Italia: La Nazionale II

V1: http://www.goallegacy.net/t190p972-italian-national-team-thread#1230966

Starting lineup for Costa Rica:



apparently a combination of fatigue and on-going recovery from flu-like symptoms will keep Verratti out of the starting XI ... I don't buy it; I think it's just a case of Prandelli taking a more cautious approach with the midfield, opting for a more experienced and more defensive Thiago Motta ... I'm sure there's also an element of belief that, unlike against England, there isn't a chance of Pirlo being man-marked out of the game ...

good news is that Abate will be used at RB, allowing Chiellini (who looked out of place at LB up against pace on the wing) to play at LCB, partnering Barzagli (or Bonucci if Barzagli doesn't pass a late fitness test) ...

Buffon is back training, but it's highly unlikely he'll be unnecessarily rushed back for a Costa Rica match, especially when Sirigu has done well ...

we were never going to see Cassano in the Amazonian jungle, for the sake of his heart as much as anything ... hopefully he'll get a 30+ minute cameo in Recife ...

Marchisio, is he a wide player! I don't know much about Italian clubs/players but I thought he plays centrally.

How the hell does Candreva get to start ahead of Cassano. Seriously ffs

it's simple:

Cesare Prandelli wrote:Al Mondiale avremo bisogno di 23 atleti.

I *love* FantAntonio, but I know he has never been in the athlete category ... considering that fact, I'm delighted that Cassà is even in Brazil ...

Prandelli clearly sees him as a joker card, the ace up his sleeve, and he will be deployed as such ... it's undeniable that the chemistry between Mario and Cassano is unmatched, but unfortunately it's not a luxury that can be afforded from the start ...

in terms of the workhorses who get to play instead, I'm stoked that it's a fairly capable Candreva, and not the likes of Giaccherini ...

Couldn't have said it any better myself Xifio..... well deserved too, he's doing well.

I don't trust Abate. Playing Abate really worries me. He worries me defensively, he's good going forward.

I support Italy as a second team and I watched them against England. It is my contention that Italy has adopted some of the Spanish philosophy after watching all their passing and the accuracy of their passing. Does anyone agree or was it just the type of opponent England was?

tbh Abate is not even good to go forward I don't remember a good cross by him.
He can just running.

Agreed with xifio , this is the reason . And anyway Candreva is not bad , if we have accepted Giaccherini ,it won't be so difficult to accept Candreva
Cassano can be a difference maker as reserve . Great back up tbf

commando wrote:I support Italy as a second team and I watched them against England.  It is my contention that Italy has adopted some of the Spanish philosophy after watching all their passing and the accuracy of their passing.  Does anyone agree or was it just the type of opponent England was?

Italy under Prandelli plays better than past Italy
on the other hand the football is a mutable sport.
who would have imagined to see Brazil playing defence and counterattack , passing from Zico Rivelino etc to Paulinho and Gustavo?

Italy changed too . Italy has always had mainly amazing defenders.
Now Italy has not defenders close to that past level but it has great midifelder, it has 1 regista as Pirlo ( and it has even Verratti , his heir ) and so the team rotates around it

Robespierre wrote:

zarola wrote:I don't trust Abate. Playing Abate really worries me. He worries me defensively, he's good going forward.

tbh Abate is not even good to go forward I don't remember a good cross by him.
He can just running.

lol, exactly, but it's a very important factor in this World Cup ... it also allows everyone to play in their natural positions, while simultaneously making for a better centre-back pairing ...

commando wrote:I support Italy as a second team and I watched them against England.  It is my contention that Italy has adopted some of the Spanish philosophy after watching all their passing and the accuracy of their passing.  Does anyone agree or was it just the type of opponent England was?

it has nothing to do with Spain ... Prandelli had his Fiorentina playing a beautiful possession-based passing game **years** before Spain went from being underachievers to European and World beaters ... that's why he was picked to be the cittì, and that's why the nazionale has a philosophy by which it abides both on and off the pitch ...

if anyone is influencing anything, it's Prandelli on the teams he manages: after he left Fiorentina, they insisted on continuing his philosophy, and Montella has had to ensure that the Viola are still the team with the most attractive style in Serie A ...

