ITALIA - LA SQUADRA AZZURRA 2008-09

Italy suffer Legro blow Wednesday 10 September, 2008

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The Azzurri have been handed yet another injury blow ahead of tonight's game with Georgia as Nicola Legrottaglie's participation is in doubt.

Marcello Lippi lost Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Gamberini to serious injuries during the world champions' trip to Cyprus last weekend.

To make matters worse, pugnacious midfielder Gennaro Gattuso then suffered a freak wrist fracture when he fell into the dug-out during a friendly game.

And now Juventus stopper Legrottaglie is in doubt after he reported a pain in his gluteus this morning during training.

The former Chievo man is 50-50 to be fit for this evening's test at the Stadio Friuli and Wolfsburg new boy Andrea Barzagli is on alert.

Legrottaglie had been expected to start alongside Fabio Cannavaro in the centre of defence but Barzagli may not play in the back line along with Gianluca Zambrotta and Andrea Dossena.

Italy (probable): Buffon; Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Barzagli, Dossena; Pirlo, De Rossi, Aquilani; Camoranesi, Toni, Di Natale

3zycupid wrote:Legrotaglie is considered doubtful for tonight's game, could be Barzagli to partner Canna in the middle again.

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:Amazing goal by De Rossi to give Italy a 1-0 lead.

De Rossi scores again to give Italy a 2-0 win.

Six points gained, even if unconvincingly.

bluenine wrote:

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:Amazing goal by De Rossi to give Italy a 1-0 lead.

De Rossi scores again to give Italy a 2-0 win.

Six points gained, even if unconvincingly.

De Rossi = Best Midfielder in Italy

bluenine wrote:

Forza Italia!Forza Milan! wrote:Amazing goal by De Rossi to give Italy a 1-0 lead.

De Rossi scores again to give Italy a 2-0 win.

Six points gained, even if unconvincingly.

De Rossi = Best Midfielder in Italy Europe

Calidad wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHg-ZCtj0Ao

two nice goals by DRR. Should be a nailed on starter for the Italian side. Future captain?

Olé wrote:Lippi now has him playing in Pirlo's role of the deep-lying playmaker.

Azzurri: Lippi calls four debutants Sunday 5 October, 2008

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Alex Del Piero is not in the Italy squad for Bulgaria and Montenegro, but four new faces include Giuseppe Rossi and Christian Maggio.

Marcello Lippi has to deal with a number of injuries to Andrea Pirlo, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Marco Materazzi, Nicola Legrottaglie, Marco Cassetti, Fabio Grosso and Angelo Palombo.

There are four new faces in the squad, including two Napoli players, winger Maggio and defender Fabiano Santacroce.

Udinese striker Simone Pepe is a debutant, while Villarreal hitman Rossi makes the step up from Under-21 level.

Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo is also advanced from the Azzurrini, while Milan's Daniele Bonera and Palermo's Antonio Nocerino return.

Juventus captain Del Piero confirmed he had not been included during an interview after the 2-1 defeat to Palermo.

“Lippi called me up and explained that I was not in the squad,” he revealed.

Antonio Cassano has also again been left out despite his brace against Atalanta this evening, while Wolfsburg defender Andrea Barzagli is dropped.

Italy continue their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign by travelling to Sofia to face Bulgaria on October 11 and then welcome Montenegro to the Stadio Via del Mare in Lecce on October 15.

The Azzurri currently lead Group 8 with six points from two games, followed by Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland on four.

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Amelia (Palermo), De Sanctis (Galatasaray)
Defenders: Bonera (Milan), Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Chiellini (Juventus), Dossena (Liverpool), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Santacroce (Napoli), Zambrotta (Milan)
Midfielders: Aquilani (Roma), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Gattuso (Milan), Maggio (Napoli), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Nocerino (Palermo), Perrotta (Roma)
Forwards: Di Natale (Udinese), Gilardino (Fiorentina), Pepe (Udinese), G Rossi (Villareal), Toni (Bayern Munich).

Pierre Littbarski wrote:Pepe, Rossi and Toni ahead of Big Vince !

Pierre Littbarski wrote:Pepe, Rossi and Toni ahead of Big Vince !

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:Big Vince = Iaquinta

Though i think he was left out due to injury.

I'd like to see something like this:

Di Natale Gilardino
Montolivo
De Rossi Aquilani Maggio
Zambrotta Chiellini Cannavaro Bonera
Buffon

Juve duo are Azzurri doubts Monday 6 October, 2008

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Marcello Lippi may have to make do without Gigi Buffon and Mauro Camoranesi for Italy's upcoming World Cup 2010 qualifiers.

The Azzurri will be looking to maintain their 100 per cent record on the road to South Africa as they face Bulgaria and Montenegro.

Buffon reported a recurrence of shoulder pain after Juventus' defeat against Palermo yesterday.

The Bianconeri No 1 has been struggling with the injury for weeks and may need some time to rest the troubled area.

Meanwhile, Juve winger Mauro Camoranesi has complained of a strain in his right thigh.

Both men saw Azzurri medical staff this afternoon and a decision will be made shortly over their fitness.

Italy travel to Bulgaria on Saturday before hosting Montenegro in mid-week.

bluenine wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:Big Vince = Iaquinta

Though i think he was left out due to injury.

I'd like to see something like this:

Di Natale Gilardino
Montolivo
De Rossi Aquilani Maggio
Zambrotta Chiellini Cannavaro Bonera
Buffon

I think the following is more likely - coz Lippi has his favourites:

Toni

Di Natale -------------- CamoranesiPepe/Perrotta
De Rossi Aquilani Perrotta/Gattuso
Dossena Chiellini Cannavaro Zambrotta
Amelia
Buffon

Hopefully, he will experiment a bit more against Montenegro.

3zycupid wrote:

bluenine wrote:

BoBo Vieri 32 wrote:Big Vince = Iaquinta

Though i think he was left out due to injury.

I'd like to see something like this:

Di Natale Gilardino
Montolivo
De Rossi Aquilani Maggio
Zambrotta Chiellini Cannavaro Bonera
Buffon

I think the following is more likely - coz Lippi has his favourites:

Toni

Di Natale -------------- CamoranesiPepe/Perrotta
De Rossi Aquilani Perrotta/Gattuso
Dossena Chiellini Cannavaro Zambrotta
Amelia
Buffon

Hopefully, he will experiment a bit more against Montenegro.

bluenine wrote:Latest rumours suggest that Lippi will start a more surprising line up:

Gilardino
Di Natale ------------------ Pepe
Montolivo - De Rossi - Gattuso
Dossena - Chiellini - Cannavaro - Zambrotta
Amelia

Hmmm.... it will be good to see how Montolivo and Pepe react tonight. Dossena, Gila and Amelia also have some to prove.

So this is Lippi's plan for the future! I am just glad that Lippi is finally taking some steps into rebuilding the Azzurri...

bluenine wrote:Very slow game, neither team really creating anything... I guess a 0-0 suits Italy.

HT 0-0

kas wrote:

bluenine wrote:Very slow game, neither team really creating anything... I guess a 0-0 suits Italy.

HT 0-0

About time you realised what all the rest of us knew for years