I think Marchisio will be the first out of that list to play for Italy.

Don't think there's a chance for Marchionni though.

 

Big no for Amauri and Di Vaio for different reasons that are obvious.

When it comes to strikers, even if Floccari has cooled down, its him and Pazzini, and perhaps Aqcuafresca that are in the line of being "tested" for the azzurri.

I agree with the rest, except take out Marchionni and insert Palombo instead, if he isnt in the squad already, as a probable NT player. Defenders, how can you forgot Motta who is really impressing, not great, but really showing his competence. Couple of months of same performances for Roma, and he is a sure call up for the NT, surest after Marchisio of the whole list basically.

 

Whoever is in form out of these guys will take the place of the more established lot if they are out of form

Rosina
Floccari
Cigarini
Di Vaio
Osvaldo
Canini
Mascara
Mesto
D'Agostino
Palombo
Pazzini
Motta
Miccoli
Balzaretti
Santacroce
Foggia
De Silvestri
Acquafresca
Maggio
De Ceglie
Marchisio
Giovinco
Criscito
Santon
Balotelli

 

Gaetano D'Agostino
Giuseppe Mascara

 

By the way, you guys know what ever happened to Maresca?

 

Plays for Sevilla i believe.

 

Probably the players I will mention are the ones who have a realistic chance at being at 2010 World Cup, not ones who will just play a one off game.

Marco Motta (Roma)
Davide Santon (Inter)
Fabiano Santacroce (Napoli)
Claudio Marchisio (Juventus)
Possibly Seba Giovinco (Juventus)
Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria)

From the older generation I would add Matteo Brighi

My predicted squad IF we are there:

Buffon, Amelia, Curci
Motta, Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Gamberini, Santacroce, Grosso, Santon
Aquilani, Montolivo, De Rossi, Pirlo, Gattuso, Marchisio, Camoranesi
G. Rossi, Gio/Di Natale, Toni, Gilardino, Iaquinta

 

I agree with your team being probable but I would throw in Abbiati as having a chance ahead of Curci, and Cassano :drunk: (yes, Cassano) also having a chance

 

Marchisio and Santacroce are givens.

 

Cassano has a chance, but if what Toni said about his life at Samp is true, then I dont see Lippi calling him when it matters.

 

I pretty much agree with your squad Deano with the Abbiati correction. Cassano won't be there :lick:

 

I could see De Ceglie make it, probably will be starter next season for juve, and considering the problem italy has with wingers, i could see him called for a rotation player on the left flank.

 

Yeh, I would like to see Ranieri use De Ceglie in place of Molinaro for a few games to see how he goes. From the little I have seen of De Ceglie, he has really impressed me.

 

To see his potential, him coming on the 30th minute in our last Milan game, and totally being a menace to them down the wing, was the best showcasing so far (funnily enough, was also Marchisio's best to date).

If he adapts to the defending abit more then he has so far, then he has a pretty good chance to get a starting spot. Because offensively, he is considerably superior to Molinaro, and has a great left foot to cross with.

 

I know alot of Juve fans give a bit of stick to Molinaro, and he is hardly a great LB, but right now I think Lippi should call him. He has a great engine on the flank and isnt terrible defensively. Offensively he could improve his crossing, but not every FB is perfect. Until Santon and De Ceglie are ready for NT, Molinaro is surely a superior option to Dossena currently as reserve LB.

 

I would actually like to see some promising wingers. At the moment Lippi has only ever used Camoranesi and Perrotta as wingers. Both are getting old in the tooth and look pretty slow and Camoranesi I reckon is a 50% chance if he can make it based on how injury prone he is. Giovinco could be used as a winger but I don't see Lippi calling him up. Not convinced about Pepe.

I would like to see us flirt with a 4-4-2 a little more. Italy don't really have a proper trequartista (assuming Totti doesn't make the squad) which forces us to use a 4-3-3 which is not always ideal against a lot of opponents.

A 4-4-2 could be good if we found a good right winger as I think De Rossi and Marchisio could be an ideal central partnership in a 4-4-2 midfield. Perhaps we could use Zambo as a winger.

-----------------Buffon--------------------

Motta-----Cannavaro-----Chiellni----Grosso

Zambrotta---De Rossi---Marchisio---Giovinco

-------Balotelli/Amauri---Rossi--------------

Motta has been impressive when attacking and Zambo and Motta may work well together. I would love to see Balotelli play with the senior team.

 

-----------------Buffon--------------------

Molinaro---Legrottaglie---Chiellini---De Ceglie

Marchionni---Zanetti---Marchisio---Giovinco

---------------Amauri-----Del Piero--------------

FIXED!

 

Santacroce needs to decrease his red card per game ratio first.

