Di Natale the only Italian for the Golden Ball

Tuesday 25 October, 2011
Di Natale is Italy’s golden hope



Antonio Di Natale of Udinese is reportedly the only Italian in the 50-man shortlist for the 2011 Golden Ball.

The Stadio Friuli striker is included after ending the 2010-11 campaign as the Serie A top scorer for the second season running.

It remains to be seen whether the 34-year-old will make the cut when the list is reduced from 50 to 23 on November 1.

On December 5, the three finalists will be confirmed and the eventual winner will be handed the Golden Ball on January 9 in Zurich.

There is a lot of Barcelona and Spain in the initial selection. There are nine Barca players selected and five from Real Madrid.

Italy are more widely represented in the coaching award category though, where it is understood that Massimiliano Allegri of Milan, Manchester City’s Roberto Mancini and England boss Fabio Capello have made the first list.

Barcelona ace Lionel Messi and Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho won the awards last season after the annual FIFA prizes were combined with France Football’s Ballon d’Or.

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As if this award wasn't credible enough before...

:matrix:

lmao lucky he was even selected... which other Italian actually deserved this?

We had a disgusting year last year all over the place.

zarola wrote:lmao lucky he was even selected... which other Italian actually deserved this?

We had a disgusting year last year all over the place.

Sure, but I still don't think he was the best Italian.

ErPupone wrote:

zarola wrote:lmao lucky he was even selected... which other Italian actually deserved this?

We had a disgusting year last year all over the place.

Sure, but I still don't think he was the best Italian.

The current best Italian Striker is Balotelli.

Camurrìa.Sto.Stronzo wrote:

ErPupone wrote:

zarola wrote:lmao lucky he was even selected... which other Italian actually deserved this?

We had a disgusting year last year all over the place.

Sure, but I still don't think he was the best Italian.

The current best Italian Striker is Balotelli.

yeah but this is based off like the whole year balotelli just is starting to get his chance to show himself now.....

and although I totally agree Di Natale is not the best, he has received the most spotlight, scoring a lot of goals for what it considered a mediocre team by many, and at one point he was on par with messi and ronaldo when they were in the mid 20's or 30's goals scored I believe so it's not that big of a shock he was nominated.

giuseppe rossi?

Rossi is completely overrated and has been having a bad season with Villareal. Not the best Italian. Also, it's better to have one Italian than no Italians at all, as it happened recently

Oh right I forgot about Rossi... yeah I agree overrated but still deserved a nomination he's better than di Natale IMO.

Two years previous to this there have been no Italians.

So... improvement?