ITALY - The Road to WC 2010

[Jager]

Originally Posted by sinoy1

Yeah.Very good draw for Italy.Bulgaria should be tricky.Ireland should be dangerous away as well.

I believe that the world cup winners should be given direct access to the finals...all this qualifying BS for Italy is garbage since they won the title....How can there be a world cup with potentially no title holder?

I agree completely in a way. However I think its better that they don't have a free ride, as they won't be sharp. Qaulification makes you sharp or sharper I should say. I really believe that.

Italians do not take friendlies seriously unless there is a chance of doing something they have never done.

[LaVecchiaSignora]

Nah i think we got the easiest group of the lot of them im not worried about this at all, and like jager said, if Italia is on top of their game there is no one that can beat us

[Capitan Totti]

We will win this group no doubt.

[dukeofdavinci]

Azzurri’s WC 2010 fixtures set Tuesday 15 January, 2008

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Italy have received their schedule for their World Cup 2010 qualification campaign and it kicks off with a trip to Cyprus.

The world champions begin the qualification process in Nicosia on September 6 and then host Georgia.

The toughest away games on paper against Bulgaria and the Republic of Ireland take place on October 11, 2008 and October 10, 2009 in a campaign that spans 13 months.

Roberto Donadoni’s men will have to negotiate games against Cyprus, Georgia, Bulgaria and Montenegro this year, but don’t face the Republic of Ireland until 2009.

Italy’s World Cup 2010 qualification fixtures in full:

September 6, 2008 – Cyprus (A)
September 10, 2008 – Georgia (H)
October 11, 2008 – Bulgaria (A)
October 15, 2008 – Montenegro (H)
March 28, 2009 – Montenegro (A)
April 1, 2009 – Republic of Ireland (H)
September 5, 2009 – Georgia (A)
September 9, 2009 – Bulgaria (H)
October 10, 2009 – Republic of Ireland (A)
October 14, 2009 – Cyprus (H)

well here it is our 2010 mission plan laid down.an away game for the first

[dukeofdavinci]

Donadoni respects WC opponents Tuesday 15 January, 2008

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The Azzurri have their fixtures for World Cup 2010 qualifying and Coach Roberto Donadoni isn’t taking anything for granted.

The World Cup holders are in a Group with Bulgaria, Republic of Ireland, Montenegro, Cyprus and Georgia.

Qualification should be easily within Italy’s grasp, but Donadoni is aware of the potential pitfalls.

“It won’t be an easy group,” he insisted. “Besides Bulgaria, we mustn’t underestimate Ireland and especially Montenegro, who have some top players who are plying their trade in top European Leagues.

“Our proposal to play the games in pairs with gaps between each set of two was agreed and now we have a balanced schedule that you cannot fail to be happy with.”

FIGC President Giancarlo Abete was also delighted with the fixtures and the ease with which an agreement was found between the sides.

“We are particularly happy with the welcome and the respect that everyone has shown us,” he beamed.

“Our fixture proposals were accepted and that is great considering that we can’t use June 2009 because we will be in the Confederation Cup that FIFA have organised for a year before the World Cup.”

Italy kick off their World Cup 2010 qualification campaign away to Cyprus on September 6.

omg cant believ that stupid pharase in that article.there no such thing as easy..

as don says e need to take every team as a big threat until we have secured qualification it self.

[Jager]

Well, I have to agree though, it is the easiest group that we've had in many years, after being grouped with France and the like.

[D-Kin]

Donadoni respects WC opponents Tuesday 15 January, 2008

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The Azzurri have their fixtures for World Cup 2010 qualifying and Coach Roberto Donadoni isn’t taking anything for granted.

The World Cup holders are in a Group with Bulgaria, Republic of Ireland, Montenegro, Cyprus and Georgia.

Qualification should be easily within Italy’s grasp, but Donadoni is aware of the potential pitfalls.

“It won’t be an easy group,” he insisted. “Besides Bulgaria, we mustn’t underestimate Ireland and especially Montenegro, who have some top players who are plying their trade in top European Leagues.

“Our proposal to play the games in pairs with gaps between each set of two was agreed and now we have a balanced schedule that you cannot fail to be happy with.”

FIGC President Giancarlo Abete was also delighted with the fixtures and the ease with which an agreement was found between the sides.

“We are particularly happy with the welcome and the respect that everyone has shown us,” he beamed.

“Our fixture proposals were accepted and that is great considering that we can’t use June 2009 because we will be in the Confederation Cup that FIFA have organised for a year before the World Cup.”

Italy kick off their World Cup 2010 qualification campaign away to Cyprus on September 6.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[dukeofdavinci]

Lippi returns to Azzurri job
Thursday 26 June, 2008

It has been confirmed that Marcello Lippi will return to the Italy bench after the departure of Roberto Donadoni earlier this afternoon.

The Viareggio-born mastermind led the Azzurri to World Cup glory in 2006, but he left the job to take a Sabbatical.

Donadoni failed to live up to the expectations generated by his predecessor at Euro 2008 and his contract was declared void earlier today.

The Italian Press have been predicting Lippi’s return for months and now it is official.

The FIGC has confirmed that the former Juventus boss will take the reins and will be unveiled on July 1 in a Press conference in Rome.

"I am very, very, very happy," Lippi said. "I am also very motivated."

Between 2004 and 2006, Lippi took charge of Italy for 29 games and picked up 17 wins, 10 draws and just two defeats

holy crap!!!!!!the cigar man is back!!

[Forza_Roma]

This isn't surprising news...Lippi has been speaking of a possible return for months now. And now that Don has been fired...it was inevitable that Lippi would return.

Let's hope he can recreate his magic from 2004-2006 years ago.

[D-Kin]

Roll on the good times then.

It'll be tougher than his first stint though.

[dukeofdavinci]

Roll on the good times then.

It'll be tougher than his first stint though.

aye on that, wth many of the 06' class facing retirement, lippi needs to find, build, and mould the new recruits along wth the ones that stiill have some years in them.

the champions tag will also be there to hount us, and we need to think as new wc 2010 contenders and forget completely that we were 06' champs.

ben tornato lippi

[LaVecchiaSignora]

This is just as good a news for me as roma picking up a prime striker...im excited as hell to have lippi back...i think tottis coming back too!

[dukeofdavinci]

i think tottis coming back too!

i woudnt count on taht too much.this goes not just for totti but for the rest of the 06' clas whom alredy will be lingering in the range of 32-35++ by the time wc 2010.

and lippi knows that too imo.he will start wth a new set of recruits while taking in the ones we already have in the prime age group.

they might be a big help in us getting there but lippi is for sure will start experimenting wth a lot of names in 2 years time.

[jec1]

Good move!

[Trim]

As expected.

Good move, indeed. Certainly the best option that was there.