The Official Azzurri thread 2

[DCGweez]

I think he's the best GKer for Italy at the moment but i'm not sure he'll be at the Euros and certainly not in the WC.

[Messinterista]

What are our chances for the Euro lads? I'm expecting/hoping semi's?
However I think one of France or Germany will take it out.

[Bagg10]

What are our chances for the Euro lads? I'm expecting/hoping semi's?
However I think one of France or Germany will take it out.

We'll be lucky to get out of the group, even with the new format.

[Bagg10]

Monday May 23 2016
Conte names Italy squad
By Football Italia staff

Antonio Conte has named his 30-man preliminary Italy squad for Euro 2016, with no place for Sebastian Giovinco or Andrea Pirlo.

The CT will name a 23-man squad for the tournament, so seven will have to be cut from the initial list.

The Azzurri stars will have the chance to prove their worth ahead of the tournament in France, with friendlies against Scotland and Finland.

MLS players Pirlo and Giovinco have not been included in the squad, with Domenico Berardi of Sassuolo also left-out.

Juventus youngster Daniele Rugani is included in the defence, while Torino’s Marco Benassi is among the midfielders.

Preliminary Italy squad for Euro 2016:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Federico Marchetti (Lazio), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain)

Defenders: Davide Astori (Fiorentina), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham), Daniele Rugani (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Davide Zappacosta (Torino)

Midfielders: Marco Benassi (Torino), Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Bologna), Jorginho (Napoli), Riccardo Montolivo (Milan), Thiago Motta (Paris Saint-Germain), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Stefano Sturaro (Juventus), Antonio Candreva (Lazio)

Forwards: Eder (Inter), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Graziano Pellè (Southampton), Simone Zaza (Juventus), Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma)

http://www.football-italia.net/84808/co ... taly-squad

[Bagg10]

This is what I'd go with if I was Conte. With Candreva playing a little more central on defense, so we're not left outnumbered in the middle.

[Messinterista]

The three at the back always concerns me.

[Bagg10]

The three at the back always concerns me.

The three man backline (+ Buffon) is really the only thing this team has going for it. If you remember in Euro 2012 we drew 1-1 with Spain in the first game with a three man backline, even though DDR was one of the back three. We lost 4-0 in the final when Prandelli switched to a four man backline. The middle is what worries me.

[Bagg10]

Saturday June 25 2016
Italy and Spain stick to guns
By Football Italia staff

Despite reports of tactical adjustments, Spain look set to field the same XI against Italy in the Round of 16.

It kicks off in Paris on Monday at 17.00 UK time (16.00 GMT).

There were multiple reports in Spain and Italy that Vicente Del Bosque would make changes to spread the Azzurri defence and deal with their 3-5-2 system.

However, today La Roja tested out the same XI that beat the Czech Republic and Turkey, then went on to lose 2-1 to Croatia.

That means Alvaro Morata remains as centre-forward rather than moving wide left, flanked by Nolito and David Silva.

Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke is also not seemingly going to get his first start of the tournament.

Italy have lost Antonio Candreva to injury – the player Spanish fans voted online as the one they most feared in this match.

Alessandro Florenzi of Roma, who famously scored from midfield against Barcelona in the Champions League, is expected to take his place.

Italy (probable): Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Florenzi, Parolo, De Rossi, Giaccherini, Darmian; Eder, Pellè

Spain (probable): De Gea; Juanfran, Pique, Ramos, Alba; Fabregas, Busquets, Iniesta; David Silva, Morata, Nolito

http://www.football-italia.net/86384/it ... stick-guns

[Bagg10]

Not having Candreva is a huge loss. Hopefully Florenzi can be as effective in his place. We're going to miss his crosses and set pieces.

[Messinterista]

I'm glad to see that the Conte's three at the back has so far proved me wrong. Now for Germany!
Thing is, if we have been able to overcome our bogey team Spain, Germany could do the same with us. Fingers crossed it doesn't happen!

[Bagg10]

I'm glad to see that the Conte's three at the back has so far proved me wrong. Now for Germany!
Thing is, if we have been able to overcome our bogey team Spain, Germany could do the same with us. Fingers crossed it doesn't happen!

