Italia's squad vs Portugal

[Romanista10]

Here is the 22 man squad called by Trapattoni for the Azzurri's friendly game against Portugal on Wednesday at Genoa:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Francesco Toldo (Inter Milan), Ivan Pelizzoli (AS Roma)

Defenders: Alessandro Birindelli (Juventus), Fabio Cannavaro (Inter Milan), Matteo Ferrari (Parma), Nicola Legrottaglie (Chievo Verona), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), Christian Panucci (AS Roma)

Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (Juventus), Luciano Zauri (Atalanta), Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Stefano Fiore (Lazio), Simone Perrotta (Chievo Verona), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan), Damiano Tommasi (AS Roma), Cristiano Zanetti (Inter Milan)

Attackers: Marco Delvecchio (AS Roma), Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan), Fabrizio Miccoli (Perugia), Chrisitian Vieri (Inter Milan)

[romansky]

I admit to liking this selection, Trap has rewarded such in-form players as Legrottaglie & Ferrari, not to mention Miccoli. Finally he's seen fit to include Fiore as well. The absence of DP & Totti may provide some positive changes for the Azzurri, at least in the short term. What about this XI if Zambrotta is utilised in his "new" position of left-back? & Pelizzoli at GK, the kid has earned it for a friendly:
Cannavaro--------------Nesta---------------------------Zambrotta
---------------------Tommasi--------------Ambrosini-----------------
Camoranesi------------------Fiore------------------------------Pirlo
----------------------Miccoli-----------------Vieiri-------------------------

[Romanista10]

I really don't know how Trapattoni is approaching this game. If I had to guess, the Azzurri will look like this:

(4-3-1-2)

Buffon

Panucci - Cannavaro - Nesta - Zambrotta

Camoranesi - Tommasi - Fiore

Pirlo

Inzaghi - Vieri


But honestly, I may be way off. For the first time I really have no idea what Trap has planned.

[Juan]

Good one romanski. Although I would use Ferrari in the back, Zambrotta as a left mid, Pirlo in Ambro´s position and the latter one in the bench.

[romansky]

I imagine you guys are right that Trap will field another defender & not a second defencive mid like I've suggested, I just saw Zambrotta going forward & Tommasi drifting back to cover but that could leave a lot of room on the left exposed.

[ItalianBoy]

That is why I dont get Trap and this games.
What is the big chaned with that formation?
We need to try out new players.

[Severus]

Originally posted by romansky
I imagine you guys are right that Trap will field another defender & not a second defencive mid like I've suggested, I just saw Zambrotta going forward & Tommasi drifting back to cover but that could leave a lot of room on the left exposed.

well, if stupid and senile goes with the more favourable 4 back then there shouldn't be much of a problem in that regard. personally, i don't think we can pull of a 3-back anymore anyway in the post-maldini era. which is why i'd opt for the following:

-----------------------------------buffon-----------------------------------
panucci------------cannavaro------------nesta------------zambrotta
---------------------------------ambrosini----------------------------------
----------camoranesi---------------------------------fiore-----------------
------------------------------------pirlo--------------------------------------
------------------------inzaghi--------------vieri-----------------------------

[haythamx]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Severus
[B]well, if stupid and senile goes with the more favourable 4 back then there shouldn't be much of a problem in that regard. personally, i don't think we can pull of a 3-back anymore anyway in the post-maldini era. which is why i'd opt for the following:


LOL!!! stupid and senile LOL!!!

That was too funny...

Anyways, I just want to say the same thing: I'M JUST AS BAFFLED!!! What kinda formation does this guy have in mind?! And why does he keep recalling Delvecchio!!! Dammit, the guy sucks! Why not Di Vaio? Di Natale? Muzzi? Montella? Delvecchio has experience true, but I mean he's not a good finisher. And who's gonna play left-back as *THE* Maldini replacement? We've kinda solved the Albertini central role thru-out the years by fielding Di Biagio and now the re-emerging Pirlo. But competition remains in both central and wing midfield...which IMO has been Italy's main problem these past few years- most notably under Trap: remember that Gatusso substitution vs. Wales?

