Euro Qualifier: Scotland - Italy 17/11/07

[llewelyn]

the squad for both scotland and the faroes:

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[Jager]

PHP Code:

Italy squad
Goalkeepers: Amelia (Livorno), Buffon (Juventus), Curci (Roma);
Defenders: Barzagli (Palermo), Bonera (Milan), Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Chiellini (Juventus), Grosso (Lyon), Oddo (Milan), Panucci (Roma), Zambrotta (Barcelona);
Midfielders: Ambrosini (Milan), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Gattuso (Milan), Perrotta (Roma), Pirlo (Milan);
Forwards: Di Natale (Udinese), Gilardino (Milan), Iaquinta (Juventus), Lucarelli (Shakhtar Donetsk), Palladino (Juventus), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Munich). 


Interesting, he leaves out Del Piero. Continues to avoid Miccoli, and decides to call up Lucarelli who has not really played well for the Azzurri.

I see seven strikers that are all the same.

[LAF]

Looking at that squad it appears he's looking for a draw.

[Jager]

They will play cautious, but I don't think they'll just hoove it up. That would be a mistake. Playing the counter would be more logical, and that is what I expect.

The forwards have speed, then you have Toni who is just deadly in the air.

However, I question the creativity of our side. He is putting a lot of weight on Pirlo's shoulders.

I sure hope De Rossi doesn't play, he has played like crap for us.

[azzurri]

How many dm's to we need? No Rosina or Montolivo?

No Inzaghi? He should be there over Quagliarella or Palladino.

Based on current form, Id play with Iaquinta and Toni upfront.

[Jager]

Rosina and Montolivo are not going to play under Don, and that is damn unfortunate. I think Rosina is a no brainer. Montolivo should be on the bench.

[llewelyn]

miccoli is hurt. he was left out of the squad yesterday against napoli.

rosina was subbed in the 7th minute of today's game. im not sure how serious his injury is.

i agree with many of the posts. i honestly think donadoni will go with something similar to the first game between the two sides in bari, except pirlo starting over de rossi.

grosso was left out of the lyon side today, though im not sure if thats injury related. if not id expect a back four of zambrotta-cannavaro-barzagli-grosso

having toni in the lineup makes all the difference i feel.

[Jager]

I was unaware of a Miccoli injury, however that has not stopped Don from not picking him.

Look for the Azzurri to play a counterattack game, and that really suits us. Scotland must win, and to do this, they must push forward. So we have to be tight in the back, but launch some balls up to catch them outnumberd, then use our skill.

However I don't see why we can't just hold on to the ball, and play possession.

[LAF]

Originally Posted by Jager

I was unaware of a Miccoli injury, however that has not stopped Don from not picking him.

Look for the Azzurri to play a counterattack game, and that really suits us. Scotland must win, and to do this, they must push forward. So we have to be tight in the back, but launch some balls up to catch them outnumberd, then use our skill.

However I don't see why we can't just hold on to the ball, and play possession.

That's what he'll do. He's wanting a strong MF to compete with our physical strength there. I expect Luca to look for alot of free-kicks, like he did in Bari, and you'll play a set-piece game with Pirlo. I hope McManus has learned his lesson since then, as Luca was too clever for him.

[Jager]

There are a couple of things that are different.

Your playing at home, and you need to win. That could change things. As for FKs and such, you have posession, you win them. Very simple really.

Pirlo will get a few, as Scotland surely will.

[LAF]

Originally Posted by Jager

There are a couple of things that are different.

Your playing at home, and you need to win. That could change things. As for FKs and such, you have posession, you win them. Very simple really.

Pirlo will get a few, as Scotland surely will.

Yes but a long ball to Luca later and you have a FK around our box. Toni is very clever at drawing players in.

[Jager]

True. He is also very strong, stonger than most strikers, and very hard to mark. Not unlike ZLatan. He has the ball, he is a real bitch to get the ball off of him, without taking him down.

[LAF]

As I said earlier, Luca made McManus his bitch in Bari as McManus just kept playing into his hands. I hope he's learned from that, he's certainly improved.

[DavidMc]

Im looking forward to this game. The Scots respect the Italians. We know they are a great side. But we are also looking forward to this game.

We also have a great history, some great players, but at the end of the day, we respect Italy as a footballing nation.

It will be a tough game.

[D-Kin]

Don: In Scotland to win Monday 12 November, 2007

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Roberto Donadoni has discussed his selections ahead of Saturday’s Euro 2008 qualification D-day against Scotland and insists Italy won’t play for a draw.

The world champions just need a point at Hampden Park to book a ticket to Austria and Switzerland, but the Azzurri have never won in Scotland.

“Scotland have been getting results at the highest level,” Donadoni began. “Their Coach has been doing good work as proven by the fact that they are one game away from qualification.

“The past shows their strength, but Saturday will be a new game. They want to win, but we have other ideas.

“Their strength lies in their group mentality, but I maintain that ours does as well.”

The former Livorno tactician opted to select Alberto Gilardino ahead of Milan teammate Pippo Inzaghi.

“I made that decision because Gila has only been left out as a precaution in the past and he has shown consistency lately,” Donadoni explained. “He has experience as he has been to a World Cup and won it.”

Despite France boss Raymond Domenech’s inflammatory insinuation that Donadoni’s men will play negatively in Scotland, the ex-Milan midfielder is eyeing maximum points.

“I have been in the world of football for 25 years and I have never gone out on the pitch to draw,” he claimed.

“It will be the same for our opponents as if the Scots draw they need France to lose in Ukraine and that’s very unlikely.”

Juventus winger Mauro Camoranesi is ready for action in Glasgow despite a recent recurring thigh strain.

Christian Panucci is likely to be chosen ahead of Massimo Oddo on the right with Andrea Barzagli and Fabio Cannavaro ready to start in middle.

Italy (probable); Buffon; Panucci, Cannavaro, Barzagli, Zambrotta; Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Camoranesi; Toni, Di Natale

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