WC Qualifier: Cyprus 1-2 Italy [06-09-08]

[Oliver_Kahn]

the call-up:


Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Amelia (Palermo), De Sanctis (Galatasaray).

Defenders: Barzagli (Wolfsburg), Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Cassetti (Roma), Dossena (Liverpool), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Grosso (Lyon), Legrottaglie (Juventus), Zambrotta (Milan).

Midfielders: Aquilani (Roma), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Gattuso (Milan), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pirlo (Milan).

Forwards: Del Piero (Juventus), Di Natale (Udinese), Gilardino (Fiorentina), Iaquinta (Juventus), Toni (Bayern)

[dukeofdavinci]

no chiellini, we get one good player back and loose another.some question gila's call up to cassano, but some how lippi can just make gila tick for the team and he some how scores.

[dukeofdavinci]

Lippi plots return to glory Tuesday 2 September, 2008

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Marcello Lippi is hoping to lead Italy to World Cup glory once again in South Africa but first he must negotiate qualification.

The world champions begin their 2010 qualification road with a trip to Cyprus on Saturday before hosting Georgia on Wednesday.

And Lippi's first friendly of his second reign, which ended in a 2-2 draw with Austria, confirmed that there is work to do if he is to restore the Azzurri to glory.

“After the first week of the championship there is some fatigue and so I gave the players some rest yesterday,” Lippi told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“Today has also been dedicated to recovery but tomorrow we will begin work with intensity.

“Alberto Aquilani has a pain in his heel and is working without a ball and Legrottaglie is doing less strenuous exercises.

“But everyone will be available tomorrow. I expect to play different sides in the two games and so there are lots of solutions.”

Italy are expected to dispose of minnows Cyprus, but Lippi is taking nothing for granted.

“The more we think it will be easy, the more difficult it will be,” the veteran tactician explained.

“This is the first game on the road to repeating Berlin. I didn't just come back to win but to rebuild a winning foundation.

“However, we will remember that we have the world champions' logo on our shirts and we will be united and full of intent.”

There have been murmurings about Lippi's decision to leave Antonio Cassano, Mario Balotelli, Massimo Ambrosini and Marco Materazzi out of his squad.

“I have nothing against the people who didn't make it,” Lippi said. “For one thing I would have called Riccardo Montolivo and Giuseppe Rossi if they were available.

“I respect Ambrosini as a player and a professional but I have to make my decisions.

“As for Marco, he is still suffering from an injury and I would rather call Fabio Cannavaro and not take any risks.

“I am also watching Mario Balotelli because he is a promising youngster. I like him a lot and I think he'll become an important player.”

the plot begins.we need to hit the ground running, secure the qualy fast and then jump straight to what we will actually do to defend our cup.

[Jager]

Italy will have no trouble in this group Duke. They will qaulify like they always do.

Lippi will use these matches to test formations and players, like he should.

The real goal is too win every game at home. That is where the yardstick is.

[dukeofdavinci]

Italy will have no trouble in this group Duke. They will qaulify like they always do.

Lippi will use these matches to test formations and players, like he should.

The real goal is too win every game at home. That is where the yardstick is.

home games is a MUST, but at the same time away ones cant be just thrown away either.experimenting must be coupled wth right results along the way, wch im sure lippi can achieve.

besides the man doesnt stick to one formation along the way, nor in a whole 90'.he is a coach continuously evolving while he as the helm.

[Jager]

I think the away games can be a test, but I think Italy have tremendous firepower up front to get results.

I realise that most of the players have been in a deep slump, but that what happens when you have a shit campaign in European cup.

They are going to fight harder.

The real question for me is what Lippi will do without Totti.

To me, Rosina, Balotelli and Giovinco should get looks.

[dukeofdavinci]

I realise that most of the players have been in a deep slump, but that what happens when you have a shit campaign in European cup.

They are going to fight harder.

agreed.we had the same shitty time during the 04' euro and we came out guns blazing for the 06 wc..looking forward to a similar reaction

The real question for me is what Lippi will do without Totti.

what else then what does every minute, that is evolve.the guy never stops analyzing every thing til he gets it right.and the process starts over and over again.never on the same set of mold.

[dukeofdavinci]

Lippi warns Azzurri against complacency

Having coached Italy to FIFA World Cup glory in 2006, Marcello Lippi, is back and keen to repeat that success in South Africa, but first the Azzurri have to qualify for the 2010 finals, and the 60-year-old warned: "If we think we are going to win easily, then we are totally wrong."

Second spell
Lippi returned to the Azzurri helm after UEFA EURO 2008™ having stepped down in the wake of the victory in Germany, and has had a mixed start to his second spell as Italy were forced to come from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Austria in Nice last month. To complicate matters, Alessandro Nesta and Francesco Totti have both retired from international football, but when Italy visit Cyprus on Saturday for their opening Group 8 qualifier, they will be boosted by the return of captain Fabio Cannavaro, who missed the European finals with an ankle injury.

Squad choices
The photo of Cannavaro lifting the World Cup takes pride of place on the desks of many an Italian, and as the defender returns, Massimo Ambrosini, Antonio Cassano and Christian Panucci, who all missed the 2006 competition but played in the run to the UEFA EURO 2008™ quarter-finals in June, have been left out. Lippi said: "Many players will have a chance in the future, but for now I had to make a choice and I decided to rely on this group."

