[Adriano]

Ok this is the last game before the squad travels to Japan on May 21. The game is this Saturday, May 18, and will be played in Prague.

The Czechs have failed to make the WC, so they will be keen to get a result and build some confidence before the Euro 2004 qualifers.

Trapp must now field starting 11 in this game that he intends to play in June. The Azzurri have one more match after this, in Japan against Japanese side Kashima Antlers on May 26.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Mikey]

I watched both of the Czech's play off's against Belgium and they were bloody awful. It would be nice to beat them after Euro 96, but I don't want the Azzurri going into the finals in such a form that would place a fovourites tag on us.

It would be nice to see Totti - Vieri - Montella, that's without out doubt our best attacking option.

 

[Vinman]

Does anyone know if RAI INTERNATIONAL, or any other network will show the game ????

 

[stafford jim]

does anyone know if i will be able to get tickets for the game i arrive in prague early friday morning :howler:

 

[Adriano]

PRAGUE, May 14 (AFP)
Czech skipper Pavel Nedved will miss the World Cup warm-up match against Italy on May 18 because of recurrent migraine, team manager Jaroslav Dudl said Tuesday.

Nedved missed last Friday's Italian Cup final where his club, Italian champions Juventus, were deprived of the double by Parma.

The 29-year-old will undergo treatment with a specialist at Bolzano in northern Italy, said Dudl.

The team manager added that Nedved would be replaced by 24-year-old Sparta Prague midfielder Jiri Jarosik.

Striker Vratislav Lokvenc, who plays for German side Kaiserslautern, is also uncertain for the match because of a muscle injury.

 

[mdelpiero10]

Vinman,
RAI International is going to show this game on Saturday morning, 11:10 AM Pacific time.

Forza AZZURRI!!!

 

[Catenaccio]

It sounds like Totti is feeling better, so too is Doni and Vieri.

Expect a full strength team (at least for a short period).

Trap will play:

______________BUFFON________________

______CANNA___NESTA___MALDINI_______

ZAMBRO___DI BIAGGIO___ZANETTI___COCO

______________TOTTI_________________

__________VIERI___DEL PIERO__________

Expect Del Piero and Totti to be fluid. That is, DP could move to the left wing during the match, pushing Coco back into left back to play either 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2. Totti could also do the same or join the attack... i.e 3-4-3.

I also expect, Doni to replace either Totti or Del Piero during the game. Eventually, Montella will be experimented with Vieri in attack.

 

[Carson35]

Totti in fitness pledge Tuesday 14 May, 2002

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Francesco Totti is confident that he will be fit enough to play in the Czech Republic friendly on Saturday.

The Italian has struggled over the past month with an ankle injury but is sure that he can be counted on physically with the World Cup Finals just around the corner.

"Even though I’m not in full training with the rest of my teammates, I’m feeling good," he said from Italy’s Coverciano training camp.

"I’m improving all of the time and I should be back training with the rest of the squad by tomorrow."

The Azzurri jet to Prague on Friday as they are set to play their final friendly before they fly out to their Sendai base in Japan.

"It will be up to the Coach whether he decides to use me against the Czechs of not. But I’m hoping that I can play at least a half to get my match fitness," added the Roma playmaker.

Turning to the Finals themselves, the No 10 is hoping for a repeat of his European Championship form of two years ago.

"I hope to be as calm as I was in Euro 2000 and wish that the results are the same apart from the final of course," he continued.

"The side is in great condition and I know what my responsibilities are. I’m optimistic and I can see that we have the right team spirit to go far."

The Roma hero also commented on the championship and paid praise to Scudetto winners Juventus.

"It was a well balanced campaign and I think Juve deserved to win.

"I’m also sharing a room with Inter’s Gigi Di Biagio and it isn’t easy for Nerazzurri players to recover from losing the title on the last day. Even if admittedly I have been making a few jokes about it."

Totti also eased fears that Roma could sell both Marco Delvecchio and Gabriel Batistuta this summer. "It is up to the club to decide and I’m just reading the newspaper reports. But I do think they will both stay."

Delvecchio had been linked with a move to Inter while the Argentine could be heading for the Premiership.

channel4

 

[Machine_head_17]

Del Piero-Totti-Vieri?................i dont think so...........im sure traps is gonna start with.....Vieri(italy's fav striker).......Totti(undisputed king of italy) and Inzaghi(traps fav striker).................

 

[Machine_head_17]

The reason=the italian squad played a match of red shirts vs yellow shirts...........the red team had vieri,inzaghi and totti up front........and most of the starters like nesta maldini etc...........and trap said that the players in the red team were his first choice!

