Italy begins its Euro 2008 campaign in the Stade de Suisse,Berne-Switzerland on the 9 of June 2008, against the Netherlands.They will later on take on the Republic of Romania, on the 13 and play their last group stage match on June 17 against France in Zurich,Letzigrund stadium.Group C, in which the "Azzurri"have been drawn is widely considered as the "group of death".Cameroon, with their "Indomitable Lions", are not part of the European union and therefore can not take part in the European Championship.I will therefore adopt the Italian national team and assume Italian citizenship throughout Euro 2008.I had adopted European nationalities in past tournaments such as Dutch nationality during Euro 1988 and French Nationality during Euro 2000.The Italians, were last champions of Europe in 1968 when they defeated then Yugoslavia after a replay of the final by a score of 2 goals to zero.The Italians came close to lifting the trophy, a couple of times since then, finishing in third place in 1980,and losing a heartbreaker in the 2000 finals to the French.Italy's trademark is its defense, which is usually stifling, keeping them in just about every soccer match that they play in.They also have a tradition of good goalkeepers, starting with the legendary Dino Zoff, Walter Zenga,Francesco Toldo and current keeper Gianluigi Buffon.Italy's current coach is former AC Milan and Italian midfield international Roberto Donadoni.The following players make up the official list of 23 announced on Wednesday the 28 of May by coach Roberto Donadoni to represent Italy in Euro 2008.Goalkeepers:Gianluigi Buffon(Juventus),Marco Amelia(Livorno),Morgan De Sanctis(Sevilla)
Defenders:Fabio Cannavaro(Real Madrid),Marco Materazzi(Inter Milan),Christian Panucci(As Roma),Andrea Barzagli(Palermo)Gianluca Zambrotta(Barcelona),Giorgio Chiellini(Juventus),Fabio Grosso(Lyon)
Midfielders:Andrea Pirlo(AC Milan),Gennaro Gattuso(AC Milan),Massimo Ambrosini(AC Milan),Daniele De Rossi(AS Roma),Simone Perrotta(AS Roma),Alberto Aquilani(AS Roma),Mauro Camoranesi(Juventus)
Forwards:Luca Toni(Bayern Munich),Alessandro Del Piero(Juventus),Antonio Di Natale(Udinese),Marco Borriello(Genoa),Fabio Quagliarella(Udinese),Antonio Cassano(Sampdoria,on loan from Real Madrid).
The bad news coming out of Modling,Austria where the Azzurri had their first training session was that Captain Fabio Cannavaro has been lost for the Euro following a rupture in his left ankle that occured during the team's first training session on Monday the 2 of June.Coach Donadoni has called up Florentina's defender Alessandro Gamberini as his replacement.Gamberini has had just two previous caps but enjoyed a consistent season during which he appeared 40 times in Serie A and UEFA cup competition for his side.With skipper Fabio Cannavaro out with an injury,Gianluigi Buffon will captain the "Azzurri"during their opening match against Romania on Monday.This information was confirmed on Sunday the 8 by the goalkeeper himself who said"Yes,I will be the captain".Holland 3 Italy 0,Monday 9 of June 2008.Bad news yesterday for my adopted country.The Dutch really handed it to us.Traditionally strong in the defense,it is had to believe that we conceded three goals,our worst ever defeat at the Euro.When you get beat by three goals to zero there is a lot of blame to go around.Starting with the coach,he just signed a new two year contract.If the "Azzurri"continue to play like they did yesterday Coach Donadoni will be gone by the end of this competition.Picked as one of the favorites to lift the trophy come June 29th,the Italians will now have to fight real hard to make it out of the group stages.The whole team played poorly,goalkeeper,defense,midfield and forwards.The Dutch were the team that was filled with injured players.The coach has to strengthened the defense.If you do not concede any goals you at least come out with a draw.The Dutch got on the attack from the word go and got their opening goal from Ruud van Nistelrooy in the 26 minutes of play.After the goal it was an uphill struggle for the Italians as they try to get an equaliser.The next goal for the Dutch came in the 31st minutes from a counter attack that resulted in a goal from the man of the match,Wesley Sneijder.That is the problem with trying to play from behind.As you move forward to get an equaliser,your defense it exposed.The last goal for the Dutch came at the 79 minute from Giovanni van Bronckhorst to complete the rout.All the talk about the Dutch not being able to beat the Italians in thirty years or so went completely down the drain.Was it over confidence?It is now back to the drawing board as the Italians try to fight their way back into this competition.The following players lined up for the Italians .Goalkeeper:Gianluigi Buffon,Defenders:Christian Panucci,Marco Materrazzi(Fabio Grosso)54',Gianluca Zambrotta,Midfielders:Andrea Pirlo,Daniele De Rossi, Gennaro Gattuso,Massimo Ambrosini,Forwards:Luca Toni,Antonio Di Natale(Alessandro Del Piero)64',Mauro Camoranesi(Antonio Cassano)75'.On Thursday the 12 of June 2008 Coach Donadoni announced that there will be some line-up changes, the first being giving Alessandro Del Piero a place in the starting 11 for the game on Friday against Romania. This will be Del Piero's first start for the "Azzurri" since last September when he was dropped from the squad following a poor showing against France. With 87 caps already under his belt, he will also captain the match against Romania.Defender Giorgio Chiellini is also expected to be start in a line up that could see up to five changes,said the coach.There is talk also of a change in formation, going from the 4-3-3 to say a 4-3-1-2(Luca Toni