Italy Squad announced

Italy squad: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari); Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Juventus), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Davide Santon (Inter), Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan); Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Gaetano D'Agostino (Udinese), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Andrea Pirlo (Milan); Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli) and Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal)

Big news here is that cassano was snubbed again while Gattuso was recalled despite god awful club form.

Also worth reminding people Cannavaro is suspended for our game.

I'd expect a line up like this

Buffon
Zambrotta Chiellini Gamberini Grosso
---------De Rossi Pirlo
Camoranesi ----------Pepe
-------Iaquinta Gilardino

If he springs a surprise and includes Rossi and/or Di Natalie it'll signal trouble for us, they're both superb players.

Otherwise some of their front men are on top form. Camoranesi is playing as well as he ever was and Iaquinta is playing better than I've ever seen him. Pirlo is off form at the moment but still shows sparks of his A game and his at his A game he's the greatest playmaker in the world so I wouldn't discount him.

Positively the defence has been dodgy lately, Grosso and and out of the team, Zambrotta not the player he was. Gamberini a mediocre centre back at best. I think overall we need to go at them, unlike an Italian team led by Luca Toni or Pazzini you can't just hang back and mark their target man out of the game, Iaquinta is very shrewd and clever in tight space, he ripped Bulgaria apart with it. I feel like if we hang back and give them possession they'll punish us.

They aren't the quickest (Rossi aside who hopefully won't be starting) so forcing them to play on the counter and keeping them away from goal is probably our best bet.

De Rossi and Pirlo against Andrews and Whelan in midfield scares me! :eek:

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Originally Posted by harpstilidie

De Rossi and Pirlo against Andrews and Whelan in midfield scares me! :eek:

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Whelan was brilliant in the game in Italy, was best midfielder on the pitch that night

I think Gamberini is quality centre half

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Originally Posted by likealion

I think Gamberini is quality centre half

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Basing that on one game against Liverpool?

Me too....

Gamberini isn't even Fiorentina's best centre half IMO.

micolli isnt even in the squad, yet iaquinta is...

tut tut tut

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Originally Posted by Murfinator

Grosso in and out of the team

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If Grosso is anywhere near as good in the games that I don't see, as in the games that I do, I would consider him the best left back around. It's usually the big games I see him in as well, whether it be a Champions League match with Lyon (I know he's at Juve now) or in a major tournament with Italy. He's big and strong defensively and excellent technically going forward.

I rate him highly as well, don't know why he'd be dropped at any time. But I would be worried about this game, I saw Italy against Bulgaria and they were magnificent. I think they're confident at the moment so I don't think they'll park the bus like many are expecting, they'll go out for the win and hope to seal their place in the world cup with a game to spare, no doubt.

this is probably one of the worst italian teams in decades....the fact that gattuso is still involved says it all,he is well past his best (his best wasn';t even that great). i expect ireland to get a result on saturday against a mediocre italian side, more than likely a 0-0 or 1-1 draw!!

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Originally Posted by Murfinator

Buffon
Zambrotta Chiellini Gamberini Grosso
---------De Rossi Pirlo
Camoranesi ----------Pepe
-------Iaquinta Gilardino

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I would be more than happy to be facing that team.

Buffon is still one of the best in the world, not much you can do there.

Zambrotta has been in horrible form for well over a year now. Grosso not much better.

Chiellini/Gamberini partnership is decent, but I think Doyle/Keane have the quality to find space.

Camoranesi/Pirlo haven't given a hoot about international football since they won the World Cup

Pepe and Gilardino are very meh.

No doubt Italy are the better team, but they can be caught out napping.

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the greatest playmaker in the world

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Was. Xavi ****es all over him from a height these days.

Seeing all those names fills me with dread for Saturday :(

Buffon - Best keeper in the world IMO
Zambrotta - Was once brilliant but has he in absolutely horrendous form for Milan recently.
Chiellini - Very good CB, not on the best of form though.
Gamberini - Meh.
Grosso - Had a great World Cup and has been riding on the reputation he gained for that ever since. Has lost a lot pace and doesn't offer anything like he used to when going forward. Was never the best at defending anyway.
De Rossi - Top class player. One of the best in the world in his position.
Pirlo - Finished.
Camoranesi - Rarely looks bothered when playing for Italy.
Pepe - Meh.
Iaquinta - Can look hopeless sometimes for Italy but has been in good form recently.
Gilardino - A decent goalscorer at club level but I'm not too worried about him.

i think toto di natalie will start he has been on fire for udinese this season.scores goals and creates them,similar to rooney but not as powerful but more guile and technique v underrated.

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Originally Posted by Mr Maroon

Buffon - Best keeper in the world IMO
Zambrotta - Was once brilliant but has he in absolutely horrendous form for Milan recently.
Chiellini - Very good CB, not on the best of form though.
Gamberini - Meh.
Grosso - Had a great World Cup and has been riding on the reputation he gained for that ever since. Has lost a lot pace and doesn't offer anything like he used to when going forward. Was never the best at defending anyway.
De Rossi - Top class player. One of the best in the world in his position.
Pirlo - Finished.
Camoranesi - Rarely looks bothered when playing for Italy.
Pepe - Meh.
Iaquinta - Can look hopeless sometimes for Italy but has been in good form recently.
Gilardino - A decent goalscorer at club level but I'm not too worried about him.

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Careful lads. Lippi might print this stuff out and stick it on the wall of the Italian dressing room for motivation.

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Originally Posted by Mr Maroon

Buffon - Best keeper in the world IMO
Zambrotta - Was once brilliant but has he in absolutely horrendous form for Milan recently.
Chiellini - Very good CB, not on the best of form though.
Gamberini - Meh.
Grosso - Had a great World Cup and has been riding on the reputation he gained for that ever since. Has lost a lot pace and doesn't offer anything like he used to when going forward. Was never the best at defending anyway.
De Rossi - Top class player. One of the best in the world in his position.
Pirlo - Finished.
Camoranesi - Rarely looks bothered when playing for Italy.
Pepe - Meh.
Iaquinta - Can look hopeless sometimes for Italy but has been in good form recently.
Gilardino - A decent goalscorer at club level but I'm not too worried about him.

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:rolleyes: He's only 30! He still has it.

I still think if Bulgaria don't win, this will be Germany-Austria 82 all over again.

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Originally Posted by SuperDave

I still think if Bulgaria don't win, this will be Germany-Austria 82 all over again.

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But if Bulgaria don't win, Ireland may as well go for it as a playoff spot is more or less assured, right?

I agree about Pirlo. Was excellent against Bulgaria. Only time I've seen him recently though but I find it hard to believe he's finished.

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Originally Posted by SuperDave

:rolleyes: He's only 30! He still has it.

I still think if Bulgaria don't win, this will be Germany-Austria 82 all over again.

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Denmark - Sweden Euro 2004
Ireland - Holland Italia '90