[Frank]

OK, you're Italy's new coach (Trap) and qualifying is about to start. The first game is on September 3 against Hungary. Do you build on what Zoff has done and call the same players, or do you do some tinkering (especially up front)? Do you try some players from the U-21 Euro Champs, like Pirlo? Remember, Vieri will be unavailable for this game. Here's my selection:

Goalkeepers
1. Buffon
2. Toldo
3. Peruzzi


Defenders
4. Nesta
5. Cannavaro
6. Maldini
7. Iuliano
8. Panucci (he should make a comeback to the national team)
9. Pessotto (played well in Euro Final)

Midfield
10. Tacchinardi (Zoff's biggest exclusion; a huge mistake!)
11. Conte
12. Zambrotta
13. Fiore
14. Albertini (great comeback at Euro 2000)
15. Di Biagio
16. Baronio (there to gain experience)

Strikers
17. Montella (great potential; would work well with Vieri)
18. Delvecchio
19. R. Baggio (brings so much to the table)
20. Totti
21. Commandini
22. Pirlo

I believe it's important to incorporate the young players into the squad and give them some time to play. Let's face it; aside from Romania nobody will give us trouble. Otherwise these young players may not be ready to be thrown into the spotlight at WC 2002. Baggio should be there for his experience. If things aren't going well (and even if they are, he is still effective for about 45-60 minutes. I wouldn't call Del Piero or Inzaghi until they regain their old form (if they ever do). Here's my starting line-up:

__________________________Toldo_____________________________


Panucci___________Nesta_______Cannavarro_____________Maldini


Zambrotta________________Fiore_________________________Conte


________________________Totti_______________________________


_______________Montella__________Delvecchio_________________

PS I like it when we play four at the back because it gives Maldini the chance to make his well-timed runs up the wing.
Who would you start?

 

[IL TORO]

This would be my line up:
----------------------Toldo-------------------


----Cannavaro----Nesta----Iuliano----Maldini/Pesotto--


----Zambrotta----Fiore---Albertini----Baronio/Conte/Fuser


----------------------Totti-------------------



---------------------Montella-----------------


Subs:Buffon, *****, Pesotto(if Paolo is there),Ferarra/Pancaro, Panucci, Di Biaggio, Ambrosini, Gattuso, Baronio/Conte/Fuser, Pirlo, R.Baggio, Ventola, Delvecchio, S.Inzaghi(if he proves to be good internationally)
I hope Maldini will still be in the team because he is an asset, but if not then Pesotto is a worthy replacement as he was at Euro2000.
Baronio is a little inexperienced but very skilled. If he proves to be good at the qualifiers, he should become the left mid for Italia. Otherwise Conte and Fuser are both reliable players.
Vieri will obviously be missed alot for that first qualifier but Montella was 4th top scorer last season.
I refuse to include Del Piero and Inzaghi because there are other much better players for their positions and because they have had enough chances to prove themselves as azzuri and failed, even when they were in their 'brilliant form.'

 

[Frank]

Il Toro: Good line-up. The only disagreement I have is with your exclusion of Tacchinardi from the 22-man squad. I don't think he's been given a fair chance with the national team. I thought he had a fairly good season with Juve last year, especially at the beginning of the season. Also, I don't think S. Inzaghi is up to it, as I would much rather give Commandini a chance.
The Italians have one of the best and youngest teams in the world and I believe our future is very promising. I think that with the inclusion of R. Baggio, Maldini, and Conte, this team will have the right mix to challenge Argentina for the WC in 2002.

 

[TAZZ]

C'mon guys.....Fiore Conte and Zambrotta in midfield against the physical Hungarians....C'mon man show some rational thinking please.

Zoff's work with the back 3 must be continued althout Trap is a coward and probably won't do it.

The back 3 must continue instead of taking a step backwards to the back 4 again like most Serie A clubs are doing.

Maldini's days for running up and down the wings from defence are over he is freaking 32 man!!!!!!!!!!

get real its time he plays on the left hand side of the midfield or in a back 3 in defence.

Midfield cannot include Zambrotta or anyy of these guys because they will al lbe at the Olympics.......sigh.......