Berlin example
Lippi, whose side welcome Georgia to Udinese four days after their trip to Cyprus, cannot help by hark back to his last competitive game in charge, the World Cup final against France. "If we want to experience another night of glory like in Berlin, we have to start doing well immediately," said Lippi. "The more we think it will be easy, the harder it will be." The coach, also up against Montenegro, the Republic of Ireland and Bulgaria in the pool, added: "We are the world champions but we cannot rest on our laurels. That experience can be useful because now we know the conditions and how much consistency and unity are needed to win."

©uefa.com 1998-2008. All rights reserved.

there you go, a stern warning form the man himself.even if its a favorable group, but we must first qualify, take the step forward.

[dukeofdavinci]

Italy: Alex in injury scare Thursday 4 September, 2008

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Italy may have been handed a big injury blow ahead of their trip to Cyprus as Alessandro Del Piero has been sent for tests.

The Azzurri begin the defence of their world title with the first game on the road to South Africa away to Cyprus on Saturday night.

But new Coach Marcello Lippi has been given a headache by uncertainty over the fitness of Del Piero.

Alex reported a pain in his quadriceps this morning after training and has been sent to doctor Enrico Castellacci in Florence for tests.

The Juventus captain spent the day resting ahead of a diagnosis, but sources suggest that the problem isn't likely to be serious.

owh shit..., if he doesnt make it i think it will be a good option to call in cassano or any of these lads rossi, Rosina, Balotelli and Giovinco

[Jager]

We can dress our U21 side, and I expect a win here. Anything less than that, is simply unacceptable.

I have faith in Lippi, he is that damn good.

[LaVecchiaSignora]

^ Well said thats all that matters...In Lippi we trust! haha

[dukeofdavinci]

Lippi: Take nothing for granted Friday 5 September, 2008

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Italy boss Marcello Lippi has warned his side not to underestimate Cyprus but demands a winning start to the World Cup 2010 qualification campaign.

The world champions are ready to begin the long road to South Africa with a trip to an unheralded Cyprus side.

While Bulgaria and Ireland are seen as the Azzurri's main rivals in Group 8, Lippi isn't taking tomorrow night's test lightly.

“Nobody should underestimate this test,” the experienced tactician insisted at his Press conference.

“If we did it would show that the group has lost its intelligence and respect for opponents.

“However, we will take them on with all the weapons we have in our arsenal and we have lots of them.

“There will be no excuses, even if the pitch is small and difficult. The time for talking is over and we must now deliver three points.”

Lippi concluded by discussing the chances of Alessandro Del Piero starting after an injury scare.

“He worked separately today and we will evaluate the situation tomorrow - he could be ready for Cyprus,” he said.

we trust lippi 100% so are the players, but the palyers still needs to turn it on at the matches and get us there.

[dukeofdavinci]

Bearzot: Lippi, call Balotelli Saturday 6 September, 2008

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1982 World Cup winning Coach Enzo Bearzot has given advice to Marcello Lippi, including why Mario Balotelli should graduate straight to the senior squad.

Italy begin their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign tonight against Cyprus, a side that has only avoided defeat once in six meetings, a 1-1 draw with Bearzot’s side in 1983.


“They had practically flooded the pitch to make it difficult for us,” reveals the veteran tactician.


“We played worse football in other matches, but considering the difference in quality it really was the ultimate humiliation of my career.”


The Azzurri were World Cup holders there too and faltered, so Bearzot has words of advice for Lippi’s men to avoid the same fate.


“It is only human to fall prey to sentimentality, but to achieve results sometimes you have to forget about emotions.


“Lippi does well to put faith in the old guard because it is not right to completely revolutionise a squad, but fortunately Italian football has an excellent youth system and a national Coach should take that into account.”


There was some surprise that the returning boss did not call up more new faces for his second stint at the helm of the Nazionale, although only injury prevented the step up of Giuseppe Rossi and Riccardo Montolivo.


“If you recall, I said Rossi should’ve been in the Euro 2008 squad, as he has exceptional quality,” added Bearzot.


“He reminds me of my own Paolino Rossi and would work well with Luca Toni and Alberto Gilardino.


“Of the other young players, I have to say Balotelli is very interesting. We’ll have to see how he does with the Under-21 side and reacts to sudden fame, because that is a danger with teenagers and it seems to me he has quite a character!”


Balotelli had to wait until he turned 18 in August to gain Italian citizenship because his adoption was never legally recognised.


The Inter striker finally made his debut for the Under-21 side in last night’s 1-1 draw with Greece, scoring the goal with a splendid volley.


“Why shouldn’t Balotelli make the immediate step up to the senior squad? At the very least he could be brought into the side for training and to see how he behaves.”

i agrre wth the man, a few minutes in the 2dn half wont hurt his ratio for gelling wth rest of the lads.

rossi is another whom should be given a start.he is alredy playing 1st team football.but they still have time and games to be included in the future before the final call.

[dukeofdavinci]

Selecao-style Italy without Alex? Saturday 6 September, 2008

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Alessandro Del Piero is still not training and therefore out of tonight’s qualifier with Cyprus, so Marcello Lippi could adopt a Brazil-style system.

The Juventus captain was a doubt to even make the trip out to Cyprus for the opener of the 2010 World Cup games due to a muscular problem in his left thigh.