C2: Italy 1 - 1 Romania - 13/06/08

[Forza_Roma]

Maybe he's talking about Materazzi...with his calf problem.

[Jager]

Rest assurred, if they win with the lineup against Romania, you will see the same one against France.

Its obvious that Don has an ego, and he doesn't want to "bruise" it.

[Trim]

Model Elena Santarelli has promised she will get nude in MTV if Italy beat Romania.

[dukeofdavinci]

Reports suggest that Del Piero will start against Romania

if he plays that means we need at least 2 or more goals by half time soo that we could sub him say in min 60/70.we cant let him get run down for a whole match when we have a much tougher 3rd game.this way we can still have our impact player for the next game.

Rest players? So he is only making changes to rest players that he plans on playing again?

if he plans to go all out "milan" again then thats just stupid of him.

DDR----Pirlo----Aquilani
-------Perrotta
--Toni---------Cassano

is one to consider and would make Perrotta play his best.Also would be great for Balance.

now that might work at roma, but not at this games.we can have perotta doing another "toni" out there.it will be a waste of the extra men.let him be a cm/dm the least he can do is just run at players and disrupt their stride.

wth del peiro i hope toni will do more this time since it seems he is the only player in dons line up assured a place.

changing captains shows ppl of how insecure don is not him as boss.beside what buffn said is correct and history is the witness to what he said.does 25 years rings a bell to don.

[Jager]

I think you will see the same lineup, except Cassano will start with Grosso, and Chiellini to replace the injured Matrix.

The formation was not wrong, it works. The players were.

[sinoy1]

Originally Posted by dukeofdavinci

if he plays that means we need at least 2 or more goals by half time soo that we could sub him say in min 60/70.we cant let him get run down for a whole match when we have a much tougher 3rd game.this way we can still have our impact player for the next game.



if he plans to go all out "milan" again then thats just stupid of him.



now that might work at roma, but not at this games.we can have perotta doing another "toni" out there.it will be a waste of the extra men.let him be a cm/dm the least he can do is just run at players and disrupt their stride.

wth del peiro i hope toni will do more this time since it seems he is the only player in dons line up assured a place.

changing captains shows ppl of how insecure don is not him as boss.beside what buffn said is correct and history is the witness to what he said.does 25 years rings a bell to don.

In terms of Balance It would work.Perrotta's cover for Pirlo and DDR and Alberto to cover for the fullback's runs.Sure we can field an all attacking line up but Perrotta was used well in the world cup for a reason.thats Balance.Shape.And late runs.He missed but offers so much more on the defensive cover.

I dont want him to play especially with the last season he had....but what other choice do we have.we need another marathon man who will lap the field 20 times before the first 10 min.

realistically i see him playing Ambrosini again...I dont know why....Del Piero in De Rossi in Chiellini in and Cassano in.Those are your 4 changes.Or Perrotta for Ambrosini....retarded.

[Trim]

Italy need to show they can come back

After their 0-3 debacle in their opener against Holland, Friday's Group game against Romania is a do-or-die affair. Another defeat, and they're out.

With that in mind, coach Roberto Donadoni is under pressure from the Italian sports press to make change the line-up and the tactics of what they call his "band of pensioners".

Romanian nightmare

"We are worried", says the headline in Tuttosport: "The Romanians could be a nightmare for us." A second defeat would end all title hopes and plunge fans - the Tifosi - into deep depression.

"I continue to have real trust in the team. They will react," says Donadoni. He faces heavy criticism at home and will have his contract extended for two years only if Italy reach the semi-finals. He will bring in new players and will revert to the traditional 4-4-2 system.

Del Piero to the rescue

Donadoni's recuer, often written off for the national team, could be veteran Alessandro Del Piero. His 21 goals last season made him top scorer in Serie A, He'll join Bundesliga top scorer Luca Toni up front and will take on the captaincy in place of the injured Fabio Cannavaro.

"Del Piero could be Donadoni's trump card", writes Corriere dello Sport. Antonio Cassano and Daniele de Rossi are also set to be in the starting line-up bringing fresh blood to the Italian team. With an average age of of 31, the Blues were simply unable to cope with the fast-paced Dutch in the opening match.

Fire in their bellies

Bayern striker Luca Toni believes going into the game with fire in their bellies matters more than changed tactics or a new line-up. "We are the best team in the world and World Cup holders. We're angry and that anger will help us against Romania. We've lost one battle, but not the war. Now we need to show that Italy are strong and united."

They believe history is on their side. In the 1994 World Cup, they strolled to a 1-0 defeat against Ireland but fought through to the final. Donadoni, a playing member of that squad promises: "Back then, we worked hard, learned from mistakes and struck back. We want to do that again."

