[marlo85]

I will never be calm if we lose. I'm not expecting to win it all but its fully possible with players like Buffon, Toni, Pirlo, De Rossi etc

And Deano, you will care just like you did at the WC by June 7th, if not, at the latest, a few minutes into our first match on the 9th I'm pretty sure you will get that feeling

 

[Deano]

WellIm not saying I wouldnt care totally if I lose, but after winning the WC, I dont think it matters too much to lose... if we had lost in the WC I would screw, but going out of the group in Euro 2008 is never a terribly bad thing, considering our group. Obviously if we had Germany's group for example, I would screw if we eliminated.

 

[totti_the_king]

Babel out for Holland ,big shock for them .

 

[BigRon]

I'd put my money on a draw since both teams will probably be happy with that in the first match. :undecide:

Babel wouldn't have been a starter, but with his speed he could have been very useful in counter attack if we would have been leading in a match.

Well, good luck to you guys. May we see some classic matches in our group! (and let's send those frenchies :yuck: home)

 

[Quivering]

I feel it's gonna be tough for Italy with both offence and defence having questionmarks on that final guy who should play beside the obvious rest.
I feel all the candidates are on pretty equal level but on an equal level that's unable to fill the shoes of Nesta and Totti.

Gives me the empty feeling of a hockey team with it's brightest stars tied in the NHL and I'm expecting to have that "what if..." feeling.

 

[Frankie]

(and let's send those frenchies home)

roud:

 

[Overclass]

Romania could go next round with Azzurri..they are very strong. Simply better than overated Holland at this moment.

1.Italy
2.Romania
3.France
4.Holland(3 straight lose)

For sure it just predict...don't cray orange peoplesp

 

[Vinman]

So here we are, as Italy travel to Berne for the first game of the tournament. FORZA ITALIA.

My team for this match would be this:

Buffon; Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Materazzi, Grosso; Gattuso, Pirlo, De Rossi; Camoranesi, Toni, Di Natale

I am actually not too nervous at this point, I actually dont expect much, we are coming to this tournament with many of our top players not in very good form, so it would be something special to win this. However, lets hope for a good start. A draw is not bad, a win is terrific.

we should win this game....our offense should be too much for the Dutch defense

I agree with your lineup, except I would replace the out of form Matrix with....

So no one thinks that Chiellini should be starting? In terms of form and ability he should definitely be picked over Barzagli, Materazzi only has experience over him.

thank you Craka...Chellini should start !! :thumbsup:

 

[crocodhit]

I agree with you Vinman...
Barzagli should play from the first minutes...

Win = Quarter Final...

 

[DiegoDiegoDiego]

Guys am I right to think more and more reading the news from Coverciano that De Rossi is going to be a bench player sub?

 

[Frankie]

if we had lost in the WC I would screw

I feel the same way really. My reasons are

1.) We just won the world cup, winning the Euro cup feels like a step down actually. (not trying to be arrogant here)

2.) this Italian team is mostly the old generation, which means even if we show up amazing in this tournament it doesn't tell us anything about how the future potential of our national team. (players like Zambrotta, Canna, Matrix, Grosso, Pirlo, Gattuso, Camoranesi, Toni, Di Natale, Del Piero, etc... may all not play in the 2010 WC)

3.) We have the oldest team in the tournament and since we just won in 06 most of our starting XI have already won the greatest prize and probably won't be as excited and driven to win Euro 2008. It reminds me of the French team in 06, almost all players who had won it all with the national team and therefore didn't look like they wanted to win as much as most teams. It was more or less a send off for Zidane.


In truth I am just hoping that we can play a nice free flowing attacking style which will not only help us enjoy our games more but give us more respect with the rest of the world football community. Winning would be great ofcourse, since then we could also try and create an empire of world football domination the way the Brazilians, Germans, and even French for those 4 years have done.

Also many of these players just won the world cup so they probably won't be as excited and emotional as they were back in 06.

This is all why I wish players like Cassano, De Rossi, Aquilani, etc... were playing. Not only would they contribute more flair to our attack but they represent how the back bone of our future national team will look like.

 

[Primo]

I actually think this is the most important of the first round matches. It's vital we register 3 points from this encounter because, to be frank, the next matches are more difficult.
Matrix's reputation precedes him, and international refs react quick with the red on him. Barzagli is not great at Palermo, but bless his soul, he usually is a model of quiet consistency in blue.
Donadoni's midfield options are immense. The Buffon_pirlo-Toni spine still exists. We have some creative spark on the bench. Let's get it done and go far. But it must start Monday.:thumbsup:

 

[pirri]

v true..props to this post

 

[pirri]

(arsenalultras post )

 

[DiegoDiegoDiego]

Donadoni's immense options in midfield for me will be a problem more than a luxury. I rate De Rossi big time but I dont think he can do what he does well on the left and right of our midfield. If we used Roma's formation he and Andrea would be a match made in heaven. I'd start the boy Aquilani and one of Gattuso or Ambrosini, for Andrea's sake more than anything.

 

[camelface]

The new midfield is very nice but it hasn't been tested sustaining much pressure. This is an important aspect.

I know the DDR+Pirlo+Gattuso midfield is kind of choppy, but it can take some heat and can keep posession too. It is maybe not our best midfield but I think there is little risk with it at the moment.

So let us try the new one but no one knows if it can take it yet.

 

[sinoy1]

nobody would be in favour of a DDR---Pirlo----Aquilani midfield?I mean no offense to Gattuso but he's a bit mono dimensional when it comes to playing where De Rossi would bring the pain but also contribute offensively and Aquilani to relieve pirlo of the creative pressure throughout the 90 minutes.I think that would click very well.

 

[camelface]

The reason for Gattuso being preferred over De Rossi in combination with Pirlo and Aquilani is to have a more mobile destruction unit.

There is also another idea which I proposed long ago that was rejected by many that was the DDR slows down the play too much for the NT. There is a higher quality of talent on the team in terms of distribution and creativity and DDR could dampen it.

 

[Deano]

For the Holland match, if Robben plays, I would like to see Gattuso, simply for his doubling up abilities, but I wouldnt start Gattuso against Romania or maybe even France.

 

[Primo]

I love Aquilani, but he may be too raw for a match like this. Kinda like DDR-Pirlo-Ambro, with Gattuso and Aquilani as options.