Italia vs Belarus (WC Qualifier)...

[soccerates]

.
Rumors thus far suggest that Lippi will be going with a three-man attack using Totti - Toni - Gilardino. You will see that this lineup will be far more effective than the one used this weeked.

Full lineups have not yet been announced. More when they are.
.

[toronto_soccer]

is the game going to be on rai? tln?

[soccerates]

TLN

[toronto_soccer]

another thing of interest is that italy is only 2 points ahead of denmark, they better smarten up especially lippi.

[soccerates]

another thing of interest is that italy is only 2 points ahead of denmark, they better smarten up especially lippi.

Norway, but you're right...Lippi didn't use Gilardino on Saturday and opted for Iaquinta - another strong forward, but since Vieri already fullfilled that role, he should have been using Gilardino. I think his formation for Wednesday will change in that respect. I understand that Totti-Toni-Gila will be the combo up front, and I expect them to make repairations for their lackluster play vs Scotland inthe first half of Saturday's game.

It's in their hands, they simply need to win their remaining games and not worry about what Norway does. Win the rest and you're in.

[toronto_soccer]

yeah lol norway. and that front line of totti toni and gila sounds awesome.

[soccerates]

My comments: I didn't realize he was being considered to start that game, or even play in it. He did fairly well in the Ireland friendly, however I am still under the impression that Lippi is going to be using Totti-Toni-Gilardino, and unless he was figuring on using DP as a winger or a late substitution was going to be his role.



http://media.goal.com/200502/5176_news.jpg

Del Piero’s chances of playing tomorrow night against Belarus were wiped out on Tuesday as the Juventus skipper suffered an injury and is already on a plane back to Italy.

“What can I say? I’m going home, there is nothing else to add,” he told reporters before leaving the Azzurri’s training camp.

It appears Del Piero pulled a muscle in his right thigh during today’s training session.

Even though reports indicated he would have started the Minsk game on the bench (with the Totti-Toni-Gilardino trident getting the nod), it did appear he would have at least played the entire second half of the crucial group 5 World Cup qualifier.

[soccerates]

In Italian:
http://www.figc.it/italiano/primo_piano_03/primo_piano_03.htm

Lippi discussed the possibility of going with a 3 man defense, using a combination of Zaccardo, Nesta, Cannavaro, Materazzi, and/or Gross...(3 of them). He's also contemplating the use of Gross on the left wing with Nesta, Canna and Materazzi as the three defenders.

That would leave Camoranesi, Pirlo, Zambrotta as the remaining centrocampisti

Of course the expected forward line of...you guessed it...Totti,Toni,Gilardino.


The formation that I would like to see if these are the players
being mentioned:

........................De Sanctis (likely Peruzzi again though)
...Cannavaro..........Nesta...........Materazzi.....
Camoranesi.......Pirlo.......Gattuso..........Grosso
...........................Totti..............................
..........Gilardino................Toni.....................

[Totti_Talent]

What time is the game on at?

[UKRAINIAN]

I HOPE BELARUS WILL SHOW ITALY HOW TO PLAY SOCCER! 3-0 FOR BELARUS!

http://www.football-online.com.ua/files/task_files/768/to_Berlin_25.jpg

[toronto_soccer]

why is schevchenko not playing in ukraine then???

[soccerates]

I HOPE BELARUS WILL SHOW ITALY HOW TO PLAY SOCCER! 3-0 FOR BELARUS!

http://www.football-online.com.ua/files/task_files/768/to_Berlin_25.jpg

Hey you know it's a possibility that Belarus can get some goals, cuz they did in their last meeting vs Italy but still lost 4-3 :evil:

That said, how often does Italy get beaten 3-0...wake up man :rolleyes:

Besides we have to make repairations for Saturday.

[UKRAINIAN]

why is schevchenko not playing in ukraine then???

What do you mean? Vs Turkey? What for? I'd let young players try to show their best in the game that has no much of a meaning for us.

[RaulMadrid7]

I vote for Italy winning by 1 goal, but could be more with Gilardino and gang up top and especially because Vieri finally got benched.

Italy better win, or I will kidnapp all the Italian girls in my school, take them too my house spank them, make them cook my spaghetti and then make fun of their mothers.

:D

[soccerates]

I vote for Italy winning by 1 goal, but could be more with Gilardino and gang up top and especially because Vieri finally got benched.
Italy better win, or I will kidnapp all the Italian girls in my school, take them too my house spank them, make them cook my spaghetti and then make fun of their mothers.
:D

Hey, if you think that will make the NT players work harder tommorrow, I'm all for it :thumb:

;)

[soccerates]

3-1 Italy HT

[RaulMadrid7]

ok time to get a little serious. ;) :D

2-0 Italy, Gilard and Toni.

[soccerates]

No no, I was posting the Half Time (HT) score....it was 3-1.

The game ended 4-1 - Toni with a hattrick, Camoranesi with 1 goal. Gilardino assists.

I hope his game proves to Lippi that the combination of Toni/Gilardino/Cassano any of the two is superior to anything else he's used so far.

I'll post my match reviews later.

[RaulMadrid7]

No no, I was posting the Half Time (HT) score....it was 3-1.

The game ended 4-1 - Toni with a hattrick, Camoranesi with 1 goal. Gilardino assists.

I hope his game proves to Lippi that the combination of Toni/Gilardino/Cassano any of the two is superior to anything else he's used so far.

I'll post my match reviews later.

oh... okay...