Obtacle

But the Romanians are not looking to give the Italians an easy work-out. After holding France to a goalless draw, the Romanians believe they have a good chance against the crisis-riven World Cup holders. "Italy absolutely need to win. That will give us the chance to pose much more of a threat up front. It's going to be hell on earth for the Italians," says Cristian Chivu, who plays for Inter Milan.

Romania's other Serie A player Adrian Mutu (AC Florence) had few openings in the game against France. He says: "I'm feeling better. The Italians will fear me." Coach Victor Piturca has picked an unchanged side to start the game. Stuttgart's Ciprian Marica is out due to concussion.

The expected line-ups:

Italy: 1 Buffon - 19 Zambrotta, 2 Panucci (4 Chiellini), 6 Barzagli, 3 Grosso - 16 Camoranesi, 10 De Rossi, 21 Pirlo, 19 Cassano (20 Perrotta) - 7 Del Piero, 9 Toni

Romania: 1 Lobont - 2 Contra, 4 Tamas, 15 Goian, 3 Rat - 16 Nicolita, 11 Cocis, 6 Radoi, 5 Chivu - 10 Mutu - 21 Daniel Niculae

Referee: Tom Henning Övrebö (Norway)

Bundesliga - Die offizielle Webseite

[LaVecchiaSignora]

still no alberto...how excited am i though...i went into work today and ended up getting the day off so now i get to stay home and watch the match im pretty happy

[Forza_Roma]

I don't trust those lineups...i'll wait until 45 minutes before the match and see the Uefa lineup on their site. Italy needs a big win here...

Forza Italia!!!!!!!!

[sinoy1]

it looks like Gazzetta has

-----------------------Buffon

----Zambrotta----Panucci--Chiellini----Grosso

----Camoranesi----De Rossi--Pirlo
--------------------------------------------Perrotta

-------------------Toni----Del Piero

still no Aquilani.....fun fun fun.Whats the difference here?Perrotta for Ambrosini and Del Piero for a speedy Di Natale....Whose up for a boring slow match. *raises hand*

Hopefully Cassano starts and Del Piero is used as a super sub again.I find Del Piero is better when coming off the bench for the Azzuri and changing the game that way.

[Forza_Roma]

Gazzetta ALWAYS make one or two wrong selections...let's wait for Uefa's lineup.

[acitalianman13]

buffon panucci grosso chiellini del piero(c) toni de rossi camoranesi zambrotta perrotta pirlo.. got it from uefa .com so its official

[Oliver_Kahn]

Not quite sure about the formation, but this is the official starting line-up:

............................Buffon
Zambrotta....Panucci...Chiellini....Grosso
........de Rossi........Pirlo.......Perrotta
............Camoranesi....Del Piero
.............................TONI

[D-Kin]

Matrix is ready for crunch match Friday 13 June, 2008

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Italy stopper Marco Materazzi is mentally prepared for this evening’s pivotal Group C clash against Romania, even if he doesn’t make the starting 11.

It’s a crucial night for the Azzurri, who are on the brink of immediate elimination from Euro 2008 after a 3-0 defeat against Holland.

Roberto Donadoni’s men must beat Romania, who held France in their first game, in Zurich and the Matrix believes that the world champions are up to the task.

“It will be crunch time in Zurich and we have to show the strength of this group by bouncing back after a horrific start,” the Inter defender’s blog reads.

“We are strong enough to rise above all the pressure that is on us and Romania’s warnings have only served to make us stronger.”

Materazzi is unlikely to start the game this evening after his uncertain performance against Holland and Juventus’ Giorgio Chiellini is ready to step in.

“It doesn’t matter who plays against them,” Materazzi insisted. “What does matter is that the squad and the fans all pull together so that we can win.”

Italy fans have poured into Zurich this afternoon and easily outnumber their Romanian counterparts.

There promises to be an electric atmosphere at the Letzigrund Stadion and the whole of Italy will be holding its breath.

channel4.com - Football Italia

[Trim]

Confirmed official starting line-ups:

Italy:

9 Toni
7 Del Piero (C) - 20 Perrotta - 16 Camoranesi
10 De Rossi - 21 Pirlo
3 Grosso - 4 Chiellini - 2 Panucci - 19 Zambrotta
1 Buffon

Romania:

10 Mutu - 21 Niculae
5 Chivu (C) - 8 Condrea - 7 Petre
6 Radoi
3 Rat - 15 Goian - 4 Tamas - 2 Contra
1 Lobont

euro2008.uefa.com - Tournament - Matches