Azzurri - Path to Brazil 2014

Sport
61

A fantastic volley by a Dane makes it 2-1.

62

Mario diverts a clipped ball over the top from Pirlo into the net.

63

Oh yeah, we had Osvaldo sent off straight after half time. I must have missed that, Osvaldo really has problems controlling his temperament.

64

When you go down to ten men, and your backs are to the wall, you need your reliable and dependable players to step up for you. And Balotelli stood up and scored - a manager’s dream.

65

Destro came on for Balotelli there five minutes ago. He is running around and throwing Danish defenders all over the shop, like a young Christian Vieri.

66

3-1 FT. We started really sluggishly and were lucky not to find ourselves a goal behind but once we took the lead we looked in control of proceedings, a good results and it leaves us in a dominant position in this group.

67

Italy are now unbeaten in their last 34 World Cup or Euro qualifiers, winning 27 times and drawing seven.

I believe 2 of them 7 draws were against Ireland

68

Thats incredible.I’d say the dutch have a great record as well.

Edit the Dutch have won 21 out of their last 22 qualifying games for Euro’s/World Cup, losing only once.

69

That’s a really good record - we are a very tough team to beat. Only for fatigue we would have been European champions as well. I think we’re in a good position to challenge in Brazil 2014, the only problem is Colombia are looking unstoppable at present.

70
<p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;]<strong>Gk:</strong> Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli), Marchetti (Lazio), Sirigu (Paris St. Germain); <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;]D: Abate (Milan), Astori (Cagliari), Barzagli (Juventus), Gastaldello (Sampdoria), Peluso (Juventus), Ranocchia (Inter), Santon (Newcastle); <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;]<strong>M:</strong> Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Diamanti (Bologna), Florenzi (Roma), Giaccherini (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Nocerino (Milan), Pirlo (Juventus), Verratti (Pars St. Germain); <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;]F: Balotelli (Milan), El Shaarawy (Milan), Gilardino (Bologna), Giovinco (Juventus), Osvaldo (Roma) <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;] <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;]I'm a bit disappointed with this squad, Gilardino is having a decent season but he should be nowhere near the squad. Giovinco has been shocking this year as well. Pazzini has been in good form lately and is overlooked. Santon can't even get in the u-21 squad these days and is called up. I don't think Nocerino, Florenzi and Giaccherini are deserving of call-ups either - same applies to Gasteldello. <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;] <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;]Poli, Lodi, Cigarini and Aquilani are all more deserving of calls in midfield. Marco Motta, De Ceglie, Criscito, Bocchetti and De Sciglio all much more deserving in defence and the likes of Pazzini, Paloschi and Sau deserved chances in attack.
71

A Fabio Borini goal gave the u-21’s a 1-0 win over Germany.

<p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;]<strong>Italy 1-0 Germany</strong> <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;]Scorers: Borini 59 (I) <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;]<strong>Italy <span>U21</span>: </strong><span>Bardi</span>; <span>Donati</span>, <span>Caldirola</span>, <span>Bianchetti</span> (<span>Romagnoli</span> 81), <span>Biraghi</span>;<span>Sansone</span> (<span>Saponara</span> 56), Rossi, <span>Crimi</span>, <span>Insigne</span> (<span>Frascatore</span> 91); <span>Borini</span> (<span>Paloschi</span>68), Immobile (<span>Longo</span> 77) <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;]Germany U21: Leno (Trapp 46); Jung (Jantschke 46), Ostrzolek (Sorg 80), Sobiech, Kirohoff; Vogt (Rudiger 72), Arslan (Koch 67), Rode (Beister 46); Esswein, Hermann (Leitner 46), Polter <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;] <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;] <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;]The big boys are in action in Holland tonight: <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;] <p style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-family:verdana, arial;font-size:12px;] <p><strong>Holland: </strong><span>Krul</span>; <span>Janmaat</span>, De <span>Vrijm</span>, Martins <span>Indi</span>, Blind; <span>Strootman</span>, Maher,<span>Clasie</span>; Lens, Van <span>Persie</span>, Ola John</p> <p><strong>Holland bench: </strong><span>Vermeer</span>, <span>Mathijsen</span>, <span>Vlaar</span>, Van <span>Rhijn</span>, Van <span>Ginkel</span>, Guzman,<span>Robben</span>, <span>Kuyt</span>, <span>Vorm</span></p> <p><strong>Italy: </strong><span>Buffon</span>; Abate, <span>Barzagli</span>, <span>Astori</span>, <span>Santon</span>; De Rossi, <span>Pirlo</span>, <span>Montolivo</span>;<span>Candreva</span>, <span>Balotelli</span>, El <span>Shaarawy</span></p> <p><strong>Italy bench: </strong>De <span>Sanctis</span>, <span>Peluso</span>, <span>Ranocchia</span>, <span>Gastaldello</span>, <span>Nocerino</span>, <span>Verratti</span>,<span>Florenzi</span>, <span>Giaccherini</span>, <span>Diamanti</span>, <span>Osvaldo</span>, <span>Gilardino</span>, <span>Sirigu</span>, <span>Marchetti</span></p>
72

