I thought they would have put him on for 2 reasons, while he is awful this year, and I agree wholeheartly, I dont think the others that are there to replace him are that much better. Secondly for what he did in 06, I know I know, 4 years later yada yada but just stash him on the bench...at least you have the option...
http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/sow_experts/post/Top-10-World-Cup-2010-Tough-Guys?urn=sow,244805 tough guys....I cant wait to watch Algeria hahahahah
The omission of Rossi disappoints me tremendously. However, we will see Marchisio playing behind Di Natale and either Iaquinta or Gillardino. Although I would personally rather have Pazzini in there. As for Grosso, it is no surprise he isn't there. Zambrotta I still like but he too is a shell of his former self and showed even more regression this year at Milan - we played Oddo for crying out loud. I think Zambrotta starts but Maggio would be the better option IMO. He is young, fast, and attacks the wings. Much like Zambrotta in his younger years, he started as a winger but is currently playing right back for Napoli. Maggio can add a lot of pace to Italy's attack. Overall, I am not too disappointed with the squad. We may be a little light up front, but only for this year. Even so, the attackers we are bringing can get it done no problems. Next Euro cup will be a defining moment for Italian soccer with a new set of youngsters prone for their debuts redefining the Italian strikers. Rossi for sure, Balotelli maybe, Acquafresca maybe, Paloschi maybe, and Giovinco. Those are all players with potential and a high ceiling.
I think Pazzini, along with players like Mesut Ozil, etc., will be one of the bestter emerging players of the tournament.
Hope you are right about Pazzini. I know he can score but I wonder what opportunities to do so Lippi will be giving him since he tends to favor Iaquinta and Toni - thank God the slow paced diving primma donna wasn't called.
Good points, especially about Zambrotta. Zambrotta and Grosso have no business playing for a Serie A club at this point in their careers let alone the Italian NT. And like I said before: Both of their heroics in WC '06 will never be forgotten. Zambrotta was a great player for a long time. One of the best in his position. But he's just not good anymore. The worst thing that happened for our wing defenders is the fact that Davide Santon is stuck riding the bench at Inter and Marco Motta is stuck riding the bench in Rome. Those teams need to loan these guys out for the good of the Italian NT (same goes for Juve and Giovinco!). We need them to develop for Euro '12 and beyond as you stated. Just like you, I'm excited to see what happens in Euro 2012. I'm excited to see the new wave of players. Meanwhile I hope they can at least put in respectable performances this year and at least push through to the QFs.
You're absolutely right. Criscito is a very promising player. Leaving him in favor of Grosso would've been the mistake
Agreed. Paloschi is Milan property but he is loaned out to Parma for that reason. Either way, all of these players have been called up for the U21 team, so that should help them a little more.
Boom u see this?? freaking ball busters... http://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog...played-a-little-joke-on-Jermai?urn=sow,245202
England captain Rio Ferdinand ruled out of the tournament after suffering a knee injury in training this morning.
Massive blow for the ivory Coast with Drogba now being ruled out. Ferdinand is a blow for England but I think they can deal with it. Jamie Carragher favorite to take his spot?
Pick one from Carragher, King, Upson or Dawson. Ferdinand has missed so many games and been so out of form that it's not a huge blow.
Boy does France need some attacking options or what? I realize this is a friendly against China but this is ugly. They've got a deep squad everywhere but up front from what I see. Domenech will drive that team into the ground again.
If they got a coach who had a bit of common sense and didn't attempt to outsmart himself 90% of the time, I think the national team could be real quality. What is the point of leaving of Karim Benzema when you're weak up front?
I am still amazed that the French FA have left Domenech in charged for 6 YEARS!!!!!!!! I dont know who is worse, Domenech for being totally clueless and out of his depth or the FA for leaving a guy like that in charge since 2004. Only reason that French team reached the WC final in 2006 was because of the sheer talent they had playing wise.
What a blow that is for Italy if he has to miss games in the group stages. Italy's only real source of class and creativity. If he is gone and with the poor standard of strikers Italy currently have, then they could struggle to get out of their group.
I will obviously be supporting England but the two teams i really fancy are Spain and Argentina. Please God, let it be the Spanish
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100606/D9G5UNAG0.html ehh whats the WC, without a good stampede....this thing hasnt even started yet...
Well, the teams don't get much time to practice, let alone try their tactics before the biggest tournament in the world. They are absolutely worth it. Also remember they aren't mandatory. Heck, that is why I like the fact that Italy plays on the 14th, more time to practice.
I think they are worth it a couple of weeks before the tournament, but one week before it starts????? Teams dont need a friendly game before they play a Qualifying match, so they are not essential. Most of the preparation, tactics and strategy is done on the training ground. Losing key players before the biggest sporting event in the World in a meaningless game, where very little will be established/discovered about the team is not worth it IMO.
My predictions for the groups: A: 1. Mexico 2. South Africa (always expect the home team to advance, always) 3. France 4. Uruguay B 1. Argentina 2. Greece 3. Korea Republic 4. Nigeria C 1. England 2. USA 3. Slovenia 4. Algeria D 1. Germany 2. Serbia 3. Australia 4. Ghana E 1. Holland 2. Denmark 3. Cameroon 4. Japan F 1. Italia 2. Slovakia 3. Paraguay 4. New Zealand G 1. Brazil 2. Portugal 3. Ivory Coast 4. North Korea H 1. Espana 2. Chile 3. Switzerland 4. Honduras
Another interactive website. Pretty cool. http://www.marca.com/deporte/futbol/mundial/sudafrica-2010/calendario-english.html
I had Nani as one of the breakout performers this World Cup. I know that QF against Bayern was sort of his coming out party, but I thought this world cup was gonna be it. It's too bad though...
Or is it? There is a mutual hatred between Italians and Portuguese people here in Toronto, even Canada for that matter. It is to the point that even though you may be close friends with another, you still secretly root for the opposing team to loose whether playing your team or not. My generation didn't start the rivalry, but we are maintaining it and passing it along. Does this not exist in the US? PS. I don't wish ill upon anyone, but they were secretly happy when Pirlo went down so...
Bingo, you have to feel bad for those guys. They work their butts off to get to this point and get hurt.
Over here in Jersey, right around Manhattan and Newark, there is a rivalry between the Spanish and Portugese. And Brazilian and Portugese. Not really that much between the Italian and Portugese.