Italy - Portugal thread

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:

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.

Yeah he got injured...too bad.

I wouldn't take Perrotta out normally, but don't you think we need a Cassano/Aquilani type player directly behind Toni?

Yup...but Cassano doesn't make the squad more for a point rather than sense. Cassano is playing fantastic for us at the moment, yet he doesn't get called up, because he has to continue to work harder apparently (Only Cassano would get this treatment)...

I think it's the wrong decision to leave him out...

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:Italy will p;ay 4-2-3-1 for this game.

Amelia; Oddo, Cannavaro, Barzagli, Zambrotta; Pirlo, Ambrosini; Palladino, Perrotta, Di Natale; Toni.

What do you guys think?

Firstly, Palladino shouldn't be there. Donadoni recently said that he is the only right-winger in the country who he could select. But why is it imperative to select a right-winger? Why not play a more orthodox 4-4-1-1 or even a 3-5-2. Portugal play with wingers. We need to account for that. I think a 4-2-3-1 is not equipped to cope with that.

Also, Perrotta will play behind Toni, while Di Natale and Palladino will supply him from out wide. Maybe Aquilani can fill in for Perotta because he passes much better than he.

We're more suited to playing a 4-3-2-1

Toni
Di Natale Quag (should be Cassano though)
De Rossi Pirlo Ambrosini
Zambrotta Canna Barzalgi Oddo
Buffon

He's off his head playing Palladino. No right wingers? Marchionni, Foggia or even Rosina would be a better option.

Game in Switzerland is more for the immigrants than anything else
No idea what team will play
but it should be

Ricardo
Bosingwa-B Alves-R Carvalho-Caneira
Maniche-Petit
Deco
Quaresma-Ronaldo
Makukula
The tipical 4-2-3-1 of Portugal, with Deco just in front of the 2 defensive midfielders

Well, once again I find myself questioning some of Donadoni's decisions on both selections and tactics. I hope that once again I'm proved wrong. The thing is, when was the last time we actually played really well? I think we've often looked poor and just managed to sneak the result.

It is always interesting when we play our two nemesis, Italy and France. We always seem to lose to them no matter how the game goes

As for Italy our last win against them was in 1976, i hope this will change today

@yo pirlo

are you out there

come out of the shadows and let us know what you think of Italy these days

is Donadoni right: are Italy really the top favourites at Euro 2008

what do you make of Toni at Bayern

any news on Floyd Landis, maybe

Anyone know what channel this match is on?

Protheus wrote:It is always interesting when we play our two nemesis, Italy and France. We always seem to lose to them no matter how the game goes

As for Italy our last win against them was in 1976, i hope this will change today

We beat Brasil this time last year in Londres so I don't see why we can't beat Italy in Geneva tonight.


Geneva/Emirates are one of the two main international neutral venues.

@oi Portuguese

how do you compare your current national team with that of the famous "Golden Generation"

26-Otto-19 wrote:@oi Portuguese

how do you compare your current national team with that of the famous "Golden Generation"

The keeper department is slight better than it was before the defence is stronger since Pepe became a citizen its added more options but i want to see him and Andrade fit at the euros.

As for midfield theres more options than before with the emergence of Veloso/Moutinho and as for the wingers they get better and better before Luis Figo was the only genuine threat don't get me wrong Sergio Conceicao was good as you Germans will remember but Quaresma/Ronaldo/Nani add much more in terms of skill,technique,match winners.

As for that number nine its the same old story we still missing him i really wish i was born when the third greatest player was playing .

26-Otto-19 wrote:@oi Portuguese

how do you compare your current national team with that of the famous "Golden Generation"

If by "Golden Generation" you mean the group of players who were part of one or another of two World Youth Cups winning teams?

If that's the case you can argue that in some way shape or form they were part of the team until the WC2006. In which case there is no basis for comparison as this team has not been involved in a major competition. The qualifying campaign was disappointing but that doesn't mean we'll have a bad Euro.

If you mean teams who were dominated by the aforementioned group of players then, despite a notable performance in Euro2000 we had a disappointing WC2002, while Euro2004 and WC2006 are our two best campaigns for a very long time. You can't argue with results.

Paulo Sousa thinks that having Carvalho nowadays is also a big plus

well, if Germany don't win the EUropean Cup, I certainly want a small country like Portugal or Switzerland to lift the Cup

wahre G

Sousa = legend!

I think Portugal have awesome talent, this is the new generation which grew up being inspired by the "golden generation"... Portugal have a bright future, talent wise they are right up there with the best.