Until Trap discover's an EFFECTIVE combination of midfielders (with or without Totti!) to feed the strikers, I see dull, boring, and unproductive footy in the Azzurri.

5 games Mr. Trap. Just FIVE cotton-pickin' games! I swear if Italy don't reach the Euro...*no comment*

[Hizbollah]

I agree with Romanista10, my guess is the same. There are players who shouldn't even be there, for example: Panucci, Delvecchio and Tommasi (was injured for weeks). I don't understand why he didn't nominate Di Vaio, who did alot better this season than Delvecchio.

[Romanista10]

Looks doubtful for Vieri playing Wednesday against Portugal. I say Miccoli must get the start in attack. This kid is in great form and his winning goal against Milan was sensational. Inzaghi absolutely made me sick on his missed goal on Sunday. After a hot start, Pippo has returned to his typical form of missing easy goals. Here's the probable line-up:

(4-3-1-2)

Buffon

Panucci - Cannavaro - Nesta - Zambrotta

Camoranesi - Tommasi - Fiore

Pirlo

Inzaghi - Miccoli

[haythamx]

Vieri's replacement will be Lazio's Bernardo Corradi.

[Romanista10]

Whoa, looks like the old man pulled a fast one here! Trapattoni has made his line-up for Wednesday's friendly against Portugal:

(4-2-3-1)

Toldo

Panucci - Cannavaro - Nesta - Zambrotta

Zanetti - Perrotta

Camoranesi - Miccoli - Delvecchio

Corradi


I am very surprised to see Toldo, Zanetti, Perrotta, Corradi, and Delvecchio in the starting line-up. I have got to see this, hopefully RAI International will be carrying the game in U.S.A.

FORZA AZZURRI!!!!

[romansky]

Hmmm, very interesting line-up, one of the more attack-minded we've seen in a long time. The comparisons w/ Real's formation are already being made.

Originally posted by Romanista10
I am very surprised to see Toldo, Zanetti, Perrotta, Corradi, and Delvecchio in the starting line-up. I have got to see this, hopefully RAI International will be carrying the game in U.S.A.
As far as I know they will broadcast the match, I think it begins at 1430 EST.

[Severus]

the 4231 is odd, coming from him anyway. and he insisted that he is not adapting to this formation simply because of the injuries to del piero and totti. he claims apparently that he would've experimented with this formation anyway. gotta appreciate the senile one's last ditch effort though. atleast he seems to be willing to buy into the more modern offensive tactics possibly for a bit.

it still doesn't mean the players will play for him immediatly. trap IMO has to start winning back the confidence dai senatori and the other elderly statesmen. he'll get good performances definitely out of miccoli and camoranesi, for obvious reasons but if he doesn't make a committment to play spectacular futbol and score goals the players will never regain confidence in him and his system which is clearly what's lacking now.

now concerning the lineup, i can't phathom why neither pirlo or fiore made the starting lineup. what in the hell does perrotta and delvecchio have to offer other than incompetence ? well delvecchio has always been a favourite of his so that cancels out him. but perrotta ? ma you've gotta be kidding me. how can you claim to be playing an offensive game when you have perrotta as the one mainly responsible for creating effective outlet passes consistently for the attackers ??? that's a joke. pirlo's been doing it all season for MILAN and is much more capable offensively. another chooch on there is corradi. ma che cazzo fara su strunz ??? he's so bad i'd rather see inzaghi, pippo that is ;)

FORZA AZZURRI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! comunque :D

[Romanista10]

I can't believe I agree with severus 100%. How can Pirlo and Fiore not be rewarded for their play this season? Zanetti has been out for practically the entire season, but he gets called up to start? I don't understand it. I'm not a Pippo Inzaghi fan, but he's got to start over Corradi. We'll see what happens on Wednesday cause this is going to be interesting and Trap knows.....all of Italy is watching him!

FORZA AZZURRI!!!

