Amelia,Zaccardo,Chiellini,Gamberini,Bonera,De Rossi,Mauri,Montolivo,Foggia,Rosina,Lucarelli.

Especially with Mesto, he gives much more offensively thatn Zaccardo who worries me. Zaccardo is o.k, but he gets caught flat on turns and tends to lose the movement of players. Mesto is more agressive and is a great crosser and assured.

The end to the half was quite scrappy, Fernandez using his fist to clear from De Rossi and Morris removing a real goal area tussle! Some excellent balls being played into the box by Foggia, Lucarelli is just missing with the timing of his runs, but its an encouraging performance creatively, all we are missing is a goal, and its an excellent tactical experiment by Donadoni, he's starting to mould this side to his own vision now and lets hope he can continue it Blue!

Gilardino on for Foggia
Palombo on for De Rossi
30 mins to go.

ANGELOOOO PALOMBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Gila almost make an instant impact and Mauri just header wide.

Sud Africa not threatening at all really so difficult to test the relative merits of our centre backs,

Donadoni neglected to make any changes at the start of the second half, the game continues in roughly the same pattern as the first period of play; Mokoena made a good interception to stop Rosina, a very static tempo though, the second half yet to settle although we are on top still creatively and possession, Montolivo made a great nozzle pass through for Lucarelli but Fernandez anticipated it well and cleared with his feet, Mauri and Montolivo both had good long-range efforts,

Anyway Blue, Donadoni has just changed the team and formation around, so the tempo and style of the team will change now:

Gilardino on for Foggia and Gila instantly has a chance but Fernandez stands firm!
Palombo on for De Rossi

Rosina put a fantastic ball in for Mauri who just glanced a header off the post, second time we hit the frame tonight!

Dossena has just come on for Gamberini, so expect Palombo to sit deeper and play the Pirlo role, but defensively we have given up trying to contain any Sud Africa advances, its a very attacking midfield now, so no thoughts of any containing.

Morris again removes from Lucarelli's cross, Morris has played well, thats two key clearances he's made from pressurised situations.

Palombo will hopefully show his stuff and receive future call ups. He'll move on to a team doing better soon. Unless Sampdoria improve, Palombo will have to move.

The good news is that in France, Lithuania are still holding on 0-0 after 60 minutes!!!

bluenine wrote:The good news is that in France, Lithuania are still holding on 0-0 after 60 minutes!!!

Lithuania are not that $h!t. They aren't good enough to go and win games against top sides, as they lack the players...but they work well as a team and play some good stuff at times.

bluenine wrote:The good news is that in France, Lithuania are still holding on 0-0 after 60 minutes!!!

Great international break for Itay.
Gila just hit the post few mins ago.
Nocerino come on for Montolivo.

3zycupid wrote:

bluenine wrote:The good news is that in France, Lithuania are still holding on 0-0 after 60 minutes!!!

Great international break for Itay.
Gila just hit the post few mins ago.
Nocerino come on for Montolivo.

Nocerino on because Donadoni needs somebody to anchor! Lovely cross from Lucarelli for Gila, that's the last two he supplied being really dangerous!

McCarthy with an opportunity but strikes over, the stadium is very subdues tonight, the public don't seem too enthused by the game, it hasn't been a bad perofrmance and for me, Lucarelli has worked well, Rosina and Foggia have impressed as well, espeically Foggia in the first half

Yeap,Foggia work very hard.

Bluey...if it stays like this...do we still need a result in Scotland? I don' like the thought of Scotland needing a win against us to qualify...they are more than capable of it.

Goal from Lucarelli and Mesto come on for Zaccardo.

3zycupid wrote:Yeap,Foggia work very hard.

Hard and was very creative,

Lucarelli and Gila are working very well in the tight space they have to move in but they are complimenting each other so far.

GOL!!! Lucarelli flying heads in from a cross by Nocerino! And that was all after Mesto replaced Zaccardo