26-Otto-19 wrote:Paulo Sousa thinks that having Carvalho nowadays is also a big plus

well, if Germany don't win the EUropean Cup, I certainly want a small country like Portugal or Switzerland to lift the Cup

wahre G

No Cassano, great decision.

Aquilani! I hope he starts.

Italy XI: Amelia, Oddo, Cannavaro, Barzagli, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, De Rossi, Pirlo, Palladino, Toni, Di Natale

Portugal XI: Pereira, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Caniera, Bruno Alves, Petit, Maniche, Deco, Ronaldo, Quaresma, Makukula

Cesc wrote:Italy XI: Amelia, Oddo, Cannavaro, Barzagli, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, De Rossi, Pirlo, Palladino, Toni, Di Natale

Portugal XI: Pereira, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Caniera, Bruno Alves, Petit, Maniche, Deco, Ronaldo, Quaresma, Makukula

Good lineup apart from Quag should be playing instead of Palladino.

Di Natale just blew a golden chance after some great play

Its a friendly, let him give the kid a chance!!

I wish we had Donadel/Nocerino instead of Ambrosini.... we all know what Ambrosini can do, those kids could have done well with this experience!

BoBo Vieri wrote:

Cesc wrote:Italy XI: Amelia, Oddo, Cannavaro, Barzagli, Zambrotta, Ambrosini, De Rossi, Pirlo, Palladino, Toni, Di Natale

Portugal XI: Pereira, Bosingwa, Carvalho, Caniera, Bruno Alves, Petit, Maniche, Deco, Ronaldo, Quaresma, Makukula

Good lineup apart from Quag should be playing instead of Palladino.

Actually Palladino is playing pretty well. Another good pass to Di Natale but keeper saves.

Zambro is off for Grosso

Simple tap in for Toni!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1-0

not particular deserved but italy have been a bit more dangerous on their counter attacks. italy have defended very well and left portugal with the ball. i dont really like this tactic but im not sure italys midfield is good enough to keep the ball(ambrosini). portugal have been ok and quaresma has made some nice stuff but overall portugal havent been effiecient which is best showed right before the goal where portugal had ronaldo+quaresma against on italian defender and they miss it up.

We started brightly, and Di Natale had an excellent chance while Pirlo had a goal wrongly ruled out. Then our midfield started to struggle and we resorted to defence and counterattack. De Rossi has been poor and Ambrosini has been invisible. Solid game from Pirlo though. Toni goal was probably undeserved and the keeper shouldve saved it but makes up for the earlier Pirlo goal. Portugal also wasted a golden opportunity when they had Ronaldo and Quaresma 2 on 1 against Barzagli!

Good goal by Pirlo

2-0

2-0 Pirlo
the best player on the field got a goal allthough it wasnt a good but rather a kind of plucky. but he deserves after setting natale up with great pass that luca toni squandered. dont think italy deserve to be ahead by 2 but that is italy for you. im just worried that they will struggle if they get behind. hopefully some youngster will get a chance.

Yeah, Pirlo has easily been the MOTM so far, in this experimental Italian side. I expected more from Ronaldo, Deco, Quaresma & Co, Portugal haven't looked as dangerous as they should.

BoBo Vieri wrote:We started brightly, and Di Natale had an excellent chance while Pirlo had a goal wrongly ruled out. Then our midfield started to struggle and we resorted to defence and counterattack. De Rossi has been poor and Ambrosini has been invisible. Solid game from Pirlo though. Toni goal was probably undeserved and the keeper shouldve saved it but makes up for the earlier Pirlo goal. Portugal also wasted a golden opportunity when they had Ronaldo and Quaresma 2 on 1 against Barzagli!

We look more motivated this half!

BoBo Vieri wrote:We look more motivated this half!

they could win bit if they want. portugal arent doing anything offensively or at least italy are stopping them and then attack very directly. italy must be the best counter attacking team currently. still worry about theri creative skills.

Palladino almost scored an amazing goal. Very impressed with him. I take back what i said earlier.

And Cassano would solve our creative problems in the final third.

BoBo Vieri wrote:Palladino almost scored an amazing goal. Very impressed with him. I take back what i said earlier.

And Cassano would solve our creative problems in the final third.

im not sure allthough i would love to see him back. i think italy should use aquilani instead of ambrosini and find another right back then oddo. maybe put zambrotta there and use pasqual on the left.oddo seems to have lost his crossing skill which i thought was one of his strenghts. that team at least would be able to turn a game if they go behind. if portugal were the type of team that wanted to defend and they had marked pirlo it would have been a different game. that is why italy need someone else that can create like aquilani.

Quagliarella

3-1