And trap said first and ofremost he will first look at the senior players and only afterthe Olympics willhe consider calling any of Tardellis' squad in.

Here is definately who should start for Italy.

Toldo.....Nesta Canavarro Maldini..........Pesotto DiLivio Albertini Dibiagio and Fiore.........Totti and Montella.

these guys are the obvious picks because of the statements made by Trapatoni about claling up different players because of the Olympics. Both Zambrotta and Ambrosini will b eat the Olympics.

 

[IL TORO]

Yes thats right I forgot about the Olympics so Baronio, Ambrosini, Pirlo, etc won't be there. Not a massive loss though.

 

[Willem Sterk]

01 Buffon
12 Toldo

13 Nesta
05 Cannavaro
02 *****
14 Iuliano
03 Maldini

11 Pesotto
15 Tacchinardi
07 Fuser
16 Giannichedda
08 Fiore
04 Albertini
17 Di Biagio
06 Conte

10 Totti
09 Montella
18 Delvecchio
20 Del Piero
19 Signori

Panucci 1st has to have some playing time.
Vieri injured, R.Baggio still to be proven(again).
Gattuso, Zambrotta and Ambrosini in Olympics.

Line-up:

Buffon
*****,Nesta,Maldini
Fuser,Giannichedda,Albertini,Tacchinardi-Fiore
Totti
Delvecchio

 

[theLegend]

Yes Beppe Signori, why the hell wasn't he in the Euro2000 squad ??!!

 

[IL TORO]

He wasn't in the team because for some reason Zoff prefered Inzaghi and Delvecchio.
Beppe probably isn't good enough to be a starter any more but he definitely should be in the squad. I'd want Beppe in the team over Inzaghi anyday.
Baggio doesn't need to prove himself, it's Baggio for christs sake. He should be chosen over Del Piero anyday.
Forza a gli giocatori vecchi!

 

[TAZZ]

From an objective stand point

I really don't think it is productine to put Baggio in the squad now. It will stunt the energence of two greater than Baggio number tens in Pirlo and Cassano. Plus Totti is the number one now.

From an emotional standpoint
I think we all want Baggio to win teh World Cup and i think we all know something special for Italy should happen in W.C. 2002 I am also a Baggio fan and i hope he goes. This is what my wish is to see Baggio and Maldini hold the W.C. together and then retire together from the Azzurri in a blaze of glory.

FORZA MADLINI!!!!!!
FORZA BAGGIO!!!!!!!

3 W.C.'s and nothing to show for it. Baggio and Maldini deserve on more shot at glory.

 

[IL TORO]

I am not insisting on putting Baggio in the starting 11. Totti and Pirlo are probably better than him at the moment but I still want him in the sqaud. He is 10x more valuable than Del Piero. Cassanno is hard to decide. He looks like potentially being the next Baggio but he must get abit more experience I think.
I too would really like to see Maldini and Baggio holding the WC, I have been hoping to see that my whole life.

 

[JuveBhoy]

GOOD TEAM FRANK!

excellent team choise franky-boy! but i would be having none of this zambrotta crap. possibly iuliano will take over from maldini if he isnt fit, vieri will jump in for del vecchio once hes fit or back from suspension but in the mean time, i woulnd play del vecchio id play an extra man in the middle. maybe fuser,conte,albertini and fiori

toldo

panucci nesta cannavaro maldini

fuser albertini conte
fiori

montella totti

and then

toldo

panucci nesta cannavaro maldini

fiori albertini conte

totti
montella vieri

 

[JuveBhoy]

GOOD TEAM FRANK!

excellent team choise franky-boy! but i would be having none of this zambrotta crap. possibly iuliano will take over from maldini if he isnt fit, vieri will jump in for del vecchio once hes fit or back from suspension but in the mean time, i woulnd play del vecchio id play an extra man in the middle. maybe fuser,conte,albertini and fiori


as for the squad: only a few changes :

-1)not baggio im afraid even though im one of his biggest fans

-2)no zambrotta hes an *******

-3)no commandini

+1)id consider some of the past greats such as marco simone but id probably go for someone like ventola

+2)simone inzaghi instead of commandini by a mile!!

