Italian U21 National Team

[Rosa]

Roberto Baggio has confirmed he is willing to play in the Olympics, but first crowned Antonio Cassano as his heir.


“I have made the decision to quit,” explained the legend after scoring his 200th Serie A goal at the weekend. “I will have to stop eventually and with these little fitness problems I think it best to do so now.”


Many pundits and colleagues have begged him to reconsider, but the Divine Ponytail assures a new generation deserves more respect.


“There are a lot of promising youngsters around right now and the one that stands out above them all is Cassano. He has quality, ability and talent. He can do really well for the Azzurri.”


Baggio has often been misunderstood in his career and has hardly ever featured in the Champions’ League, but it was the bad luck with injuries that proved the final straw.


“Six operations on your knee do have an effect,” explained the 37-year-old. “I am now paying the price for all that surgery. I am sorry to leave the game, especially for all the fans who have supported me over the years.”


There could yet be an international swansong for him, as Baggio could be included in the Italy squad for the Olympics in Athens.


“Of course I would love to have this unique experience,” he assured, “but I don’t think it will happen. I expect there are already some plans afoot for the side and I am not a part of them.”


The Under-21 side is allowed to bring three players above the age limit, but Coach Claudio Gentile has already hinted that he will stick with his current starlets.


Meanwhile, the former World Player of the Year has taken a look back at his 200 goals in the top flight.


“On Sunday I made a dream come true,” he said in the ‘Corriere della Sera’. “I think that is what pushed me on from my first goal on May 10 1987 at Napoli, bringing me all the way to Parma’s Stadio Tardini.”


“Dreams are what gave me that desire, spark and the angle of that shot to put my 200th football into the back of the net. It all brought back every memory in this sport – it is the great passion of my life.”


His final statement in this open letter left little doubt that a legend will hang up his boots in May.


“In a moment of great joy I must also contend with a difficult choice to quit. My entire career has been like that with joy and suffering changing places in a strange dance.”


“But I give my thanks for all those moments, both good and bad. Above all I thank everyone for making sure I never felt alone.”

[acmaniac]

I think it would be cool to see him win a gold at the olympics with italy

[Alessandro10]

YEAH!!!

FORZA

[Jager]

Parma man Alessandro Rosina bagged a brace for the new-look Under-21 squad in a 3-1 win against Poland this evening.


The Azzurrini will be renewed after the European Championships in May and Coach Claudio Gentile is already looking ahead to the next two-year cycle of players born after Jan 1 1983.


"It was more than I had hoped for," admitted the tactician. "This side has the right determination and good feet, although official games will be another kettle of fish."

This is the basic structure of the squad that will enter qualifying for the 2006 tournament and one of the main stars is expected to be Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi.


Gentile also changed his system for these new arrivals, moving to a four-man defence and lone striker upfront.


It took just six minutes to break the deadlock with promising Parma midfielder Alessandro Rosina’s strike.


Rosina has already impressed in several Serie A outings for his club this season and was a constant threat to the Polish rear guard.


Just before half-time, Italy doubled their lead thanks to Cagliari’s centre-forward Rolando Bianchi’s fine volley.


Gentile made sweeping changes for the second half and Poland got one back through substitute Kwiek.


But the final word was Rosina’s as he completed his brace in the closing stages with a fine solo effort.



Italy 3-1 Poland


Scorers: Rosina 6, 85 (I), Bianchi 44 (I), Kwiek 76 (P)

[acmaniac]

Four-time champions Italy got their UEFA European Under-21 Championship campaign off to the worst possible start by losing 2-1 to Belarus in Group A and having their captain sent off.

Bonera red
Roman Kirenkin's sixth-minute header was followed by Aleksandr Gleb's sweet second to put the unfancied Belarussians into a shock lead and although the prolific Alberto Gilardino gave them hope by halving the deficit, that quickly evaporated when his Parma AC team-mate Daniele Bonera was sent off.

Fiery start
Both sides began with a fiery intensity and several good tackles in the opening minutes enabled Belarus to wrestle control of the match in an obvious attempt to keep the action as far away from their goal as possible. The Italians for their part looked a little surprised by the outsiders' early commitment, with Aleksandr Gleb leading the way.

Kirenchin opener
The Belarussians' quick movement and good passing in midfield gave Claudio Gentile's side good reason to be fearful - and they found themselves behind after just six minutes. Timofei Kalachev sent a corner curling into the area, where Kirenkin met the ball unchallenged by the Italian defence to head the opening goal.

Belarus untroubled
After ten minutes, Yuri Puntus' side retreated slightly and appeared quite content to sit back and wait for their chances on the break. This gave Italy, winners of this competition four times since 1992, more possession in midfield. But they nonetheless failed to come up with anything to trouble the Belarus defence.

Italy chances
Gentile's players needed 36 minutes before they even created a clear-cut chance. Emiliano Moretti's cross somehow found Cristian Zaccardo in front of goal, but goalkeeper Yuri Zhevnov made a brave diving save to his left. Three minutes later as Italy pressed, Zaccardo turned provider, but Alberto Gilardino sent his header over the bar.

Amelia nowhere
At the other end Belarus continued to make the most of their opportunities. Shortly before half-time Aleksandr Gleb was given enough space 22 metres from goal to unleash a shot and the VfB Stuttgart playmaker's effort left Marco Amelia floundering as it flew into the net.

Simulation penalised
Italy battled hard to come back early in the second half, but Giuseppe Sculli was unlucky when he arrived a split-second too late to meet a cross from Simone Del Nero. Their desperation showed 60 seconds later when Gilardino tumbled to ground in the area but and was promptly booked for simulation.

Gilardino strikes
Gilardino showed the brighter side of his game on 58 minutes, rising to meet a cross from substitute Giandomenico Mesto to hand Italy a lifeline. But Bonera's dismissal in added time for a stray elbow on Artem Kantsavy all but confirmed a famous Belarus victory.