Bomber, can you keep an eye on Kevin Strootman and report back as to how he gets on

73

I can and I will.

74

[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Goalkeepers: [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Gianluigi[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Buffon[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] ([/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Juventus[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]), Morgan De [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Sanctis[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] (Napoli), Federico [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Marchetti[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] ([/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Lazio[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]), Salvatore [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Sirigu[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] (Paris Saint [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Germain[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]);[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Defenders: [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Ignazio[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] Abate (Milan), Luca [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Antonelli[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] (Genoa), [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Davide[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Astori[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px]FONT=verdana, Andrea [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Barzagli[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] ([/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Juventus[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]), Leonardo [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Bonucci[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] ([/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Juventus[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]), Giorgio[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Chiellini[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] ([/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Juventus[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]), [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Mattia[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] De [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Sciglio[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] (Milan), Christian [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Maggio[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] (Napoli), Andrea [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Ranocchia[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] (Inter);[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Midfielders: [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Antonio [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Candreva[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] ([/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Lazio[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]), [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Alessio[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Cerci[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] (Torino), [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Daniele[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Diamanti[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] (Bologna), [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Emanuele[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Giaccherini[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px]FONT=verdana, Claudio [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Marchisio[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] ([/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Juventus[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]), [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Riccardo[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Montolivo[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] (Milan), Andrea[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Pirlo[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] ([/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Juventus[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]), Andrea [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Poli[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] ([/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Sampdoria[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]);[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Forwards: [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Mario [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Balotelli[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] (Milan), Stephan El [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Shaarawy[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] (Milan), Alberto[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Gilardino[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] (Bologna), Sebastian [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Giovinco[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana] ([/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Juventus[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]), Pablo Daniel [/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Osvaldo[/FONT][/SIZE][SIZE=12px]FONT=verdana[/FONT][/SIZE]

[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Quite happy with that squad. Good to see Antonelli and De Sciglio get much deserved call-ups and Cerci has also had a very solid showing with Torino. Poli merits his selection as well. I’m very disappointed with the selections in attack however. Osvaldo and Giovinco should be nowhere near the squad given their current form and the fact they have lost their places at club level, Gilardino should not really be considered at this stage as well. Cassano continues to be omitted while Rossi, Pazzini and Destro are out injured. Sau and Matri are two players who deserved a chance as they have been playing very well of late. Another player who really should not have much of a future in the national team is Christian Maggio.[/FONT][/SIZE]

75

Prandelli has said he could yet pick Totti for the 2014 World Cup. :clap:

76

It would be impossible to leave him out if his current form continues

77

78

We kick off against Brazil shortly, anyone know if this is been televised?

79

Yes.

80

Marchisio misses out with a fever so Giaccherini comes in, De Sciglio makes his bow and Osvaldo partners Balotelli up front. Chiellini picked up an ankle injury so doesn’t start.

[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Italy: Buffon; Maggio, Bonucci, Barzagli, De Sciglio; De Rossi, Pirlo, Montolivo;Giaccherini; Balotelli, Osvaldo[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=12px][FONT=verdana]Brazil: Julio Cesar; Dani Alves, Dante, David Luiz, Filipe Luis; Fernando,Hernanes, Oscar; Hulk, Fred, Neymar[/FONT][/SIZE]