Looks to be a really strong line-up and should be a very interesting prelude to the 2014 World Cup.
Brazil, Uruguay, Spain, Italy, Mexico and Japan all confirmed with an African representative still to be decided and some minnows from Oceania.
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Full squad: Goalkeepers: Agazzi (Cagliari), Buffon (Juventus), Marchetti (Lazio), Sirigu (Paris St. Germain);[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Defenders: Abate (Milan), Antonelli (Genoa), Astori (Cagliari), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), De Sciglio (Milan), Maggio (Napoli), Ogbonna (Torino), Ranocchia (Inter);[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Bonaventura (Atalanta), Candreva (Lazio), Cerci (Torino), De Rossi (Roma), Diamanti (Bologna), Giaccherini (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Pirlo (Juventus), Poli (Sampdoria);[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Attackers: Balotelli (Milan), El Shaarawy (Milan), Gilardino (Bologna), Giovinco (Juventus), Osvaldo (Roma), Sau (Cagliari).[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]There will be eight players cut from the this list. I must say that I’m very disappointed not to see Pazzini there and the likes of Gilardino and Giovinco making the squad. I’ve also very much fallen out of love with Osvaldo lately so the attack looks very light to me. I think Sau deserves his place and hope he makes the cut. Defence is pretty much as expected and it will be one of Ranocchia, Ogbonna and Astori who will take the final place. Good to see Poli, Bonaventura and Aquilani have been rewarded with good seasons. I think Lodi also deserves a chance at this stage but it’s unlikely he will break in at this stage of his career.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Prandelli’s loyalty to Giaccherini, Giovinco and Gilardino is beginning to irk me, they have done nothing to deserve a place on there.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Hopefully the attack looks a lot different next year with the likes of Destro, Insigne and Borini going away with the u-21’s and the possibility of Cassano coming back into the fold. Rossi has also been on the bench for Fiorentina lately so if we have all those players available there should be no problem.[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Goalkeepers: [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Victor Valdes Barcelona[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Jose Manuel Reina Liverpool[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Iker Casillas Real Madrid[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Defenders: [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Gerard Pique Barcelona[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Sergio Ramos Real Madrid[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Raul Albiol Real Madrid[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Cesar Azpilicueta Chelsea[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Jordi Alba Barcelona[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Alvaro Arbeloa Real Madrid[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Nacho Monreal Arsenal[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Midfielders [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Andres Iniesta Barcelona[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Cesc Fabregas Barcelona[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Sergio Busquets Barcelona[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Santi Cazorla Arsenal[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Xavi Barcelona[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Xabi Alonso Real Madrid[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Javi Garcia Manchester City[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Benat Betis[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Javi Martinez Bayern Munich[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Attackers: [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]David Villa Barcelona[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Jesus Navas Sevilla[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]David Silva Manchester City[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Fernando Torres Chelsea[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Pedro Barcelona[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Juan Mata Chelsea[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Roberto Soldado Valencia[/FONT][/SIZE]
Osvaldo has been dropped from the Italian squad for insulting Andreazzoli after the Coppa final. He is some fucking basket case.
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Marchetti (Lazio), Sirigu (Paris St. Germain)[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Defenders: Abate (Milan), Astori (Cagliari), Barzagli (Juventus), Bonucci (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), De Sciglio (Milan), Maggio (Napoli)[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Midfielders: Aquilani (Fiorentina), Candreva (Lazio), Cerci (Torino), De Rossi (Roma), Diamanti (Bologna), Giaccherini (Juventus), Marchisio (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Pirlo (Juventus)[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Forwards: Balotelli (Milan), El Shaarawy (Milan), Gilardino (Bologna), Giovinco (Juventus)[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Very surprised to see Astori ahead of both Ranocchia and Ogbonna.[/FONT][/SIZE]
WTF is Tahiti doing at this?
Making up the numbers.
They’re part of the confederation
Italy suffered an embarrassing result in the build up to this as they drew 2-2 with Haiti. Apparently Astori had a shocker, as readers of my posts will know I do not rate him. Prandelli has made some bizarre choices lately. I have also expressed my annoyance at the continued selection of the likes of Giacherrini, Giovinco and Gilardino in attack as they are well down the list of the best players available to us - well down the list.
I’m also annoyed at the left back conundrum, why does he persist with Chiellini there? He is by far the best centre back available to Italy and right now I’d only rate Thiago Silva as better than him in the world. He called up Astori who wouldn’t be in the top 10 Italian centre backs instead of Ogbonna who is a better centre back than Astori and much more comfortable at left back than Chiellini. Fair enough we have Criscito and Antonelli out injured but there are other options like Pasqual and Peluso.
Hopefully Prandelli has learned by the time the World Cup comes around. Cassano has to be brought back in, hopefully Rossi regains form and fitness, Insigne keeps progressing and one of Immobile/Destro/Gabbiadini explodes this season. But even if that happens I’d imagine we would still be likely to see Gilardino and Giovinco on that plane to Brazil. I really like Prandelli but I’m little worried by recent performances and even more by his selections.
Hopefully Haiti can build on that result
They will have all the other football nations quaking in their boots.
Educating Italy as it turns out. Who’d a thunk it.
??
Hmmmm, lets pretend this didn’t happen shall we?
[quote=“myboyblue, post: 785892, member: 180”]Hmmmm, lets pretend this didn’t happen shall we?
[/quote]
I’ve no idea what’s going on Ted
Ah I see what Blue did here, the clown
I can’t believe there’s been a post deletion. I can’t believe it.
Il Bomber Destro what’s the story with Rannocchia? Would he not be considered to be better than Astori etc?
The integrity of the forum has been compromised in a big way