Gli Azzurri - La Nazionale, Italy National Football Team

MilanMB said:

Does anyone remember confederations cup 1997?

Italy vs. Brazil - game ended 3-3. It's one of the best games I've ever seen.

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seveners said:

It was Turnoi De France.

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MilanMB said:

Does anyone remember confederations cup 1997?

Italy vs. Brazil - game ended 3-3. It's one of the best games I've ever seen.

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MilanMB said:

yeah it was something "pre-wc 98". when did they start calling it confed cup then? or am i totally mixing things here?

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nuttela said:

didn't watch a single match of the last confed cup.

highlights only... i don't wake up for the fake world cup

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Anguisette said:

I'm proud of this Italy and I didn't expect them to make it out of the group before the first match. I really hope Prandelli doesn't resign. Apart from subbing Monty for T. Motta he hasn't put a foot wrong.

Spain is on another planet right now.

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SpartanMilan said:

They made it further than I thought they would. and played well up until the final.

Hopefully Italy will use qualifiers and the ConFed cup to integrate some fresh blood into the NT

The next WC will likely be the last tournament for Buffon and Pirlo, and possibly Cassano, De Rossi, etc.

On the plus side, Italy have a number of younger players that have shown some promise that should hopefully get a chance to show what they can do in Serie A and with the NT. They include-

GK-
Sirigu
Viviano
Consigli

Def-
Astori
Acerbi
Ogbonna
Bocchetti
Romagnoli
Camporesi
De Sciglio
Faraone

Mid-
Poli
Cigarini
Marrone
Verratti
Schelleto

Forward-
Borrini
Destro
El Sha
Immobile
Gabbiadini

all of whom have shown something, and can hopefully get worked in.

Guessing the 2014 WC lineup-

-------------Buffon--------------
--Abate--Astori--Cheillini--Criscito--
---De Rossi---Pirlo---Marchisio-------
-------------El Shaarawy------------
---------Rossi------------Balotelli------

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President Joey said:

Insigne?

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acerвιc wιт;1402282 said:

We have a host of wonderful players coming through the junior ranks. Within the next 6-10 years, Italy could potentially build an irrevocable force of a team -- given that we continue to lay the foundations and have the desire, determination and eagerness to continue Prandelli's vision.

So proud of Gli Azzurri!... A new page has been turned in our history!

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SpartanMilan said:

he could certainly be a piece as well



the big issue is that those players need to be developed. the last generation of Italians could have been great as well (Gilla, Rosina, Brighi, etc) but didnt reach there potential in large part due to poor development.

those young players need to get game time and Italy needs to figure out a reserve system so they can get playing time against grown men, plus it will improve the quality of Serie A by improving the backups

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MilanMB said:

Does anyone remember confederations cup 1997?

Italy vs. Brazil - game ended 3-3. It's one of the best games I've ever seen.

Click to expand...

Calcio Debate: Azzurri Set For Golden Age?
May 30. 2008
Last night the Italy Under-21 side won the Toulon Tournament after beating Chile 1-0 in the final. Carlo Garganese believes that a new golden generation of Italian youngsters are coming through…

Having watched every one of the Azzurrini’s games during the 2008 Toulon Tournament in France, I can safely say that the future looks very bright for the senior Italy national team.

Some question marks have been raised about Roberto Donadoni’s 23 men that will travel to Euro 2008. The squad is in fact the oldest of all 16 teams participating, with an average age of 29.57. Eight of the first XI are over the age of 30, including the entire back five, Gianluigi Buffon included. While at Euro 2008, this experience, as it was in Germany at 2006, could be invaluable, it is quite clear that much of this team will have to be broken up and rebuilt come South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014.

Fortunately, the youngsters coming through are possibly the best that Italy have had in years. Pierluigi Casiraghi’s Under-21s were hugely impressive in winning the Toulon Tournament, with most of the squad making a big impact.

Empoli’s Davide Bassi was commanding throughout the festival, and was named goalkeeper of the tournament. Marco Motta and Lorenzo De Silvestri both suggested that they have Azzurri futures ahead of them by impressing in the full back positions, while the likes of Andrea Coda, Lino Marzorati and Salvatore Bocchetti were mean in defence. All in all the Azzurrini conceded just one goal in five games and 450 minutes of football – pretty remarkable stuff.