I knew Toni would have scored at least one as I posted, this guy is a built Forward, he was amazing with Palermo and now he's giving his services at Fiorentina, another reason why the Seria A is going to be exciting this season.

It was a good win for Italy and I think I'll review it later also I gotta o for now.

[wolverine]

No no, I was posting the Half Time (HT) score....it was 3-1.

The game ended 4-1 - Toni with a hattrick, Camoranesi with 1 goal. Gilardino assists.

I hope his game proves to Lippi that the combination of Toni/Gilardino/Cassano any of the two is superior to anything else he's used so far.

I'll post my match reviews later.

Congrats mate :D !!! By the way what happened to the guy called Montella?? He was becoming a big thing towards the Euro and didn't he top score in Serie A or was it Gilardinho ???

[TheItalianBull]

Congrats mate :D !!! By the way what happened to the guy called Montella?? He was becoming a big thing towards the Euro and didn't he top score in Serie A or was it Gilardinho ???


i think montella didnt score for a long time in serie a and gilardino was tied for first i think

[TheItalianBull]

all i can say is that i am not surprised that toni got a hat trick... he is a amazing young player... ever since he scored vs inter with palermo last season (second game of the season) i knew he was amazing... all i can say is that italy with gila and toni ONLY is leathal! :D

[soccerates]

Congrats mate :D !!! By the way what happened to the guy called Montella?? He was becoming a big thing towards the Euro and didn't he top score in Serie A or was it Gilardinho ???

Montella doesn't feature much on the national team more for tactical reasons. His style is similar to Gilardino's and Gilardino's is 10X better, more mobile, better finisher etc. Roma was actually trying to get rid of Montella the season before last but no one wanted him. It turned out to work in their favor, but if you had Totti and Cassano setting you up constantly, I'm sure you could score goals too. That doesn't mean Montella isn't talented, but when you have better players he is down on the depth charts.

I think that alone should speak volumes about the depth Italy have in scoring.

AND I hope Lippi has finally decided that the best forward combination for Italy IS Gilardino + _______________ anyone else. Gilardino, while not featuring on any of the goals today was the primary reason why Toni had as much space as he did. Gilardino also set him up, but more importantly he received enough attention for Totti, Camoranesi, Pirlo to continue feeding through balls to Toni. Toni is bigger and stronger than Vieri and actually has a right foot. He shouldhave had a 4th goal, but after Italy's 3rd, they dropped the tempo somewhat and stopped attacking Belarus relentlessly, more just keeping possession in the midfield and dropping a forward back a few notches.

Iaquinta came in for Toni late in the 2nd, and he too missed a very narrow slide from an excellent cross via Camoranesi, who was all over the field.

Gattuso won balls...but still can't shoot ;)

Pirlo IS a deep play maker, and also created many opportunities for Totti.

And Totti finally put on a display of skill that we all know he does regularly for Roma.

All in all it was a success and Lippi needs to ensure he doesn't experiment tooo much in the next game because all we need is one more win from the remaining 2 games and we're in.

Speaking of which, England received another shocker vs Northern Ireland :confused:

[soccerates]

UEFA's comments below. I'll post my game review later on tonight when I can watch it with a more analytical eye ;)

My comment:

The fact that Italy only now need a draw is not really encouraging for me because it means that they are apt to just go for a tie in the next game, and play "experimental" lineups rather than let these emerging young guns continue to solidify as a unit. I mean Toni, Gilardino, Pirlo, Cassano (I hope he is back) Grosso, and subs like Iaquinta, Lucarelli, etc.

Toni treble takes Italy to the brink

http://www.uefa.com/MultimediaFiles/Photo/competitions/WorldCup/336710_MEDIUMSQUARE.jpg

Wednesday, 7 September 2005

Luca Toni scored a hat-trick as Italy came from behind to ease past Belarus in Minsk and take a giant stride towards qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Shock opener

The ACF Fiorentina striker scored two goals in eight first-half minutes as Italy quickly recovered from conceding a fourth-minute opener to Vitali Kutuzov. Mauro Camoranesi then added the third on the cusp of half-time before Toni completed his hat-trick ten minutes after the restart. With Scotland defeating Norway in Oslo tonight, the Azzurri are now five points clear in Group 5 with two games remaining.

Immediate response

The ease with which Italy finished the game was a far cry from how they started it as some lax defending allowed Kutuzov the easiest of chances from close range. Marcello Lippi's side responded immediately and two minutes later they were level as Camoranesi fed the ball to Toni who showed great composure, controlling with his chest and slotting it in.

Totti denied

The initiative was now firmly with the visitors and Toni gave Italy the lead after 14 minutes, heading in a cross from former US Città di Palermo team-mate Fabio Grosso. Francesco Totti saw his free-kick well saved from Yuri Zhaunov ten minutes later but as long as only a goal separated the sides, Belarus always posed a threat.

Snap shot

Against the run of play, Valentin Belkevich almost restored parity ten minutes before the interval but his header drifted wide. That was to prove the home side's last real opportunity as Camoranesi made it 3-1 with a hopeful long-range shot just before the break.

Point required

Toni then made certain of the points with his third of the night after Zhaunov had parried Alberto Gilardino's effort into his path, meaning a draw against Slovenia on 8 October will send Italy through. Belarus travel to Scotland on the same night.

[cannuman]

and the formation:
---------------Peruzzi--------------
Zaccardo-Nesta-Cannavaro-Grosso
----- Camoranesi-Pirlo-gattuso-------
---------------Totti---------------
-------------Toni---Gilardino--------