This isn't the best way to start off with the Championship especially coming from winning it four times. I guess that goes to show what happens when you underestemate the underdog.

[Alessandro10]

That is shocken!!
We lost!!!
And RED CARDED

[acmaniac]

I know it usually dosen't seem like this is the way that our U-21 team plays, for some reason i would expect it to come from the Azzurri.

[Jager]

Bullshite, still can make it though. We must win the next two.

[Jager]

Claudio Gentile admits the Azzurrini deserved to lose their opening game, but insists the Championship remains within their grasp.


“The team was lacking in verve,” he noted after last night’s 2-1 defeat to Belarus. “Conceding such an early goal was a real blow and despite two chances the equalise that second strike just knocked the wind out of our sails.”


Belarus now leap to the top of Group A alongside Serbia & Montenegro, who beat Croatia 3-2.


“After the break we managed to get more of a grip on the game,” continued the Coach, “but couldn’t quite draw level. We knew they were going to be tough opponents and cannot argue with the result, as it was certainly deserved.”


Italy were among the favourites for these European Under-21 Championships and Gentile insists they can recover from this disastrous start.


“Now it’s more of an uphill struggle, but our path is by no means impossible. There are another two games to go in this Group phase and we will try to win both of them.”


Alberto Gilardino was on target in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to get Italy back into the game.


“When we stepped on to the pitch we didn’t have the same conviction as in other games,” revealed the Parma hitman.


“Belarus caused us a lot of problems, but we know our true worth and everyone must live up to their potential if we are to turn the situation around.”


The Azzurrini’s next match will be against joint leaders Serbia & Montenegro – who were also in Italy’s qualifying Group for this tournament – on Saturday evening.


“Obviously we’re all upset at this poor start to the Championships,” concluded Gilardino, “and it wasn’t a great performance, but we will make up for it in our next two games.”


They'll have to do it without Daniele Bonera, will be suspended after his late red card against Belarus.

[Rosa]

i didn't think we lost?

Hopefully De Rossi will be fit for the next game, oh and while we're talking about Roma players D'Ago should have played more.

We'll still do it, Italy like to make things hard for themselves.

[Jager]

Coach said he made some tactical mistakes. I'm positive Gentile will have it all straightened out, in the next game.

i saw this game on tv, man, what a stinker...But to be fair belarus played some very good football, and were worthy winners..Italy should bounce back form this setback though.

[acmaniac]

Oh it's a must that we have to win the next games and were not down and out yet it's just that this stuff shoulden't be happening to us especially not they way we lost.

[ParmaKing]

Sculli keeps Azzurrini alive
Saturday, 29 May 2004
By Mark Bennett at the Ruhrstadion



Italy's Giuseppe Sculli, shown in action on Thursday, scored twice against Serbia and Montenegro


Giuseppe Sculli struck twice as Italy bounced back from their opening-day defeat against Belarus to claim all three points from an entertaining UEFA European Under-21 Championship Group A game against Serbia and Montenegro in Bochum.

Every chance
Man-of-the-match Sculli was on target either side of the break and gave his team a well deserved win over the Serbo-Montenegrins, whose only goal came from Simon Vukcevic five minutes from time. The pre-tournament favourites are now back in with every chance of making the semi-finals.

Sweeping switches
Both coaches made three changes from the opening fixtures. Serbia and Montenegro coach Vladimir Petrovic looked to Dejan Milovanovic, Nikola Mijailovic and Simon Vukcevic in place of Dragan Stancic, Bosko Jankovic and Danko Lazovic, who is still nursing a thigh injury. With Daniele Bonera suspended, Italian coach Claudio Gentile decided to rest Matteo Brighi and Giampiero Pinzi, bringing in Cesare Bovo, Giandomenico Mesto and Daniele De Rossi.

Early control
Italy looked desperate not to make the mistake of letting Serbia and Montenegro control the early play after it cost them so dearly against Belarus. The Azzurrini constantly pushed players forward from the referee's first whistle and Petrovic's side struggled at times to match the Italians' pace.

Positive approach
Italy's positive approach almost paid dividends after nine minutes when Simone Del Nero headed a Marco Donadel cross towards goal, only to see his effort gathered by goalkeeper Vladimir Disljenkovic.

Open encounter
Alberto Gilardino was almost handed his second goal of the championship eleven minutes later. Disljenkovic and Djordje Jokic collided when trying to dispose of a Del Nero cross, but luckily for Serbia and Montenegro the goalkeeper recovered in time to cancel out the danger. Midway through the half Milos Maric tried his luck from long range at the other end but was unlucky to see his shot whistle over the bar.

Sculli strikes
Italy finally got the goal they needed to ease their nerves on the half-hour mark. Mesto, who set up Gilardino's strike against Belarus, sent a vicious cross from the right wing into the area where Sculli escaped his marker and tucked the ball past Disljenkovic.

Half-time replacements
Trailing by a goal at half-time, Petrovic took the risk of introducing Feyenoord striker Lazovic in place of Milovanovic, as well as replacing Disljenkovic with Nikola Milojevic.

Sculli celebrations
Serbia and Montenegro looked the brighter of the two teams in the opening minutes of the second half, but Milojevic was soon picking the ball out of his net. De Rossi released Gilardino on 53 minutes and the Parma AC striker squared the ball for Sculli to double his account from close range.

Late consolation
Serbia and Montenegro continued to press but had to wait until the closing stages before Vukcevic found the back of the net from long range and although they pushed for a leveller, the Italians held on for victory to move second in the group.

Gilardino will save us....one down, one to go.::ahhhh::

[acmaniac]

Allright this is the Azzurrini that we all know and love.