The more and more I watch Italy I personally think they should go 4-4-2.

Ideally that would have envolved Zambrotta on the left wing with Pasqual or Grosso at left back.

Even with 4-3-3 I still think Zambrotta is being wasted at left back.

What is the latest news on Zambrottas injury by the way.

Hopefully Nesta is ok. We also need Zambrotta back to full health soon as well or we could be in trouble at the back.

ADP getting the start in the first game I guess. Haven't we seen this played out before, where he will do next to nothing. Hopefully he will forget about his past tourneys and put it all on the line in his last WC [most likely]

Does anyone else feel that this is the worst Azzurri in years?

quote:

Originally posted by Giancarlo:
Does anyone else feel that this is the worst Azzurri in years?

not me. Our midfield this time is better than the tomassi-di biagio mid. Our striker is the first to score 31 goals in the serie A after who knows how many years. We just need to get out act tigether

Italy will go out in the group stage.

quote:

Originally posted by ricky2882:
not me. Our midfield this time is better than the tomassi-di biagio mid. Our striker is the first to score 31 goals in the serie A after who knows how many years. We just need to get out act tigether

You are right. I always believe Italy's prob lies with the coaches. They tend to have this phobia agaisnt skillful, flair players, thereby resorting to cautios approaches. A midfield of Pirlo, De Rossi, Gattuso, Perrota, Barone and Totti (if he plays there) is not too bad. It all depends on lippi's approach and formation.

quote:

Originally posted by Giancarlo:
Does anyone else feel that this is the worst Azzurri in years?

yes, good going forward but midfeild and defence not good.

Interestingly, Italy and Saudi Arabia are the only teams with no foreign based players in their squads.

I think Ivory Coast is the only team with no home based players.

We need some luck in this tourney. If Zambro can't go, it is a BIG blow. Even more importantly, we need Nesta healthy.

De Rossi needs to start in midfield as well.

I think most importantly is the spirit within the team, thus confidence.

Whens the last time Italy had the player who was the golden boot winner of Europe ??

Im gonna be rooting for Italy as my second team this WC

Italy is and will always be my first team. After them I would like to se the USA or England win

Guys(and gals)
As an Italian born and bred in the UK,I have been watching La Nazionale ever since 82. I still remember running all the way home from primary school to watch the Italy-Brazil classic.

Anyway, I fear for the Azzurri. For the first time I just dont think we are good enough. We dont have any pace in the team and we even seem to struggle with passing the ball. Totti cant seem to be the player we know he is with Roma. I think defensively we are fine, we arent gonna concede many goals but I'm not sure we can create enough chances to win games.

Tell me i'm wrong people!

MAN!!! your not wrong.

This is a very poor italian team. No pace, no real creativity, nothing as an italian fan to be excited about.

We have no-one like Messi, Ronaldihno, Ballack, Henry, Rooney, Shevchenko, Robben, Deco to name just a few.

Totti is not ready, Del Piero doesnt have it anymore and Pirlo has been poor all season. The only player who can do something, and I'm not being biased on this occasion, is De Rossi. He has the creativity of Pirlo and the aggression of Gattuso. He must play from the start. We will miss Zambrotta terribly if he fails to make it, our only player who can take people on...

quote:

Originally posted by roma4ever:
Del Piero doesnt have it anymore

The last two seasons show otherwise.

Mate you maybe a Juve fan but dont tell me DelPiero is a great player anymore. I remember when he burst on the scene in the 90's and he put Baggio in his shadow. But then he got injured and was never the same. Capello uses him as a sub and in the last 2 friendlies against Swiss and Ukraine he seems slow and lumbering. Mate I want him to be so good but he isnt anywhere in the class of the players I mentioned. And as an Italian,it hurts to say that. I hope i'm proved wrong...

I'm starting to get a bad feeling about the WC. Before the 2 friendlies I was pretty confident, but after I really fear for the team, they look unfit and short of ideas. I hope I'm wrong, but with Totti and ADP looking poor, Nesta and Zambrotta with injuries, we could be in trouble. Just hope they can pull together in time. If we can start well and get any kind of win over Ghana, I'm sure it will boost the confidence.