Italia vs Scotland

VS

Biggest game on Wednesday I think...Scotland top the group and are playing well. Italia in a little bit of trouble and we need 3 points which won't be easy!

If Delps starts, Italy will win easily. If not, it will be level at H/T.

I might actually watch this one. Sorry Deano, I want the Scots to win but I fully expect Italy to get the 3 points.

Shame Fletcher isn't playing as he's been superb for the Scots against the big nations.

Whats the expected Italian line-up?

Toni and Gilardino upfront?

La Squadra

Buffon; Abbiati;
Zambrotta, Barzagli, Tonetto; Oddo, Cannavaro, Materazzi
Gattuso, De Rossi; Pirlo, Ambrosini; Camoranesi, Mauri, Perrotta
Quagliarella, Del Piero; Di Natale, Gilardino, Rocchi, Toni.

@Parks..you cunt!

I don't expect it to be easy at all...Scotland are full of confidence, they battle well and I must admit I am slightly worried.

Don't expect scotland to be leaving their half too often

@ spank. is fletcher injured at the minute? I don't think he was playing yesterday. maybe suspended.


hopefully scotland get a goal against the run of play again like the france match to make it interesting. they are currently playing the best football out of all the home nations

I've got a few Scots in the family and I love the country as well.

COTR wrote:

@ spank. is fletcher injured at the minute? I don't think he was playing yesterday. mayb suspended.

Injured, got another month to go.

COTR wrote: they are currently playing the best football out of all the home nations

Talk about backhanded compliments. Like saying "you look more alive than a corpse".

Hope for a Scotland win, what if they qualify in this tough group and England will not make it God the humiliation must be unbareble then!

If Italy defeat Scotland they will become 'undisputed World Champions' as Italy holds the official World Championship and Scotland the 'unofficial World Championship' after beating Georgia. Italy will become the first undisputed Champions since France in 1998.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unofficial_Football_World_Championships

Cesc wrote:Whats the expected Italian line-up?

Toni and Gilardino upfront?

I haven't a clue to be honest..I'm not sure what formation he'll go with.

I expect something like...

Buffon

Oddo--Cannavaro--Materazzi--Zambrotta

Cameronesi--Gattuso--Pirlo--Perrotta

Toni--Gilardino

maybe?...It all depends the formation he goes with...

Dona is out of his depth, so, yes, I imagine he will not start his one magician, despite playing a team which will park the bus.

Rai Krol wrote:If Italy defeat Scotland they will become 'undisputed World Champions' as Italy holds the official World Championship and Scotland the 'unofficial World Championship' after beating Georgia. Italy will become the first undisputed Champions since France in 1998.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unofficial_Football_World_Championships

did france not beat italy?

Waftradamus wrote:Dona is out of his depth, so, yes, I imagine he will not start his one magician, despite playing a team which will park the bus.

I would perhaps play a formation like this

---x---
x-x-x-x
-x-x-x-
x------x
----x---

So that there is 1 striker being supported by two forwards....

My ideal line up would be:

-------------------Buffon-----------------------

Zambrotta---Cannavaro---Barzagli---Tonetto

----------Gattuso---Pirlo---Perrotta-----------

Di Natale----------------------------------Del Piero

----------------------Toni--------------------------

However I'm unsure if Di Natale can play on the right....I think he can anyway.

DeanoTheEmo-WHUFC wrote:

Waftradamus wrote:Dona is out of his depth, so, yes, I imagine he will not start his one magician, despite playing a team which will park the bus.

I would perhaps play a formation like this

---x---
x-x-x-x
-x-x-x-
x------x
----x---

So that there is 1 striker being supported by two forwards....

My ideal line up would be:

-------------------Buffon-----------------------

Zambrotta---Cannavaro---Barzagli---Tonetto

----------Gattuso---Pirlo---Perrotta-----------

Di Natale----------------------------------Del Piero

----------------------Toni--------------------------

However I'm unsure if Di Natale can play on the right....I think he can anyway.

Tore Fiorentina a new arsehole from the right earlier in the season - I'm sure Gary Naysmith wouldn't be able to deal with him.

Scotland's best bet (against a front 2 of Toni and Gila) would be to defend high up the pitch.

If they defend deep (as most seem to expect) this could be a disaster.

Oddo and Zambrotta will be able to put lots of crosses in and Toni and Gila can play to their strengths.

Scotland conceded from a cross yesterday - terrible defending.

If Scott Brown plays, he will be Scotland's secret weapon.

Incidentally Scotland haven't been playing great football, but certainly better than the football played over the past few years.

The problem with Scotland is that they don't play their best players, and have too many old players in the team with no pace. The management should show more faith in the young talent.

DeanoTheEmo-WHUFC wrote:

Waftradamus wrote:Dona is out of his depth, so, yes, I imagine he will not start his one magician, despite playing a team which will park the bus.

I would perhaps play a formation like this

---x---
x-x-x-x
-x-x-x-
x------x
----x---

So that there is 1 striker being supported by two forwards....

My ideal line up would be:

-------------------Buffon-----------------------

Zambrotta---Cannavaro---Barzagli---Tonetto

----------Gattuso---Pirlo---Perrotta-----------

Di Natale----------------------------------Del Piero

----------------------Toni--------------------------

However I'm unsure if Di Natale can play on the right....I think he can anyway.

Yeah i think you will get your wish cos in training they have been working with a 4-3-2-1 formation spearheaded by Luca Toni and support could come from Rocchi, Di Natale, Del Piero, Camoranesi or Quagliarella..... will just have to seee what the Don decides.