Barzagli was absent from Wednesday's training. Apparently Buffon and De Sciglio back at full strength

Xifio wrote:it's simple:

Cesare Prandelli wrote:Al Mondiale avremo bisogno di 23 atleti.

I *love* FantAntonio, but I know he has never been in the athlete category ... considering that fact, I'm delighted that Cassà is even in Brazil ...

Prandelli clearly sees him as a joker card, the ace up his sleeve, and he will be deployed as such ... it's undeniable that the chemistry between Mario and Cassano is unmatched, but unfortunately it's not a luxury that can be afforded from the start ...

in terms of the workhorses who get to play instead, I'm stoked that it's a fairly capable Candreva, and not the likes of Giaccherini ...

Costa Rica will probably park the bus, I'd like to see Cassano replace Candreva to upgrade the technical ability and creativity of the attacking front

iftikhar wrote:Marchisio, is he a wide player! I don't know much about Italian clubs/players but I thought he plays centrally.

No, he's not a wide player. That formation above is a bit misleading. He's really playing in a slightly advanced left central midfield position in reality.

adun101 wrote:Barzagli was absent from Wednesday's training. Apparently Buffon and De Sciglio back at full strength

Barzagli is back in training ... can't wait to see De Sciglio back, but he won't be risked from the start ... Buffon is still a doubt; I don't see any need to rush him back while Sirigu is available ...

Forza wrote:

iftikhar wrote:Marchisio, is he a wide player! I don't know much about Italian clubs/players but I thought he plays centrally.

No, he's not a wide player. That formation above is a bit misleading. He's really playing in a slightly advanced left central midfield position in reality.

the formation is not misleading, he's being played as a mezz'ala ... by common definition, this is a specialist position where a central midfielder is deployed out wide ...

Until Balo gets tha red card...

But yeah one of the most serious potential winners out there.

Well Italia in the last 2 years have:

Been in the final of the U-17 Euros (Lost to Russia via penalties)

Been in the U-21 Euros (Lost to Espana 2-4)

Been in the Euro 2012 Final (Lost to Espana 4-0)

Yet personally, I don't see it for this World Cup. Prandelli's boys simply are not ready yet.

Arq has convinced me today on chat, we won't win tomorrow.
Sorry for English ppl..

Is Verratti still having flu? I mean, there should not be a nother reason to replace him with that bum Motta

Less deep-lying midfielders, please, there's no one storming the box to support Balo. Or, at least, put Immobile in, who's more consistent with his runs

flameas wrote:Is Verratti still having flu? I mean, there should not be a nother reason to replace him with that bum Motta

erm, yeah:

Xifio wrote:apparently a combination of fatigue and on-going recovery from flu-like symptoms will keep Verratti out of the starting XI ... I don't buy it; I think it's just a case of Prandelli taking a more cautious approach with the midfield, opting for a more experienced and more defensive Thiago Motta ... I'm sure there's also an element of belief that, unlike against England, there isn't a chance of Pirlo being man-marked out of the game ...

He had a great season with Torino, but next season will show how good he really is.

Big names? Yes, all the big clubs would like to sign him in Italy, but Torino will probably hold out for a big sum

An absolutely disgraceful performance. No effort to win this game. No passion whatsoever.

Juveman17 wrote:An absolutely disgraceful performance. No effort to win this game. No passion whatsoever.

pretty much
we looked like the team just happy to be at the world cup
can you think of an opportunity in the second half that made you think "ooooh nice attempt! almost!", not even one. Pathetic.


The Good: Barzagli, Chiellini, Buffon, Darmian, Pirlo
The bad: Abate, Insigne, Cerci, Motta, Candreva

Juveman17 wrote:An absolutely disgraceful performance. No effort to win this game. No passion whatsoever.

Passion is one of these terms that's easy to throw around when a team doesn't perform, but what is it, really? Headless running if the game plan's not there? You can have all the passion in the world, but if it's not correctly channeled, it won't help you too much. Passion from Costa Rica and Italy was the same, as far as I can tell, but Costa Rica had a better idea of what to do as a team.