 

[Catenaccio]

Vieri and Inzaghi depend on others to supply the ball. This means that Totti is only one in the midfield good enough to create space.

I would prefer Totti-DP-Vieri because of the flexibility it would create.

If you are going to play with 2 centre forwards, then I would prefer Totti-Montella-Vieri.

Besides, who would take the free kicks. That practice match was 10 a side and there was no Totti or Doni and that is a big factor.

 

[Vinman]

Vinman,
RAI International is going to show this game on Saturday morning, 11:10 AM Pacific time.

Forza AZZURRI!!!

Thanks pal !!!

FORZA JUVE, FORZA AZZURRI !!!!!

 

[Primo]

My main goal of this match is to come out of it with no injuries.

 

[Tommi]

Mine too Primo...mine too.:hopefull:

 

[Carson35]

not only totti is fit...vieri is also fit...they are ready to play in this game...can't wait..

 

[CUG]

i really hope that Vieri and Inzaghi are not the main strikers. its obvious that del piero and montella have had better seasons than inzaghi.

i agree with Catenaccio, if traps wants two main strikers, montella is way better than inzaghi. but this means that totti has a lot of work to do as he would have no help at all creating for Pippo and Bobo.

at least Del piero can create and having two creaters in the team would be a better option. And Del Piero scored 20 goals all up this season which is great for a support striker who creates double his goal tally.

Montella has shown that he can also be creative at times, he isnt as good as DP, but still, he is obvisously better than Pippo.

Lets hope we stay injury free, but i find that hard as everyone, except the certainties will try hard to prove that they should be starting.

does anyone believe that Tomassi should be starting before Zanetti or Di Biagio?? i think he should be, he is better than both.

buffon
nesta cannavaro maldini
zambrotta tomassi di biagio coco
totti
vieri del piero

montella on for del piero
inzaghi for vieri
doni for totti
zanetti for di biagio
gutusso for tomassi
panucci for nesta
iuliano for cannavaro
materazzi for maldini
di livio for zambrotta

if we can make as many changes as possible, we should do it so everyone gets playing time before the match.

but it would be good if we could at least get a glimpse of the team for the WC, no one knows what he will play and who he will play.

could be a good thing, but could be a bad thing, what if his plans dont work?? we cant experiment in teh group games.

 

[CUG]

i really hope that Vieri and Inzaghi are not the main strikers. its obvious that del piero and montella have had better seasons than inzaghi.

i agree with Catenaccio, if traps wants two main strikers, montella is way better than inzaghi. but this means that totti has a lot of work to do as he would have no help at all creating for Pippo and Bobo.

at least Del piero can create and having two creaters in the team would be a better option. And Del Piero scored 20 goals all up this season which is great for a support striker who creates double his goal tally.

Montella has shown that he can also be creative at times, he isnt as good as DP, but still, he is obvisously better than Pippo.

Lets hope we stay injury free, but i find that hard as everyone, except the certainties will try hard to prove that they should be starting.

does anyone believe that Tomassi should be starting before Zanetti or Di Biagio?? i think he should be, he is better than both.

buffon
nesta cannavaro maldini
zambrotta tomassi di biagio coco
totti
vieri del piero

montella on for del piero
inzaghi for vieri
doni for totti
zanetti for di biagio
gutusso for tomassi
panucci for nesta
iuliano for cannavaro
materazzi for maldini
di livio for zambrotta

if we can make as many changes as possible, we should do it so everyone gets playing time before the match.

but it would be good if we could at least get a glimpse of the team for the WC, no one knows what he will play and who he will play.

could be a good thing, but could be a bad thing, what if his plans dont work?? we cant experiment in teh group games.

 

[Machine_head_17]

Montella's better than inzaghi according 2 u.......n every1 else..........but me n trap's think differently...........

 

[Machine_head_17]

Inzaghi's scored more international goals than del piero,delvecchio n montella........and the same no of goals as vieri...............if he were as bad as u stated CUG........he wouldnt be given the no-9,he wouldnt be the toughest defender 2 mark according 2 maldini,nesta and cannavarro..............and the best frontman in the eyes of rui costa!

 

[pirri]

Stop trying to be a smart arse with stats....montella is a world class striker..while inzaghi is and alwasy was an avergae stirker with awfull technique a bad touch not existant passing skills and a very weak shot which only seems to be effective from 2 yards out AND no i dont think the number 9 jersey is relevent...inzaghi was probably just crying for it...and no trap knows better then u..montella is obviously the better player in EVERY sence while del piero has a bit of skill too him..