Italy - Portugal thread

BoBo Vieri wrote:This should be a cracking game.

Gazzetta gave a probable call-up list for the friendly a couple of days ago.

Portieri: Buffon, Amelia, Curci (in preallarme Sereni).

Difensori: Panucci, Cannavaro, Materazzi, Zambrotta, Oddo, Bonera, Barzagli, Grosso (Dossena, Gamberini).

Centrocampisti: Ambrosini, Pirlo, Gattuso, De Rossi, Perrotta (Mauri, Aquilani).

Attaccanti: Quagliarella, Di Natale, Toni, Iaquinta, Borriello, Cassano (Lucarelli, Del Piero).

I'd be happy with this apart from Grosso and not too sure about Borriello either.

Nummer 14 wrote:Does anyone know if Portugal has announced their squad? should be a good game.

Tuga wrote:

Nummer 14 wrote:Does anyone know if Portugal has announced their squad? should be a good game.

GK: Ricardo, Quim, Rui Patricio

DF: Fernando Meira, Ricardo Carvalho, Jorge Ribeiro, Bosingwa, Marco Caneira, Paulo Ferreira

MF: Petit, Maniche, Raul Meireles, Deco, Ricardo Quaresma, Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo

FW: Nuno Gomes, Makukula

Most likely to start:
Ricardo
Bosingwa Meira Carvalho Ferreira
Ronaldo Petit Deco Maniche Quaresma
Makukula

Tuga wrote:Does anyone know if this is showing on any channel available in the UK?

Tuga wrote:

Nummer 14 wrote:Does anyone know if Portugal has announced their squad? should be a good game.

GK: Ricardo, Quim, Rui Patricio

DF: Fernando Meira, Ricardo Carvalho, Jorge Ribeiro, Bosingwa, Marco Caneira, Paulo Ferreira

MF: Petit, Maniche, Raul Meireles, Deco, Ricardo Quaresma, Nani, Cristiano Ronaldo

FW: Nuno Gomes, Makukula

Most likely to start:
Ricardo
Bosingwa Meira Carvalho Ferreira
Ronaldo Petit Deco Maniche Quaresma
Makukula

Italy: Borriello gets Azzurri nod Sunday 3 February, 2008

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Roberto Donadoni includes Marco Borriello in the squad for Italy’s friendly against Portugal, but leaves Antonio Cassano and Alex Del Piero at home.

There had been rumours that Genoa hitman Borriello would receive his first senior call-up after netting his 12th Serie A goal this afternoon.

As this is a friendly, Donadoni is trying to test out various different alternatives to his main squad, while Gianluigi Buffon and Gennaro Gattuso are injured.

It was thought that it was the perfect opportunity to see Cassano and Del Piero back in the Nazionale following their strong form for Sampdoria and Juventus respectively, but they have once again been overlooked.

Other returning figures are Marco Materazzi, former Udinese goalkeeper Morgan De Sanctis, Fiorentina’s Franco Semioli, Marco Cassetti and Alberto Aquilani of Roma.

The Azzurri will come together at the Stadio Meazza in Milan for training on Monday afternoon and fly to Zurich for Wednesday’s match at the Letzigrund Stadium.

Italy take on Portugal at 19.45 UK time and the referee will be Sascha Kever of Switzerland.

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Amelia (Livorno), De Sanctis (Sevilla)

Defenders: Barzagli (Palermo), Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Cassetti (Roma), Grosso (Lyon), Materazzi (Inter), Oddo (Milan), Zambrotta (Barcelona)

Midfielders: Ambrosini (Milan), Aquilani (Roma), De Rossi (Roma), Perrotta (Roma), Pirlo (Milan), Semioli (Fiorentina)

Forwards: Borriello (Genoa), Di Natale (Udinese), Palladino (Juventus), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Munich).

BoBo Vieri wrote:wtf is Donadoni thinking?

Cassetti? he's a joke amongst Roma fans! Grosso? Pasqual or Tonetto are simply better than that slow lanky piece of $h!t.

Semioli i assume is a replacement for Camoranesi. Hes alrite, i guess but there are better options.

I know Borriello has been in good form but he could be one of those one season wonders for midtable teams like we've seen in the past. Foolish mistake.