[romansky]

I'm giving Trap the benefit of the doubt that since it is only a friendly he's experimenting to this level, & next month we'll see Fiore & Pirlo in the line-up. But I'm likely completely wrong about this :D

[teo9393]

I just read Traps comments in Gazzetta regarding his selection...he feels that DV will operate somewhat like ADP, Miccoli in Totti's role and Corradi will be like Vieri.

When asked about Zambrotta, Trap says tha if his colleague
( Lippi ) sees fit to play hom at LB, then it means he can play there

Re: Pirlo...he says that Zanetti and Perrotta are in good form and are sufficient to dictate play...

Well, if nothing else...this lineup appears to be more attack minded than the usual merda he cooks up...but I'm still not sold on Delvecchio at LM and the Zanetti/Perrotta combo...We'll see

I wonder if Pippo blew a pamper when he found out he's not starting ;)

FORZA AZZURRI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Severus]

miccoli's a sufficient replacement for totti but MDV for ADP and corradi for vieri ???

instead of clearing things up he just makes things more ambiguous .....

[ItalianBoy]

Miccoli a good replacemnet for totti? I doubt, they arediff. Miccoli is a good replacment for DP maybe.
Well we won over ENg 1-0.:)

[romansky]

Did anyone happen to read Felipe Scolari's comments about Italy today? Big Phil reckons that the Azzurri will qualify for Portugal 04 & the tournament would not be the same without, but also was curious about Baggio's absence.

At this point we live or die with Trap, replacing the trainer is unlikely now so I hope GT has some plan beyond trying this new formation. I understand that friendly matches are times to experiment & that we have some key injuries just now, but wouldn't this be an opportunity to get the anticipated first XI (at least those who are available) some time together before the qualifiers next month? Perhaps in the 2nd half ...

[romansky]

1-0 now in the 2nd half, Corradi.

[romansky]

Very promising result, Miccoli was excellent throughout, even in the more subdued 2nd half. Panucci confounded the critics by having a solid match as well, but the win today still seems to pose more questions than answers for the Azzurri.

[Severus]

ha, what did i tell you all about panucci ? it's clear that he still has it, people should try to overlook the performance of an individual playing for a team clearly struggling as a unit (roma) before judging him on his abilities especially when he is still very good at what he does.

as was seen today.

[Severus]

the azzurri looked good today dictating the match for the most part playing a pretty pleasing style of play as well for once.

miccoli was man of the match and he was absolutly wonderful today. ambrosini looked very sharp for the 20 or so minutes he played. i would've loved to have seen him and pirlo replace zanetti and perrotta in this formation trap experimented with. that would've been awesome.

nesta was great as well good to see him back in fine form. funny though cannavaro didn't finish. i think it had something to do with the unanimous phonecall trap received in the dugout ....

cos someone has a pretty big game this weekend.

like they're the only ones :rolleyes:

[BLAUGRANA]

Originally posted by Severus
ha, what did i tell you all about panucci ?

Ditto.

[BLAUGRANA]

Originally posted by Severus
funny though cannavaro didn't finish. i think it had something to do with the unanimous phonecall trap received in the dugout ....

cos someone has a pretty big game this weekend.

like they're the only ones :rolleyes:

:rolleyes: OMG. Was it not a friendly? Besides, didn't he save a goalbound shot?

[Severus]

huh ... sarcasm ? i see you left yours at your old house.

as for panucci, ditto meaning yes i agree or didley squat ditto ?

[ItalianBoy]

Saw the game. It was good.
1-0 its fair.

[nerazzuri]

what a dickhead

[BLAUGRANA]

Originally posted by Severus


as for panucci, ditto meaning yes i agree or didley squat ditto ?

The former.

[Juan]

Impressive, this Miccoli kid. A stay in the NT for some time now.

[BLAUGRANA]

Here are some pics from last night. These from Inter.it:

http://www.inter.it/media/raw/2003-02-13_001729.jpg

http://www.inter.it/media/raw/2003-02-13_001901.jpg

http://www.inter.it/media/raw/2003-02-13_002047.jpg

http://www.inter.it/media/raw/2003-02-13_002123.jpg