Friendly: Portugal - Italy [06-02-08]

[D-Kin]

Italy squad:

Goalkeepers: Amelia (Livorno), De Sanctis (Sevilla)
Defenders: Barzagli (Palermo), Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Cassetti (Roma), Grosso (Lyon), Materazzi (Inter), Oddo (Milan), Zambrotta (Barcelona)
Midfielders: Ambrosini (Milan), Aquilani (Roma), De Rossi (Roma), Perrotta (Roma), Pirlo (Milan), Semioli (Fiorentina)
Forwards: Borriello (Genoa), Di Natale (Udinese), Palladino (Juventus), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Munich).

Well done to Borriello.

[D-Kin]

Semioli has had to pull out with a foot injury.
channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Materazzi is a doubt so Alessandro Gamberini has been called up to the squad.
channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Don: Why I snubbed star duo Monday 4 February, 2008

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Roberto Donadoni has explained his decision to leave Antonio Cassano and Alessandro Del Piero out of his Italy squad to face Portugal.

The world champions will have a slightly unexpected look as they play their first preparation game for Euro 2008 on Wednesday.

Despite his revelatory form for Sampdoria and close relationship with Donadoni, Cassano has lost out to Genoa’s Marco Borriello.

“I thought I’d try out some new players because this is one of the last opportunities,” Donadoni said.

“Vincenzo Iaquinta? Del Piero? Cassano? Alberto Gilardino? I’d rather you asked me about Marco Borriello and Marco Cassetti.

“The players that are left out shouldn’t be worrying, as they only need to be concerned if they are putting in poor performances – we have four months left.

“Cassano is a player who I know best,” the former Livorno tactician continued. “He needs to be stimulated and call-ups don’t do that. He needs to grow more, so I am waiting expectantly.”

Del Piero’s chances of making Euro 2008 his Azzurri swansong are up in the air after the Juventus talisman was again left out of the squad.

“Scoring seven goals is not enough to make a player indispensable,” Donadoni maintained.

“Del Piero knows very well what the situation is. Four months ahead of the European Championships nobody should feel excluded.

“If I made my list definite for Austria then the players that were on it would go on holiday, instead I will follow all the games and collect information.”

Donadoni concluded by responding to questioning over his decision to select Juve benchwarmer Raffale Palladino.

“Find me another right-winger,” he declared. “Franco Semioli was called up for that reason. We don’t have many alternatives.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Materazzi has been withdrawn from the squad.
channel4.com - Football Italia

[azzurri]

Based on performances, Palladino doesn't deserve a call up, whereas Del Piero does. Its that simple, but Donadoni is an idiot.

I know Camo is fit, but are Montolivo, Rosina, Foggia all injured? Looking at the midifeld call ups, other than Pirlo, there isn't much creativity.

[D-Kin]

He's complaining about the lack of right wingers (which is true) but to call up Palladino over someone like Rosina is unacceptable. Palladino is barely a midfielder anyway.

I think Del Piero was unlucky to miss out. Of all the strikers called up only Borriello has scored more in Serie A this season.

[jec1]

DONADONI LEAVES DOOR OPEN

DONADONI LEAVES DOOR OPEN | Sporting Life - Football | Football Transfers, Italy Serie A News, Fixtures, Results, Match Reports, Standings

[Jager]

Aquilani and Pirlo should be enough. Don either doesn't get it, or follows Capello football where "power" football is more important.

[D-Kin]

Italy: Portuguese peril Tuesday 5 February, 2008

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Italy cannot underestimate Portugal, who provide a test for the Euro 2008 clash with Romania, warns Roberto Donadoni.

On Wednesday evening the Azzurri will face Cristiano Ronaldo’s side on Swiss soil in Zurich, an apt location as this summer’s tournament will be held in Austria and Switzerland.

“In terms of experience and quality, this Portugal can be compared to Romania. I told the players to be very careful, as they risk being humiliated,” said the Coach.

“Ronaldo is one of the best players in the world and is improving, so he is at Kaka’s level now, even though saying he is the same as the Brazilian is stretching it.”

Italy are now on the road to Euro 2008 and are in the so-called Group of Death along with France, Holland and Romania. Would Donadoni be content just to get through the first round?

“To then go out in the quarter-finals, you mean? My character means I never settle for less. I have been in charge of the Italy squad with enthusiasm and desire.”

Yet he was on the chopping block before a 2-1 victory in Scotland booked their place in the competition.

“Of course there have been things I would’ve gladly avoided, but that is true of all jobs. This is my philosophy, I always seek the best.”

This is an opportunity for Donadoni to experiment with new faces and tactical systems, moving from the 4-3-2-1 to a Roma-style 4-2-3-1 led by Luca Toni.

Raffaele Palladino is set to repeat his Juventus switch to the right channel and Antonio Di Natale maintains his spot on the left, with Simone Perrotta likely to be the middle man.

An all-Milan central midfield duo of Andrea Pirlo and Massimo Ambrosini should step aside for Daniele De Rossi in the second half, as the teams are allowed six substitutions.

Among those bound to appear are Genoa hitman Marco Borriello, who earned his debut Italy call-up after netting 12 Serie A goals this season.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[D-Kin]

Canna: We're ready for Portugal Wednesday 6 February, 2008

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Fabio Cannavaro insists the Italy camp is calm ahead of tonight’s game with Portugal, despite an injury crisis and Roberto Donadoni’s contract issues.

The world champions take on Portugal in Zurich this evening as the first of their warm-up games before Euro 2008.

Roberto Donadoni’s original squad has been reduced to 19 men as Fiorentina winger Franco Semioli and Inter stopper Marco Materazzi have been forced to pull out with injuries and first-choice ‘keeper Gigi Buffon is also sidelined.

“It’s true that there are lots of injuries, but the mentality of this side goes beyond that,” Cannavaro maintained.

“Portugal are good at moving the ball around, but I think that we can impose ourselves on them.”

There has been speculation that uncertainty over Donadoni’s contract renewal may unsettle the preparations, but the former Juventus skipper claims that has not been the case.

“Donadoni has proven his quality already as it wasn’t easy to come in after we had just won the World Cup,” Cannavaro said.

“Now we are just thinking about having a great European Championships – it’s not about anything else.”

channel4.com - Football Italia

[sinoy1]

Still no Rosina.If he brought in Palladino as a make shift emergency right wing...the surely Rosina should have been in (even if he;s coming back from injury)

With 1 more game after this for the Euro 08 tourny....you'd think he'd call the first team members.

[Jager]

Great support for Italy in Zurich, and the crowd is pumped.

New kits for the Azzurri, both teams in traditional kits.

White shorts and the glorious blue.

[Jager]

What the fuck, that was a good goal by Pirlo, stupido ref. I hate that type of shit.

[Jager]

I like it, Ronaldo has had to defend for the most part of this game thus far...