Palladino? wtf? Cassano is miles better than him.

Don: Why I snubbed star duo Monday 4 February, 2008

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Roberto Donadoni has explained his decision to leave Antonio Cassano and Alessandro Del Piero out of his Italy squad to face Portugal.

The world champions will have a slightly unexpected look as they play their first preparation game for Euro 2008 on Wednesday.

Despite his revelatory form for Sampdoria and close relationship with Donadoni, Cassano has lost out to Genoa’s Marco Borriello.

“I thought I’d try out some new players because this is one of the last opportunities,” Donadoni said.

“Vincenzo Iaquinta? Del Piero? Cassano? Alberto Gilardino? I’d rather you asked me about Marco Borriello and Marco Cassetti.

“The players that are left out shouldn’t be worrying, as they only need to be concerned if they are putting in poor performances – we have four months left.

“Cassano is a player who I know best,” the former Livorno tactician continued. “He needs to be stimulated and call-ups don’t do that. He needs to grow more, so I am waiting expectantly.”

Del Piero’s chances of making Euro 2008 his Azzurri swansong are up in the air after the Juventus talisman was again left out of the squad.

“Scoring seven goals is not enough to make a player indispensable,” Donadoni maintained.

“Del Piero knows very well what the situation is. Four months ahead of the European Championships nobody should feel excluded.

“If I made my list definite for Austria then the players that were on it would go on holiday, instead I will follow all the games and collect information.”

Donadoni concluded by responding to questioning over his decision to select Juve benchwarmer Raffale Palladino.

“Find me another right-winger,” he declared. “Franco Semioli was called up for that reason. We don’t have many alternatives.”

Matthew Upson wrote:Can Donadoni please give a proper explanation for leaving Cassano out...rather than wanting to talk about the inclusions of that clown Cassetti and that Red and Blue bastard!

TheCrazy58 wrote:can someone explain to me why the match is being played in Zurich?

bluenine wrote:I think he did the right thing... he is giving cassano the signal that he has to do more to merit a place... a few good months are not enuf, he has to show consistancy over a season before he gets a place.

Knowing Cassano and his wild temperament, this is the right message to give him at this stage. I have no doubt that if Cassano continues to play like he is for the rest of the season, he will be a key part of Donadoni's plans. But if he starts to fade away, or lose his mind, then its best that he does not get a call for Euro2008.

Full marks to Donadoni on that one.

I am also satisfied on Donadoni's explanation for Palladino and Semioli. There are just not enuf good right wingers in Italy apart from these guys and the Donkey!

Matthew Upson wrote:Can Donadoni please give a proper explanation for leaving Cassano out...rather than wanting to talk about the inclusions of that clown Cassetti and that Red and Blue bastard!

bluenine wrote:I think he did the right thing... he is giving cassano the signal that he has to do more to merit a place... a few good months are not enuf, he has to show consistancy over a season before he gets a place.

Knowing Cassano and his wild temperament, this is the right message to give him at this stage. I have no doubt that if Cassano continues to play like he is for the rest of the season, he will be a key part of Donadoni's plans. But if he starts to fade away, or lose his mind, then its best that he does not get a call for Euro2008.

Full marks to Donadoni on that one.

I am also satisfied on Donadoni's explanation for Palladino and Semioli. There are just not enuf good right wingers in Italy apart from these guys and the Donkey!

Matthew Upson wrote:Can Donadoni please give a proper explanation for leaving Cassano out...rather than wanting to talk about the inclusions of that clown Cassetti and that Red and Blue bastard!

bluenine wrote:To get the players aclimatised.... this is where Italy play 2 of their group games, if I am not mistaken.

TheCrazy58 wrote:can someone explain to me why the match is being played in Zurich?

Alive and Kicking wrote:

bluenine wrote:To get the players aclimatised.... this is where Italy play 2 of their group games, if I am not mistaken.

TheCrazy58 wrote:can someone explain to me why the match is being played in Zurich?

But know is bloody winter with minus temperatures in Switzerland, not the best way to prepare a game. Weather conditions would have been better in Portugal or Italy.

Matthew Upson wrote:Don't take Perrotta out...but I question Palladino too, I don't know what Donadoni is thinking. I guess this is why he called up Semioli, who I personally rate.