| Tuesday 5 May, 2009 | |
| Roma captain Francesco Totti has opened the door to an Azzurri return for the 2010 World Cup. Er Pupone retired from the international game shortly after the 2006 World Cup Final. Totti was determined to focus on playing for Roma and hoped to reduce his injury problems. After another impressive season though, many still feel Totti could add to the Italian national side in South Africa. “The Italy shirt is the only one other than Roma that I have ever worn,” Totti told Roma Magazine. “I was lucky to win quite a lot for my country - the 1996 European Championship with the Azzurrini and the 2006 World Cup, as well as the Mediterranean Games in 1997. “It was a shame that we lost out on Euro 2000 when we were leading with 30 seconds to go, but all in all my Azzurri experience was very positive. “Am I thinking about the 2010 World Cup? Let's leave Marcello Lippi to work in peace with his players, but if I got the call…” Channel4 | |
Showing posts with label Azzuri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Azzuri. Show all posts
| Monday 30 March, 2009 | |
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| Giovanni Trapattoni has warned Italy to take his Republic of Ireland side seriously on Wednesday evening. Trap led the Azzurri until the end of Euro 2004 but left a legacy of disappointment after failures on the European and world stage. Now the experienced tactician is trying to secure a win over his home nation in a crucial World Cup 2010 qualifier. “It is important for us to win in Italy, but also that we don't lose,” Trapattoni told Eurosport. “We will go to Bari without fear. I'm not scared of losing because we have a good lead over both Cyprus and Bulgaria. “In Italy people are saying that we have a strong side and we aren't just succeeding because of me. We may be low in the FIFA rankings, but the Azzurri respect us.” channel4 |  |
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| Monday 30 March, 2009 |
| Blog: Italy on song |
| There was a big hullabaloo when Italy lost to Brazil in London, but, as Steve Wilson points out, when it matters the Azzurri are doing just fine |
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| Played five, won four, drawn one. Not a bad record for the reigning world champions at the halfway stage in the World Cup qualifiers – the matches that really matter. Back in February, when Italy lost 2-0 in a glorified exhibition match at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, the brouhaha in sections of the media was unbelievable. It was a result that, apparently, highlighted a major power shift in world football and exposed the weaknesses throughout Marcello Lippi’s squad. Or so they said. It is to be expected though, some observers will always have their objectivity dazzled by the shiny yellow shirt of the Seleçao. The South Americans' series of friendly matches in Europe have made them little more than world football’s equivalent of the Harlem Globetrotters. Sweden and Argentina join the list of nations lined-up as ‘opponents’ for Brazil in London since the 2006 World Cup – all lost, with Brazil not even conceding a goal. People pay for the ‘experience’ of watching Brazil beat their opponent in these money-spinning glamour ties, but when it comes to the real deal – World Cup qualifiers – things aren’t as impressive. So far en route to South Africa they have drawn with such major powers as Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador and lost to Paraguay. Yes, they always under-perform in qualification, but that record is a reminder that perhaps a little perspective could have been used. The only thing that Italy lost against Brazil was the chance to extend Lippi’s unbeaten run. It clearly did not affect them when they faced Montenegro on Saturday and will not cross their minds when they line-up against Ireland on Wednesday. That match with Giovanni Trapattoni’s side, now there is one which will gauge where the world champions are at a year or so ahead of their title defence. Win that one and they have one foot on the plane to Johannesburg. In European qualifiers only Spain currently have a better record – with five wins from five. Germany and Holland can match La Nazionale and England, who have only played four, are also performing just as well. The fact that Lippi’s side are in the pack of leading contenders goes to show that the hot air expelled in the aftermath of that February match was unfounded. Wise observers always knew that the Montenegro-Ireland double header was the real litmus test. So far, so good. channel4 |
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| Monday 30 March, 2009 | |
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| Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi is hoping to play for Italy against the Republic of Ireland and explains his Serie A exile. Sampdoria marksman Giampaolo Pazzini is the man of the moment after he scored on his Azzurri debut against Montenegro. Italy are set to play a crucial World Cup 2010 qualifier against Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland in Bari on Wednesday evening. “I hope that I will play,” Rossi told La Gazzetta dello Sport. “We will have to see when the team is announced. I don't feel left out because I didn't feature in Podgorica and I am relaxed. “A 4-4-2 system could suit me best. At Villarreal I play as a second striker, even if we use a 4-2-4 formation. But I will adapt to any position the Coach gives me.” Rossi then gave his view on the hot topic of Juventus striker Amauri's desire to play for Italy. “There are lots of foreigners who are available for Italy because everybody wants to play for the world champions,” the former Manchester United man said. “It's nice because Amauri, Rodrigo Taddei and Dias Felipe are great champions. “Why don't I play in Italy? It's not my fault. The clubs made their decisions and I have made mine. “Italian football is changing and there is more space for youngsters now, which is a good thing. “In England and Spain they have more patience and at Barcelona there are three or four players under 20 who regularly start.” channel4 |  |
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| Monday 23 March, 2009 | |