The strength of depth that the Azzurini had at their disposal was apparent in midfield as Casiraghi rotated in almost every game, with Antonio Nocerino, Daniele Galloppa, Luca Cigarini, Daniele Dessena, Claudio Marchisio, Ignazio Abate, Tiberio Guarente, and Antonio Candreva all impressing at various times. Nocerino, as the captain, showed real leadership qualities throughout, displaying the kind of form that won so many admirers in the first half of the season for Juventus. Parma duo Cigarini and Dessena will surely not stay in Serie B next season, and the latter provided a brilliant pass for Pablo Osvaldo’s winner in the final. Marchisio scored a contender for goal of the tournament with a stunning left foot half volley from 30 yards against Turkey.

Candreva displayed all the confidence in the world by executing a Francesco Totti/ Antonin Panenka-like spoon penalty in the shootout against Japan. Guarente meanwhile hit the post in the final after lobbing the Chilean goalkeeper from the half way line. Finally of course there is winger Abate, co-owned by Milan, and a quite explosive talent, with blistering pace and quick movements. Against Japan, the 21-year-old went on a solo run, beating three men and running the whole length of the field, before firing wide.

And so on to the forward positions. First of all lets remove Graziano Pelle from the equation, who is perhaps the worst player I have ever seen represent Italy at any level of football. Indeed this Under-21 side reminded me of the Brazil 1982 World Cup team, who had a host of legends such as Zico, Falcao and Socrates, but were unfortunately left down by a lumbering frontman called Serginho, who was completely out of his depth.

Pablo Osvaldo had a generally quiet tournament until he exploded into life in the final, scoring the winner in a man-of-the-match performance. The 22-year-old’s bicycle kick on the final day of the season that booked Fiorentina’s place in the Champions League is a sign of his potential. Davide Lanzafame certainly showed that with the right training and guidance he can become a really exciting player in the years to come. The comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo may be a little far fetched, but he certainly shares some of the explosive and exaggerated movements of the Manchester United man.

Finally of course there is Sebastian Giovinco, named player of the tournament after two goals, two assists and a host of brilliant displays. So naturally gifted, Giovinco has the potential to be one of the best players in the world in the years to come, and he is the ‘great hope’ for both club-and country.

Just how bright Italy’s future really is, can be demonstrated fully by the fact that this Azzurrini side that triumphed at Toulon was actually missing more than half of its first team players.

Villarreal’s Giuseppe Rossi and Cagliari’s Robert Acquafresca are the first choice strike force, and will be so at this summer’s Olympics Games. The usual centre back partnership is Domenico Criscito regarded by some as the eventual heir to Fabio Cannavaro, and Napoli’s Fabiano Santacroce, described by many as the next defensive phenomenon and the “new Alessandro Nesta”. Paolo De Ceglie, co-owned by Juventus, often plays at left back, and once again is another explosive prospect who can roar up-and-down the flank.

Then of course in midfield you have Riccardo Montolivo, who will be at the Olympics, having just missed out on a place at Euro 2008. One must also not forget the incredibly gifted Andrea Russotto of Treviso, who even managed to outshine Giovinco in a number of Under-21 games towards the end of 2007. Russotto has been described by some as the “new Roberto Baggio”.

Those who graduated from the Under-21s last season are also showing great promise. Michele Canini of Cagliari had a superb end to Serie A season, while Alessandro Rosina just needs to join a big club before his sky-high potential can be fulfilled. Giorgio Chiellini and Alberto Aquilani have both made it to Euro 2008, and they will surely become Italy regulars in the years to come.

The teenage brigade in Italy are said to be even more talented than those just older than them. Fernando Forestieri, and the “new Pippo Inzaghi” Alberto Paloschi, both 18, are two such examples. Then of course there is the 17-year-old wonderkid Mario Balotelli, who I am absolutely certain is a future superstar, providing he keeps his head screwed on.

While Italian club teams may be struggling in Europe for financial reasons, the same certainly cannot be said about their youth development. The high percentage of homegrown players in Serie A is clearly paying dividends, and the Italy national team could soon be entering into a new golden age.

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☆Lionheart☆;1449430 said:

Where the fuck is

?

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