[WK 2006 KWALIFICATIE] Groep 5 (met ITALIË)

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Op maandag 4 oktober 2004 17:16 schreef DIGGER het volgende:
Esposito was samen met Zola vorig jaar de grote man bij Cagliari, en speelt de 1e 5 wedstrijden in de Serie A tot nu toe ook gewoon allemaal erg goed.

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Perrotta doubt for Lippi

Simone Perrotta could be forced into an early exit from the Italy squad with injury, while we look at the side likely to face Slovenia.

Roma midfielder Perrotta has not taken part in full training since meeting up with the rest of the Azzurri on Monday morning due to a knock. He suffered heavy bruising to his left leg during the closing stages of the 3-3 draw with Inter and medical staff could decide to send him home.

This frees up a place in midfield that could be taken by his Giallorossi teammate Daniele De Rossi. The Under-21 international already impressed in his senior debut and scored in Sunday’s Serie A match.

He should be partnered by Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso, but there are three other tactical decisions that need to be made by Marcello Lippi.

Reports from the training ground suggest that Massimo Oddo and Daniele Bonera are battling for the right-back slot, while Valencia colleagues Marco Di Vaio and Stefano Fiore are contenders for a wide midfield role in a 4-2-3-1 system.

In the absence of Christian Vieri, the choice of centre-forward is up in the air between Alberto Gilardino, Bernardo Corradi and Luca Toni. The fact the Palermo striker is still recovering from a minor thigh problem could push Corradi ahead.

Meanwhile, Toni is also in the news with newspaper talk of a potential move to Roma.

“To hear that a great side like Roma is interested in me can only make me happy,” stated the ex-Brescia man. “To play for any big club, including the Giallorossi, is the dream of any player.”

We should have a clearer picture of the squad Lippi plans to field against Slovenia when Italy play their traditional friendly match against the Under-18 squad on Wednesday afternoon.

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Op zondag 10 oktober 2004 15:29 schreef methodmich het volgende:
De mij volslagen onbekende Sloveen Cesar

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Op maandag 15 november 2004 19:57 schreef methodmich het volgende:
Ik zie geen programma in mijn programmaboek, maar ik dacht dat Italië wel speelde?

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Op donderdag 18 november 2004 10:31 schreef zjroentje het volgende:
He, een MVV-er met een interland.

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Azzurri: Player Ratings

Pelizzoli: The Roma ‘keeper made a great save in the first half but did show signs of uncertainty after the break. Gigi Buffon has nothing to fear. 6/10

Zaccardo: A decent debut at right-back where he defended well. Rarely offered support in attack though. 6/10

Barzagli: The Palermo stopper will be pleased with his first game for the side. Looked very comfortable throughout and could prove useful in the future. 6.5/10

Materazzi: There was no costly mistake this time from Materazzi who put in one of his best games for Italy. He even surprised with his reading of the tie. 7/10

Parisi: Started well and even tried his luck with a long range free-kick but didn’t get forward as many expected. 6/10

Esposito: He didn’t stop running down the flank but his quantity wasn’t matched by quality. 6/10

Blasi: Underlined why he is a first team regular at Juventus under boss Fabio Capello. He forgot it was a friendly at times with a few crunching tackles. 6.5/10

De Rossi: The Roma youngster was the star of the show. He did everything required and controlled the midfield. Superb. 7.5/10

Mauri: The Udinese man was the biggest disappointment out of all the new boys. Perhaps the emotion of the occasion got to him. 5/10

Miccoli: Reminded Lippi that he is a player who can’t be ignored. He scored a great free-kick but also excelled with some super touches and vision. 7/10

Toni: The Palermo giant left his scoring boots at home last night. He was a constant danger but wasted numerous chances. A positive performance though. 6.5/10

Substitutes -

Chiellini: The Under-21 side may have to do without this left-back after an impressive debut. He got forward well but made some excellent challenges too. 6.5/10

Diana: Question marks still remain over whether he has the class needed at this level. 6/10

Barone: He was only given 30 minutes to impress but managed to catch the eye. Went close with a powerful drive. 6.5/10

Caracciolo: Almost netted on his debut with a diving header but wasn’t really given a chance to impress by his colleagues. 6/10

Montella: Deserved a goal in an exciting 45 minute display. He hit the bar and went close with a bicycle kick. The Roma man could be of real use to Lippi. 6.5/10

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Lippi opts for 4-3-3

Italy will start tonight’s friendly against Russia with an attacking trident of Francesco Totti, Vincenzo Montella and Christian Vieri.

"We will play with a 4-3-3," confirmed boss Marcello Lippi. "Playing with a the trident is an experiment that I want to try out.

"However, the three forwards can’t just stay up front and wait for the ball to arrive, they must help out the rest of the team."

The tactician will use this evening’s game to iron out a few doubts ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifier against Scotland.

"Will we play the same way next month? We’ll see what happens against Russia," explained the former Juve boss.

"I expect to see a good game from my side, one which is enthusiastic and keen to reward their hard work over the last three days.

"This is a match which should be a part of our path to becoming a great side."

Lippi is expecting much from the in-form Christian Vieri who has yet to play for the Azzurri under the Coach.

"I’m not curious but satisfied to see Vieri in such shape and his current frame of mind," he added.

"The player is an important figure for this team seeing as his teammates do look up to him."

Italy (probable): Buffon; Bonera, Cannavaro, Nesta, Pancaro (Chiellini); Blasi, De Rossi, Gattuso; Totti, Vieri, Montella

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Op zondag 20 maart 2005 22:27 schreef -Vaduz- het volgende:
_{EW=Digger toch?}

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Op maandag 21 maart 2005 17:50 schreef methodmich het volgende:
Het succes van Palermo dringt aardig door. Overigens is het in vergelijking met het EK een zeer vernieuwde Squadra.

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Lippi lines up offensive Italy

Italy boss Marcello Lippi is set to unleash a trident attack in the World Cup qualifier against Scotland on Saturday.

The tactician seems orientated to start with a 4-3-3, which will see Alberto Gilardino, Francesco Totti and Antonio Cassano fielded simultaneously.

Totti, who has recovered from a slight foot injury, will be given a free role behind the two youngsters.

Should the former Juve boss go ahead with the system, it will be the third time that’s he’s fielded such an attacking formation is his brief reign.

He used it against Slovenia in October with limited success after the Azzurri lost 1-0 in a shock defeat. The trident was formed by Totti, Gilardino and Mauro Esposito on that night.

Lippi tested it again last month when Totti, Vincenzo Montella and Christian Vieri started in the 2-0 friendly win over Russia.

Italy should line-up with Gigi Buffon in goal, protected by a back-four of Daniele Bonera, Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi and Fiorentina left-back Giorgio Chiellini.

The midfield three should be Andrea Pirlo in the middle, Juve’s in-form Mauro Camoranesi on the right and Milan workhouse Gennaro Gattuso on the left.

Italy will start the game as hot favourites for victory but Scotland boss Walter Smith seems unperturbed.

"You have to be optimistic otherwise it is impossible to be a football manager," he said.

"We know a draw would be great but even if we lose I do not think the other sides in the group will gain that much. We are aiming for a play-off spot and I believe we can achieve that."

Italy are currently top of Group 5 with nine points, Scotland are seven points adrift in penultimate place.