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| Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni has reservations about Brazilian born Amauri one day playing for Italy. Amauri was recently given the all clear to apply for Italian citizenship by virtue of his wife being Italian. The 28-year-old Juventus striker, who was born in Carapicuiba, has never once been capped by Brazil. He would therefore be eligible to play for Italy once he receives an Italian passport, which could take six months. When asked if he would accept Amauri playing for the Azzurri, Toni replied: “I don't know, he has to decide. “He certainly is an important player, but is clear that he should have managed the situation in another way.” Amauri has regularly flip flopped this season on the question of which country he would like to represent. Milan midfielder Rino Gattuso recently told the former Palermo attacker he should choose Brazil over Italy. “Marco Di Vaio is also doing very well,” Toni told Sky Italia as if to make a case for the Bologna striker instead of Amauri. “We need to take everyone into consideration. Coach Marcello Lippi has to make the decisions. I think Di Vaio deserves a lot more respect than Amauri,” he concluded. Amauri has scored 14 goals in 37 appearances for Juventus this season, while Di Vaio has found the net on 19 occasions for Bologna in 2008-09. channel4 | |
| Monday 23 March, 2009 | |
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| Genoa defender Salvatore Bocchetti has described his call-up to the Italy squad as “a dream come true.” The 22-year-old spent last season at Serie B minnows Frosinone, but he has impressed in the Grifone back line. Bocchetti had a glowing career at Azzurrini level, but was clearly surprised to receive the senior call to face Montenegro and the Republic of Ireland. “This selection represents the realisation of a dream,” the Naples native told Radio Kiss Kiss. “Just last year I was in Serie B with Frosinone. To get an Azzurri cap is the ultimate milestone and it has given me immense joy. “It is a reward for all the sacrifices I have made since I was a child.” Bocchetti has been linked with a transfer to hometown team Napoli in recent weeks. “It could be another dream to play for my city's team, but my present is Genoa. I am happy here and I want to stay,” he said. channel4 | |
| Monday 23 March, 2009 | |
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| Giancarlo Abete has been re-elected as President of the Italian Football Federation. Abete, who has held the post since 2007, received the backing of almost everyone in the electoral council and will remain one of calcio's most important men for the next four years. “Thank you for your trust,” he beamed after hearing the result. “I hope to repay you with hard work and the right results. “Italian football is certainly in better shape than it was two years ago, but it has been a hard year and we will need a lot of passion to continue past the current problems. “We mustn't allow the global economic crisis to impact on an industry upon which so many people rely. “Stress and emotion are part of football and we just need to fight through. It's not about following other countries - we must find our own path.” |  |
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Antonio Cassano has again been overlooked by Marcello Lippi but their are debut call-ups for Marco Motta, Salvatore Bocchetti and Giampaolo Pazzini.
22 Mar 2009 18:32:00
Marco Motta - Italy (Grazia Neri)
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The 26-year-old has been in mesmeric form since the turn of the year, and this latest snub will surely lead to questions as to whether Cassano will ever feature in a Lippi-led Italy side.
However, there are a number of new faces. Roma's Marco Motta, Genoa's Salvatore Bocchetti and Samp's Giampaolo Pazzini receive their debut calls while Matteo Brighi returns having earned his only Italy cap way back in 2002. Lazio's Pasquale Foggia is also back.
Injuries mean there are no places for Alberto Aquilani, Simone Perrotta, Mauro Camoranesi and Luca Toni.
Simone Pepe is retained despite calls for him to be dropped, while Atalanta star Sergio Floccari is overlooked again. Alberto Gilardino fails to make the cut after suffering an injury for Fiorentina this afternoon.
Italy will travel to Montenegro next Saturday before hosting the Republic of Ireland in Cassano's hometown of Bari on April 1. The Azzurri are currently joint-top of Group 8 with the Irish.
Italy Squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juve), Marco Amelia (Palermo), Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray)
Defenders: Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lione), Marco Motta (Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan).
Midfielders: Matteo Brighi (Roma), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Pasquale Foggia (Lazio), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (Milan).
Forwards: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Giuseppe Rossi (Villareal).
goal.com
| Italy: Motta and Foggia new faces? | Sunday 22 March, 2009 |
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| Marcello Lippi will name his squad to face Montenegro and Ireland with probable new entries Marco Motta and Pasquale Foggia. The Italy Coach is set to announce the list of names for the two World Cup qualifiers later this evening. It is reported there are going to be at least two debuts at senior level for these crucial matches. Motta has impressed in Serie A and the Champions League since his January move to Roma and makes the step up from captain of the Under-21 squad. Foggia is doing extremely well at Lazio in a variety of forward roles and can play wide left in a trident attack. It would not be a senior debut for 25-year-old Foggia, who already has two caps to his name in October 2007 when he was at Cagliari. Another possible newcomer is 22-year-old Salvatore Bocchetti of Genoa to bolster the defence, who also steps up from the Azzurrini. Yet again there does not seem to be room for Antonio Cassano or Alessandro Del Piero in Lippi’s line-up. Riccardo Montolivo should retain his spot in midfield despite recent poor performances for Fiorentina. Juventus defender Giorgio Chiellini can play with a protective mask, which he used during the 4-1 win at Roma last night, after breaking his nose. Channel4 |  |
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