Magical pass from Diamanti there, hooking the ball round his shoulder to find Candreva bombing the right. Osvaldo suantering round the place and not making much of an effort, twice we have got in down the right now and he has made no effort to attack the ball in the box.
Lovely raking 40 yard pass over the top from Motta picks out Osvaldo who cuts inside the Danish defender and expertly finishes into the bottom right hand corner.
1-0 Italy. We have been in cruise control form the very first minute here.
Christ, Agger was absolutely abysmal for that Osvaldo goal.
1-1 through Bendtner on the stroke of half time.
Eriksen very unlucky to see an excellent free come back off the post.
Italy seem content to see this one out as a draw at the moment and not playing with the verve they were earlier on in the game.
Diamanti has been a big disappointment, he’s has been losing his balance all night and looking for the soft frees which has killed a couple of counters for us. I’d like to see Cerci replace him.
Bendtner with a great header at the back post gives the Danes the lead.
Fantastic display so far from our u-21’s in Belgium, unlucky not to be more than the one goal up.
This is a huge game as Belgium beat us 3-1 in Italy in the opening group match. On-loan Roma midfielder Federico Viviani has ran the show, I think he will be a big player for us next season - he really looks to have filled out physically.
An amazing save by Bardi.
Belotti up front looks like the pick of this Italian side, plays with real intelligence and composure and is physically strong and mobile, only 19 as well.
The outstanding Belotti is replaced by Samuel Longo for the final 15 minutes.
A fantastic result and we were full value for it.
I’m very happy for Luigi Di Biagio who is a great guy. I wasn’t expecting this at all which makes it all the nicer, only Biraghi, Bianchetti and Biraghi are really available from the squad we had this summer and I wasn’t really familiar with a lot of the names.
Players who really impressed me tonight were Bardi, Bianchetti, Biraghi, Baselli, Viviani and Belotti.
Biraghi is possibly the best left back Italy has produced since Facchetti. We are sorted for the full back positions for the next ten years with De Sciglio and Biraghi. Belotti also looks like a wonerful footballer.
Our failure to win one of our last two games now means that we will not be in the top seeds for the World Cup.
The top seeds will be:
Brazil
Spain
Germany
Argentina
Belgium
Colombia
Uruguay**
Switzerland
**Providing they win their playoff.
I’ve been really disappointed with Prandelli since the Euros. He has made some bizarre calls and his favouritism to players like Giaccherini, Astori, Gilardino, Aquilani, Osvaldo and Giovinco is growing frustrating at this stage.
He is also burning Pirlo out by playing him in games he doesn’t need to be used in. We are conceding goals at an alarming rate and he is simply not utilising the best attacking players available to him. Cerci is currently the leading scorer in Serie A and we did not see him gain an opportunity in two games where there was ample opportunity to try new things out. Marchisio’s lack of form is a continuing worry, he hasn’t played well for over a year now and should be left behind if he doesn’t improve. Bonaventura is a player who really deserves a chance. I’m also extremely disappointed to see the continued absence of Criscito who is the best left back available to Italy by a great distance.
Our inability to get in the top seeds now puts us in a dangerous position. We are notoriously slow starters at major competitions and if we are given a tough group then I’d worry for us.
As of now this would be my following squad for Brazil:
Buffon
Marchetti
Sirigu
Abate
De Sciglio
Bonucci
Barzagli
Chiellini
Ranocchia
Criscito
Pirlo
Verratti
De Rossi
Montoliivo
Florenzi
Candreva
Totti
Cerci
Balotelli
Cassano
Rossi
Insigne
Osvaldo **
** Destro and Pazzini would automatically usurp Osvaldo if they are fit and in decent form at the time.
I expect Prandelli will pick a squad nowhere near that - particularly in attack.
Nobody gives a fuck Totti. That’s why you’ve been talking to yourself for page after page.
There are over 100 replies in this thread and over 1000 views. This thread is a major attraction because people want to read the musings of a respected Azzurri aficionado called Rudi.
love this thread
its good that there is so much respect for the Azzurri and Rudi that people arent ruining it with needless posts
Keep up the good work mate
FACCI SOGNARE
Squad I would like to see picked for Brazil as of now:
Goalkeepers:
Buffon
Marchetti
Sirigu
Defenders:
Abate
Maggio
Barzagli
Bonucci
Chiellini
Ranocchia
De Sciglio
D’Ambrosio
Midfielders:
Pirlo
De Rossi
Montolivo
Verratti
Candreva
Florenzi
Attackers:
Balotelli
Rossi
Cassano
Cerci
Totti
Insigne
5 Juventus players
4 Milan players
3 Roma players
2 Lazio players
2 Torino players
2 PSG players
2 Napoli players
1 Parma player
1 Fiorentina player
1 Inter player
Parolo and Mimmo Criscito have been included in the latest squad. Disappointed there was no room for Cassano or Danilo D’Ambrosio.
Team named for the game against Germany tomorrow.
Buffon
Abate
Barzagli
Bonucci
Criscito
Marhcisio
Pirlo
Motta
Montolivo
Balotelli
Osvaldo
Very worried about the amount of out-of-form players named in that line-up. Rossi misses out with tonsillitis but I really feel Cerci, Insigne and Parolo deserve starts. Nice to have Criscito back in the squad but there are other players who are worthy of making the squad who aren’t there - D’Ambrosio, Bonaventura, Cassano, Sau - while you have the usual suspects like Gilardino, Osvaldo and Giaccherini all keeping their places.
Our u-21s lost in Serbia tonight. The Serbian side had a total of over 40 senior international caps between them compared to the 0 the Italian team had. Nastasic started in defence for them.
Very tough group for Italy but a win at home to Serbia should swing it around for them.