I expect Donadoni (going by his practice sessions) to start with the following:

-------------------Buffon-----------------------
Oddo---Cannavaro---Materazzi---Zambrotta
----------Gattuso---Pirlo---Ambrosini-----------
Di Natale/Camoranesi-----------------Del Piero
----------------------Toni--------------------------

I don't like it. I hope De Rossi starts ahead of Ambrosini, and Rocchi or Quagliarella above Di Natale.

I think Ambrosini is not meant for this level, am shocked to see him make the squad! It would have been Perrotta in that position, but I believe he is carrying an injury

I have never been a big fan of DP, but with Totti unavailable and considering DP's current form, he HAS to start... I hope Donadoni has that sense.

Now I fear Di Natale and Camoranesi supporting Toni, that looks like a blunt attack to me


Deschamps defends Del Piero
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Juventus boss Didier Deschamps expects Alessandro Del Piero to be on the bench for Italy’s clash against Scotland.

“Whether he plays or not, I hope that he is relaxed in the Azzurri camp and returns to Turin with the same enthusiasm with which he left,” said the Frenchman.Always a divisive figure on the international stage, Alex has his staunch supporters and those who have still not forgiven him for the misses of 1998 and 2000.

“There always has to be talk about Del Piero and he never leaves people indifferent. It is a complicated matter and he experienced much the same situation at Juve last year.“The interpretation of his performance and consistency is so often different. I don’t believe this is a positive aspect for him, as the talk can take away some of his confidence.”

The Juventus captain was often left on the bench by Fabio Capello last season, but has been sparkling in Serie B and is topping the Capocannoniere charts with 15 goals.“He is having a great campaign and I hope he enjoys this break for the national side,” added Deschamps.

bluenine wrote:I have never been a big fan of DP, but with Totti unavailable and considering DP's current form, he HAS to start... I hope Donadoni has that sense.

Now I fear Di Natale and Camoranesi supporting Toni, that looks like a blunt attack to me

Mate - I respect your opinion but don't lump Di Natale and C@m*$@n£#! together.

Di Natale is a fine player - one of the most underrated in Europe's top leagues for sure.

Nothing blunt about Di Natale.

Sgoater1 wrote:

DeanoTheEmo-WHUFC wrote:

Waftradamus wrote:Dona is out of his depth, so, yes, I imagine he will not start his one magician, despite playing a team which will park the bus.

I would perhaps play a formation like this

---x---
x-x-x-x
-x-x-x-
x------x
----x---

So that there is 1 striker being supported by two forwards....

My ideal line up would be:

-------------------Buffon-----------------------

Zambrotta---Cannavaro---Barzagli---Tonetto

----------Gattuso---Pirlo---Perrotta-----------

Di Natale----------------------------------Del Piero

----------------------Toni--------------------------

However I'm unsure if Di Natale can play on the right....I think he can anyway.

Yeah i think you will get your wish cos in training they have been working with a 4-3-2-1 formation spearheaded by Luca Toni and support could come from Rocchi, Di Natale, Del Piero, Camoranesi or Quagliarella..... will just have to seee what the Don decides.

Of course I'd love Quagliarella to play ...He can play in the position where I have ADP. Thanks for the info mate I'm glad to hear that they are working on that formation.

As for ADP, Ive always rated him and I would start him.

Going off form id go with Del Piero but i think Quagliarella should be given a chance off the bench (hopefully when they are2-0 up) he deserves it given his season for Samp.

@Deano

Good job Quagliarella is playing so well for Samp with Flachi in trouble...

Yup! Luckily strikers isn't our weak point having Quagliarella,Bonazzoli and Bazzani....Flachi is stupid, his career is over!

I hope that Quagliarella plays at least 20 minutes or something...

Yeah he should get on for a bit, id like to see Rocchi given some time cos he has been great again this season for Lazio.

Italy will win by 2 goals but DP should stay far from the starting line-up otherwise he'll fuck up their chances.

Agooner wrote:Italy will win by 2 goals but DP should stay far from the starting line-up otherwise he'll fuck up their chances.

Because??

lol

Its not that I don't rate Di Natale, I do, but there are better options... I would rather see the likes of Rocchi or Del Piero play... or even Quag!

But the latest I have heard is that its between Di Natale & Camoranesi for the right, and DP and Quag for the left... so in that case, the front line should be:

Di Natale ---- Toni ---- Del Piero

Stefan Kuntz wrote:

bluenine wrote:I have never been a big fan of DP, but with Totti unavailable and considering DP's current form, he HAS to start... I hope Donadoni has that sense.

Now I fear Di Natale and Camoranesi supporting Toni, that looks like a blunt attack to me

Mate - I respect your opinion but don't lump Di Natale and C@m*$@n£#! together.

Di Natale is a fine player - one of the most underrated in Europe's top leagues for sure.

Nothing blunt about Di Natale.

bluenine wrote:lol

Its not that I don't rate Di Natale, I do, but there are better options... I would rather see the likes of Rocchi or Del Piero play... or even Quag!

But the latest I have heard is that its between Di Natale & Camoranesi for the right, and DP and Quag for the left... so in that case, the front line should be:

Di Natale ---- Toni ---- Del Piero

Stefan Kuntz wrote:

bluenine wrote:I have never been a big fan of DP, but with Totti unavailable and considering DP's current form, he HAS to start... I hope Donadoni has that sense.

Now I fear Di Natale and Camoranesi supporting Toni, that looks like a blunt attack to me

Mate - I respect your opinion but don't lump Di Natale and C@m*$@n£#! together.

Di Natale is a fine player - one of the most underrated in Europe's top leagues for sure.

Nothing blunt about Di Natale.

DP has had his time and is a Serie B player.

Rocchi makes the best of what he's got but will never be international class - Quagliarella is too young.

Di Natale - spot on