Italy squad for Spain friendly.

Some interesting selections from Prandelli. Been hearing a lot about Angelo Ogbonna and it's extremely rare for a Serie B player to get called up so he must be something special. Palombo is no surprise however. Good to see DDR back. He's looked happier after his holiday so I hope that bodes well for Italy.

Thoughts, guys?

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Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli) Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain);

Defenders: Balzaretti (Palermo), Bonucci (Juventus) Cassani (Palermo), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Zenit St. Petersburg), Maggio (Napoli), Ogbonna (Torino), Ranocchia (Inter);

Midfielders: Aquilani (Liverpool), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Inter), Nocerino (Palermo), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pirlo (Juventus);

Forwards: Balotelli (Manchester City), Cassano (Milan), Giovinco (Parma), Pazzini (Inter), Rossi (Villarreal).

no abate....they will lose miserably with a hattrick from whoever will play as the LW

i'd swap Balotelli for Gilardino

Balotelli is a beast him an Rossi should start upfront! Gilardino is useless!

Sir_Psycho_Sexy91 wrote:i'd swap Balotelli for Gilardino

I'd leave Balotelli where he is. Gilardino needs support which he won't get against Spain to be effective, Balo is the support himself

McLewis wrote:Some interesting selections from Prandelli. Been hearing a lot about Angelo Ogbonna and it's extremely rare for a Serie B player to get called up so he must be something special. Palombo is no surprise however. Good to see DDR back. He's looked happier after his holiday so I hope that bodes well for Italy.

Thoughts, guys?

------------------------

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli) Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain);

Defenders: Balzaretti (Palermo), Bonucci (Juventus) Cassani (Palermo), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Zenit St. Petersburg), Maggio (Napoli), Ogbonna (Torino), Ranocchia (Inter);

Midfielders: Aquilani (Liverpool), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Inter), Nocerino (Palermo), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pirlo (Juventus);

Forwards: Balotelli (Manchester City), Cassano (Milan), Giovinco (Parma), Pazzini (Inter), Rossi (Villarreal).

How is De Rossi's form right now?

Sir_Psycho_Sexy91 wrote:i'd swap Balotelli for Gilardino

LOL WUT?

Nice contribution by Milan in NT.

And im really surprised by Matri not being invited, not really, im clearly just trolling

What i would like to see:

Barwuah-Pazzini-Rossi

CroInter wrote:Nice contribution by Milan in NT.

And im really surprised by Matri not being invited, not really, im clearly just trolling

What i would like to see:

Barwuah-Pazzini-Rossi

That would be an insane front three.

babun1024 wrote:

McLewis wrote:Some interesting selections from Prandelli. Been hearing a lot about Angelo Ogbonna and it's extremely rare for a Serie B player to get called up so he must be something special. Palombo is no surprise however. Good to see DDR back. He's looked happier after his holiday so I hope that bodes well for Italy.

Thoughts, guys?

------------------------

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli) Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain);

Defenders: Balzaretti (Palermo), Bonucci (Juventus) Cassani (Palermo), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Zenit St. Petersburg), Maggio (Napoli), Ogbonna (Torino), Ranocchia (Inter);

Midfielders: Aquilani (Liverpool), De Rossi (Roma), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Thiago Motta (Inter), Nocerino (Palermo), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pirlo (Juventus);

Forwards: Balotelli (Manchester City), Cassano (Milan), Giovinco (Parma), Pazzini (Inter), Rossi (Villarreal).

How is De Rossi's form right now?

He's looked much better in pre-season honestly, but then again he hasn't faced top opposition.

Ask me again after we play Valencia next Friday.

Midfield looks weak to me. Only Motta and Pirlo are any good. De Rossi was crap all season. Riccardo "deer with headlights in eyes" Montolivo is talented with zero heart. Aquilani will get injured. Marchisio loser from loser team. Palomba relegation king and Nocerino from losing team with loser ower.

wigglesworth wrote:Midfield looks weak to me. Only Motta and Pirlo are any good. De Rossi was crap all season. Riccardo "deer with headlights in eyes" Montolivo is talented with zero heart. Aquilani will get injured. Marchisio loser from loser team. Palomba relegation king and Nocerino from losing team with loser ower.

O no you ddint.

Waiting for Thiago to be called by del Bosque!

CroInter wrote:

wigglesworth wrote:Midfield looks weak to me. Only Motta and Pirlo are any good. De Rossi was crap all season. Riccardo "deer with headlights in eyes" Montolivo is talented with zero heart. Aquilani will get injured. Marchisio loser from loser team. Palomba relegation king and Nocerino from losing team with loser ower.

O no you ddint.

I let myself go.

Khaledbarca wrote:Waiting for Thiago to be called by Menezes!

Me too

Are you guys on the right thread?

wigglesworth wrote:

CroInter wrote:

wigglesworth wrote:Midfield looks weak to me. Only Motta and Pirlo are any good. De Rossi was crap all season. Riccardo "deer with headlights in eyes" Montolivo is talented with zero heart. Aquilani will get injured. Marchisio loser from loser team. Palomba relegation king and Nocerino from losing team with loser ower.

O no you ddint.

I let myself go.

Marchisio no good player?

CroInter wrote:

wigglesworth wrote:

CroInter wrote:

wigglesworth wrote:Midfield looks weak to me. Only Motta and Pirlo are any good. De Rossi was crap all season. Riccardo "deer with headlights in eyes" Montolivo is talented with zero heart. Aquilani will get injured. Marchisio loser from loser team. Palomba relegation king and Nocerino from losing team with loser ower.

O no you ddint.

I let myself go.

Marchisio no good player?

I don't like his style of play.

Best Mezzala in all of Italy


The mid and attack i'd personally field with the hope of retaining more than 20% possesion; or making the very most of what does come our way. This isnt just bias, but considered .

Pirlo gives the most quality in attack and his passing range could be key to Italy's limited chances. Motta is strong all round and I like his character. Marchisio is a artist when pressured and in tight spaces, this and his abilities at instigating/leading/concluding counter attacks makes him a far more intelligent choice than Montolivo, Nocerino or Palombo. The ability to break out is going to be critical.

At first I was incensed that Matri was not called as I considered him the natural choice. But then I thought again and while he should be in the squad, I see Prandelli's logic. Pazzini's hold up play and his sniper like headers from set pieces are more of use than Matri's qualities for this game.

Ganso wrote:

Khaledbarca wrote:Waiting for Thiago to be called by Menezes!

Me too

Thiago only lived in Brazil till the age of 5 and wasn't even born there as he has grown up to be a catalan and identifies himself that way.

i know i know......

i hope rafinha turns out to be good,because hes ours

Ganso wrote:i know i know......

i hope rafinha turns out to be good,because hes ours

According to Thiago and his father he is the best in the family lol, i have seen highlights but if he's that good i wanna see him on a regular basis lol.

nah...if he was the best he would be getting at least some playing time with barca

Non hai capito, a me Marchisio non mi piace. in Toscano.

Non hai capito, a me Marchisio non piace. in Italiano

See the subtle difference. We use the extra "mi".

In Livornese:

Ma perche' vesti budiuli ci rompano le palle con vesto Thiago che un si 'apisce se e' brasiliano o spagnolo? Almeno Motta ha un cognome italiano DOC.