 

Our starting XI for the WC should be this IMO

-----------------------Buffon
Zambrotta----Cannavaro----Chiellini----Grosso
------------------------Pirlo
--------------Gattuso---------De Rossi
----------------------Cassano
-------------------Rossi----Toni


GK: Buffon, Amelia, Abbiati
DF: Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso, Motta, Gamberini, Santacroce, Santon
MF: De Rossi, Pirlo, Gattuso, Marchisio, Aquilani, Montolivo
FW: Cassano, Rossi, Toni, Giovinco, Balotelli, Pazzini

And I'm hoping, the squad will be something like this ^ I know its not goingg to happen though

I know some people wont agree with certain selections (Balotelli, and not calling up Camoranesi or Gilardino etc????) but I think we need to start calling up guys like Santon and Motta as back ups as there is no one else really..........plus, they have shown enough to be called up ahead of Dossena. For the midfield, I would maybe call up someone like Palombo or Brighi and maybe drop on of the full backs (Motta or Santon or even one of the forwards depending on form, playing time and temperment, cough Balotelli ). I wouldn't have a huge probalem with leaving off Camoranesi as he will be 34 by then and I would rather give the spot to someone younger. In attack, I know a lot of people wont agree with Balotelli being there but it all depends on if he plays enough next season, same thing goes for Giovinco...........

Forza Italia

 

Balotelli should clearly not be there if Cassano can't sniff the NT. He is worse imo and not even that good now anyway.

I don't think you have enough meat in midfield, instead of bringing Montolivo I'd bring Brighi.

And your starting line-up is too attacking, it won't happen with good reason. Italy's strength is not attacking, it's defending well and we should play to our strengths.

Finally, we will see with Santacroce and Pazzini... Pazzini is flavour of the month but Gilardino is one of top scorers in the league.

 

Balotelli should clearly not be there if Cassano can't sniff the NT. He is worse imo and not even that good now anyway.

Like I said, with Balotelli it depends on what happens next year. If he has a good year, he should be called up, simple as that. Same thing goes for Giovinco.

I don't think you have enough meat in midfield, instead of bringing Montolivo I'd bring Brighi.

Yeah, I see what you are saying, but I would probably drop on of the full backs (Motta or Santon, depending on form, or, even Balotelli or Giovinco, again, if they are not playing) and call up Palumbo or Brighi

And your starting line-up is too attacking, it won't happen with good reason. Italy's strength is not attacking, it's defending well and we should play to our strengths.

Its not too attacking at all! Not even by Lippi's standards. He used to play the same midfield with Totti behind Gilardino and Toni which is pretty much the same thing defensively. Or, how about what he went with against Brazil? Pepe, Di Natale and Montolivo behind Gilardino, with only Pirlo and De Rossi......that, if anything, is too attacking. Plus, I have Gattuso in the line up and any line up with Gattuso cannot be considered too attacking roud: The man is still a machine

Finally, we will see with Santacroce and Pazzini... Pazzini is flavour of the month but Gilardino is one of top scorers in the league.

Pazzini>Gilardino Gilardino needs the team to be built around him to succeed and he has been really poor in his last NT matches. I guess depending on form by the time before the WC it can be between these two

Obviously there is still a while to go and a alot can still (and will) change

 

Remember what we said about not hyping too much in the Russotto thread Marlo? Well, you are doing it now by saying Pazzini is better then Gilardino

Btw, generally agree with your squad, except Balotelli. Needs to be like, 2 times better then he is right now to be worthy. Would call up Gila instead.

 

I just dont like Gilardino to be honest, I would rather call up even Iaquinta :eekani:

I agree on Balotelli. I'm hoping he can make the squad, but like I said, he would have to have a good year next year to even be considered

The squad I listed is not who I think will be called up, its who I'm hoping will be called up, I know its not very likely though...........

 

I spoke about what Lippi is likely to pick in my previous post...but here is the team I would like to see us pick:

GK: Buffon, Amelia, Marchetti
Def: Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso, Motta, Legrottaglie (or Santacroce), Santon
Mid: Camoranesi, De Rossi, Pirlo, Gattuso, Acquilani, Marchisio
Fwds: Rossi, Cassano, Di Natale, Toni, Gilardino, Balotelli

I would change it if I see us developing a great winger of if Giovinco can prove himself to be a better forward than Cassano or Di Natale. I would also be tempted to take 1 less defender and add another midfielder.

 

Sorry I only picked 7 defenders anyway, so I would add Brighi or Perrotta to that list

 

I dont want to waste both of our time going back and forth so lets just leave it at that

Just wondering, what would your starting XI be?

 

No problem. I think it's important to recognize some tactical aspects of playing and the limitations the ability of the current squad puts on you especially compared to oppositions. You have to play to strengths.

I haven't watched often this year to be honest, so I will have to think about it more, but I think my lineup would be something like yours but with extra midfielder:

cassano/rossi toni
aquilani
pirlo de rossi gattuso
grosso chiellini cannavaro zambrotta
buffon
​

The problem with this team for a while has been the injuries to Aquilani and the lack of ****ing left midfielder!

with motta and santon serious threats to current fullbacks...

 

aquilani isn't trequartista...never ever..lack of passing ability, game control

 

you're right, i replace with perrotta, true treq

 

Yeah, unless he has a super season in 09/10, I don't think he will be a starter.