Ehh, Spain has only been a bogey team since 08, before that Italy dominated that tie. I have a feeling we're going to extra time tomorrow and probably penalties.

[Bagg10]

Football is a cruel cunt. I can't remember ever being this heartbroken.

Edit: I got a little ahead of myself. Iran - Argentina was way worse than this for me.

[Italiamia]

Football is a cruel cunt. I can't remember ever being this heartbroken.

Gee, let me think: WC 90; WC 94; Euro 2000, affectionately known as the Waterboy Euro; and, the Byron Moreno World Cup. The year escapes me as I have obliterated it from my mind.

This defeat today does not even rank with the foregoing. I wanted this game and thought there for a moment that we had it when Germany tanked two of their first three penalties. The nerves ended up getting to us in the end but the Germans did not fare much better. This was a total crap shoot. In the end, I think our boys did the best they could and I for one did not think we would even be playing at this point. I will credit Conte for getting the best out of what he had. Certainly, Candreva and De Rossi were missed today. I would have brought on Insigne a bit earlier and I would not have kept that third substitution in my pocket. Germany looked vulnerable after Bonucci drew Italia even. Go for the kill shot at that point I thought. Regardless, the Germans have the best team in the world right now. Nothing to be ashamed of on our end in my opinion.

[Bagg10]

Football is a cruel cunt. I can't remember ever being this heartbroken.

Gee, let me think: WC 90; WC 94; Euro 2000, affectionately known as the Waterboy Euro; and, the Byron Moreno World Cup. The year escapes me as I have obliterated it from my mind.

This defeat today does not even rank with the foregoing. I wanted this game and thought there for a moment that we had it when Germany tanked two of their first three penalties. The nerves ended up getting to us in the end but the Germans did not fare much better. This was a total crap shoot. In the end, I think our boys did the best they could and I for one did not think we would even be playing at this point. I will credit Conte for getting the best out of what he had. Certainly, Candreva and De Rossi were missed today. I would have brought on Insigne a bit earlier and I would not have kept that third substitution in my pocket. Germany looked vulnerable after Bonucci drew Italia even. Go for the kill shot at that point I thought. Regardless, the Germans have the best team in the world right now. Nothing to be ashamed of on our end in my opinion.

I'm like 20-30 years younger than you and I didn't really start following football until 2002. Every elimination is painful to a certain extent, except 2010 and 2014 WC (our performance was too poor to warrant heartbreak). But for some reason this one hurt for me personally. Maybe it was because they gave it their all and were so close despite being dealt a shitty hand with all the injuries and the shit bracket, or maybe it's because I wanted Buffon to win his final Euro. I'm in no way ashamed, I'm extremely proud of this team. Hopefully Ventura can build off of this performance and integrate some younger players into the team.

[juventino_italiano]

I was more surprised than anyone with how this team performed and what Conte managed to get out of this team. I do think the Germans are the best team at the moment but in this tournament they really haven't shown that much and I think Italy could have easily defeated them. This German side really had an ass full of horseshoes at times. Let not heap so much praise on the nose picker, crotch sniffing dirt bag and his team.

Italy played with heart and we're unlucky to go. It's all luck. The Germans had the luck. Such is the nature of the sport. There is some hope going forward and hopefully we see a continuation of the good performances going forward

[p_maldini_3]

that was the craziest round of pk's we've ever seen.

i'll eat my words; conte did a majestic job. he kept things simple but he did get the best out of what he had.

the good thing is there are some really good technical players coming up in attack; bernadeschi, zaza, insigne (who looked great), el sharaway to a certain extent - ventura has some players that can help the team go on.

and i still have hope for balotelli. i have his jersey, and i need that investment to pay off.

[Messinterista]

I too hope Balo can mature and lead our attack like he should be. He has way too much talent to not be involved with the national team.

[Bagg10]

I too hope Balo can mature and lead our attack like he should be. He has way too much talent to not be involved with the national team.

Unfortunately i think he's Cassano V.2. But then again Cassano came back and helped us get to the Euro 2012 final, so maybe...