+3)whatever happened to moriero can someone please tell me????? anyway id bring in that wee guy from firentina whats his name... the guy that also scores from a substitute... robbiati aye him i think the pride if player for italy would make him step up his game, there is a lot of players like this who we need to be the workhorse of the midfield, who'll chase every loose ball






toldo

panucci nesta cannavaro maldini

fuser albertini conte
fiori

montella totti

and then

toldo

panucci nesta cannavaro maldini

fiori albertini conte

totti
montella vieri

 

[JuveBhoy]

Italy Squad

Goalkeepers
1. Buffon
2. Toldo
3. Peruzzi

Defenders
4. Nesta
5. Cannavaro
6. Maldini
7. Iuliano
8. Panucci
9. Pessotto

Midfield
10. Tacchinardi
11. Conte
12. Robbiati
13. Fiore
14. Albertini
15. Di Biagio
16. Ambrosini

Strikers
17. Montella
18. Vieri
19. Del Piero/Ventola
20. Totti
21. S.Inzaghi
22. Pirlo

 

[TAZZ]

Ambrosini ventola and Pirlo willnot play for Italy until after the Olympics. When we play Hngary they will be playing thier second last preparation for the Olympics.

Also what is wrong with Zambrotta? Who should be the right wing? Fuser? No offence but......that is exactly what i expect a Scottsman to say.

Everyone from outside Italy doesn't seem to understand the importance and significance of defensively competent players.......sigh.......

 

[IL TORO]

I also would prefer Zambrotta over Fuser. Fuser is still a good player but Zambrotta has proven his worth and is better than Fuser.

 

[JuveBhoy]

"Ambrosini ventola and Pirlo willnot play for Italy until after the Olympics. When we play Hngary they will be playing thier second last preparation for the Olympics.

Also what is wrong with Zambrotta?" - ITAZZ

JuveBhoy(me) - " ok but i think ambrosini in particular should stay wth the full team - hes not the typical italian player he's got a more physical side. and i think im just jumping on the pirlo bandwagon. ok ITAZZ you can slag the scotsman but ive been following italian football since i was 6 and didnt start watching scottish football since i was 13. anyway, im part italian, and the good part at that.
ambrotta i feel isnt very tactically gifted. hes an average player with no real attackive qualities and no real defensive qualities. i dont think fuser is too hot defensively, but with nesta/cannavaro behind him he shoulld be ok as when he is playing the ball should not be in the italy half much anyway. we need a re-JUVEnated di livio but zambrotta is a cheap imitation. although not as much to blame as the referee, he still made us struggle in the semi against holland. i dont really know the perfect replacement thats why i selected a 4-3-1-2 kinda formation. as we got murdered on the left flank by both france and holland and almost as badly on the right too - (which is comlimentary to maldini who i didnt previously credit)
with a back 3 you need really good wing-backs who can attack and defend at the same time(almost impossible) but we dont have lizarazu and the parma guy. maldini is too old to run up and down like that and we dont have the ideal right sided player as i previously mentioned. this system requires young ie. FIT players as a lot of ground needs to be covered by these players.




//whatever happened to moriero can someone please tell me????? anyway id bring in that wee guy from firentina whats his name... the guy that also scores from a substitute... robbiati aye him i think the pride if player for italy would make him step up his game, there is a lot of players like this who we need to be the workhorse of the midfield, who'll chase every loose ball//

- previous posting explaining selection of Robbiati and still looking for an answer on morriero

 

[JuveBhoy]

need to go now celtic highlights are on

 

[Primo]

Here's my squad for the Hungary match:

Toldo
Cannavaro-Nesta-Iuliano-Maldini

Fuser Albertini Fiore

Totti
Montella Delvecchio

 

[JuveBhoy]

yeah bang on but im still not totally convinced with del vecchio he lacks pace but you've putin three forwards so he can play far forward so he doesnt have to run much. vieri should slot straight in for him once hes back.

 

[TAZZ]

Nah Robiati is not getting called up.

As for Moriero he is still agreat player but with DiLivio and Zambrotta there is really no space for him plus he has not played regularly for long time.

I am sure he will get a look in in the next 2 years but i doubt he will make JapKoreaTwenty 'O' two