Team: ITALY

[D-Kin]

Italy's provisional Euro 2008 squad:

Goalkeepers: Buffon, Amelia, De Sanctis

Defenders: Panucci, Cannavaro, Materazzi, Zambrotta, Barzagli, Chiellini, Grosso

Midfielders: Camoranesi, Pirlo, Gattuso, Ambrosini, De Rossi, Perrotta, Aquilani, Montolivo

Strikers: Toni, Di Natale, Quagliarella, Del Piero, Borriello, Cassano

[jec1]

Cassano got the call

[Jager]

I'm actually surprised by the lineup to be honest. I think nobody can really complain, and Don has addressed the "creative" issue.

[Forza_Roma]

Some chances from the 2006 WC squad. I think this squad is more offensive.

1 GK Gianluigi Buffon
2 DF Cristian Zaccardo
3 DF Fabio Grosso
4 MD Daniele De Rossi
5 DF Fabio Cannavaro
6 DF Andrea Barzagli
7 FW Alessandro Del Piero
8 MD Gennaro Gattuso
9 FW Luca Toni
10 FW Francesco Totti
11 FW Alberto Gilardino
12 GK Angelo Peruzzi
13 DF Alessandro Nesta
14 GK Marco Amelia
15 FW Vincenzo Iaquinta
16 MD Mauro Camoranesi
17 MD Simone Barone
18 FW Filippo Inzaghi
19 DF Gianluca Zambrotta
20 MD Simone Perrotta
21 MD Andrea Pirlo
22 DF Massimo Oddo
23 DF Marco Materazzi

[Jager]

He can close down easily enough though, with Ambro, Gattuso and Mauro. I'm not too bothered.

This about Cassano and Del Piero has overshawdowed the players that I wanted there in Aquilani and Montolivo.

Bravo Don.

[hanuma]

It's another really tight, solid squad, the major difference from 2006 being you don't have Lippi to keep things under martial law and Cannavaro and Zambrotta aren't the players they once were. I don't see (m)any plusses since then, so it might be a struggle to do the double.

[Jager]

Originally Posted by hanuma

It's another really tight, solid squad, the major difference from 2006 being you don't have Lippi to keep things under martial law and Cannavaro and Zambrotta aren't the players they once were. I don't see (m)any plusses since then, so it might be a struggle to do the double.

I would never ever predict that we would win. However to say there are no pluses is a little off.

The side is younger now overall and more creative. But more importantly, they have the experience and the ability to go all the way.

Will they? I don't know.

Mind you, they said all those things in the last world cup. If we get out of the group, the Azzurri are going to be a nightmare to play for anyone.

[sinoy1]

I really hope Aquilani and Montolivo stay.But I just cant see Don dropping Ambrosini...Aside from Experience he doesnt offer much more difference then the younger two.That and He'll probably start with Ambro and not De Rossi which I think is a huge mistake.

I questioned Lippi before the world cup and got a face full of humble pie.Lets hope for the same with Donadoni

[D-Kin]

From the WC squad the bolded players won't be here this time:

1 GK Gianluigi Buffon
2 DF Cristian Zaccardo
3 DF Fabio Grosso
4 MD Daniele De Rossi
5 DF Fabio Cannavaro
6 DF Andrea Barzagli
7 FW Alessandro Del Piero
8 MD Gennaro Gattuso
9 FW Luca Toni
10 FW Francesco Totti
11 FW Alberto Gilardino
12 GK Angelo Peruzzi
13 DF Alessandro Nesta
14 GK Marco Amelia
15 FW Vincenzo Iaquinta
16 MD Mauro Camoranesi
17 MD Simone Barone
18 FW Filippo Inzaghi
19 DF Gianluca Zambrotta
20 MD Simone Perrotta
21 MD Andrea Pirlo
22 DF Massimo Oddo
23 DF Marco Materazzi

Iaquinta will be missed, his pace is something the rest of the teams seems to lack at times. The rest I'm not overly concerned about.

[Jager]

I don't mind the team, I think its quite formidable to be honest.

[azzurri]

Hopefully Ambrosini is dropped in midfield for De Rossi or Montolivo.

Since Cassano got the call up, we might as well start him since he is a more natural fit upfront than Camoranesi.

Buffon
Zambrotta Cannavaro Barzagli Grosso
Camo Pirlo De Rossi
Cassano Di Natale
Toni

Camo over Gattuso. Not neccessarily because he had a shit season, but because he looked burnt out as well. Plus Camo can offer us more going forward (creativty, crosses, dribbling), while still constantly tracking back.

I'm not that confident in our fb's. Both have fallen off since the WC, but we dont have anything better atm.

[The Rule]

I'd like to see Italy be adventurous and play Montolivo and Quagliarella instead of Camo/Gattuso and Di Natale.

[azzurri]

Donadel------Liverani------Montolivo

Luckily, Italy play the exact same flat 3 in terms of roles. Pirlo replacing Liverani as playmaker, and Gattuso replacing Donadel as the destroyer. Montolivo would have 2 superior player's next to him playing the same role's in midfield as his teammates at Fiorentina. There is no risk to starting him, and it would free up Pirlo who isn't as effective when closed down (which happens alot when he has Gattuso and Ambrosini next to him since he is the main link with the attack)

Unfortunately, Donadoni has played Ambrosini in the majority of the friendly's. Montolivo is clearly the better choice though.

In the tree formation that Donadoni uses:

Toni
Di Natale Camo

I would chose any1 over Camo. Not because Camo is shit (he's grown into 1 of Juve's best player's), but because Camo attributes are better suited further back in the midfield (good cross, track's back, physical, creative, etc).

[Jager]

I have not figured out why he continues to field Ambro with Gattuso and Pirlo.

Defensively speaking, it might be overkill. Montolivo should be played, as he is the future.

[D-Kin]

Originally Posted by azzurri

I'm not that confident in our fb's. Both have fallen off since the WC, but we dont have anything better atm.

Personally I wouldn't play Grosso. I'd have Zambrotta at LB and Panucci at RB.