and Alessandro Del Piero being the two inside forwards. A lot of pressure here and Coach Roberto Donadoni will surely resign his position as head coach if the Azzurri were to lose the game against Romania.A 1-1 tie against Romania on Friday the 13 of June really deems our chances of qualifying for the next round of the competition.There was enough controversy in the game itself as a late first half goal by Luca Toni was disallowed for offside and the referee awarded a controversial penalty to Romania which fortunately for us was stopped by Buffon.With one point out of a possible six after two matches played, we are really in trouble.We have to beat France and hope that Holland beat or tie Romania for us to qualify.Changes were made in the line up as coach Donadoni had promised but we did not get the victory.We came real close to elimination,but were saved by Andrian Mutu's late miss from the penalty spot.Traditionally the Italians are slow starters in major competitions(take the 1982 World cup for example)They made it through to the second round on goals scored following three draws and went on to win the competition.So if we can get out of the group stages I believe that we will be okay.The shock defeat against Holland was the real blow and it is difficult at times to come out of a defeat like that.For the game against Romania the Azzurri lined up the following players;Goalkeeper:Gianluigi Buffon,Defenders:Christian Panucci,Giorgio Chiellini,Fabio Grosso,Gianluca Zambrotta,Midfielders:Andrea Pirlo,Daniele De Rossi,Simone Perrotta(Antonio Cassano)57',Mauro Camoranesi(Massimo Ambrosini)85',Forwards:Alessandro Del Piero(Fabio Quagliarella)77',Luca Toni.Tuesday the 17 of June 2008,Italy defeats France by 2 goals to 0.A goal by Andrea Pirlo in the 25 minute of play from the penalty spot got the Azzurri going.Luca Toni was brought down deep into the penalty area by French defender Eric Abidal who was sent off and the referee awaided a penalty.The second goal came from man of the match Daniele De Rossi(in the 62 minute) from a free kick that deflected off the leg of Thierry Henry into the net for a two goal to nil victory for the Italians.The Italians move on to face their Iberian counterpart Spain on Sunday.Gettuso Gennaro and Andrea Pirlo each picked up a second yellow card and will both be suspended for the quaterfinal encounter.The Italians lined up the following players for the match;Goalkeeper:Gianluigi Buffon,Defenders:Christian Panucci,Fabio Grosso,Giorgio Chiellini,Gianluca Zambrotta,Midfielders:Andrea Pirlo(Massimo Ambrosini)55',Daniele De Rossi,Simone Perrotta(Mauro Camoranesi)64',Gennaro Gattuso(Alberto Aquilani)82',Forwards:Antonia Cassano,Luca Toni.Andrea Barzagli will miss the rest of the Euro after picking up a knee injury during training on Thursday.Further checks reveal a tear in the meniscus of the left knee and he will undergo an operation in a few days.Since the team is in the middle of the competition,he can not be replaced.He will be undergoing an operation according to information from the Italian Football Federation.Italy are home thanks to penalty shoot-out misses from Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale.A tense quarterfinal contest against Spain ended in a 0-0 tie after 120 minutes of play.The Italians were provided with a lifeline when Holland beat Romania and thus allowed them to get into the knockout stages of the competition with only 4 out of a possible 9 points.The failed to capitalise on their new lease to life though as Spain clearly had the upperhand thoughout the encounter.But the Italians defended very well and took the game into extra-time and eventually into penalty shoot-out.Gianluigi Buffon stopped Daniel Guiza's spot kick,but Spain converted on 4 others.Spain's Casillas was the hero for his side as he saved penalty kicks from Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale.The Italians now have to set their sight on qualifications for South Africa 2010.The Azzurri line up the following players for the quarterfinal encounter against Spain.Goalkeeper:Gianluigi Buffon,Defenders:Christina Panucci,Giorgio Chiellini,Fabio Grosso,Gianluca Zambrotta,Midfielders:Massimo Ambrosini,Daniele De Rossi,Simone Perrotta(Mauro Camoranesi)58',Alberto Aquilani(Alessandro Del Piero)18x,Forwards:Luca Toni,Antonio Cassano(Antonio Di Natale)75'.If the Italians have to look back on what went wrong in the competition,look no further than their forward line that did not produce a single goal thoughout the competition.
Defenders:Fabio Cannavaro(Real Madrid),Marco Materazzi(Inter Milan),Christian Panucci(As Roma),Andrea Barzagli(Palermo)Gianluca Zambrotta(Barcelona),Giorgio Chiellini(Juventus),Fabio Grosso(Lyon)
Midfielders:Andrea Pirlo(AC Milan),Gennaro Gattuso(AC Milan),Massimo Ambrosini(AC Milan),Daniele De Rossi(AS Roma),Simone Perrotta(AS Roma),Alberto Aquilani(AS Roma),Mauro Camoranesi(Juventus)
Forwards:Luca Toni(Bayern Munich),Alessandro Del Piero(Juventus),Antonio Di Natale(Udinese),Marco Borriello(Genoa),Fabio Quagliarella(Udinese),Antonio Cassano(Sampdoria,on loan from Real Madrid).
The bad news coming out of Modling,Austria where the Azzurri had their first training session was that Captain Fabio Cannavaro has been lost for the Euro following a rupture in his left ankle that occured during the team's first training session on Monday the 2 of June.Coach Donadoni has called up Florentina's defender Alessandro Gamberini as his replacement.Gamberini has had just two previous caps but enjoyed a consistent season during which he appeared 40 times in Serie A and UEFA cup competition for his side.With skipper Fabio Cannavaro out with an injury,Gianluigi Buffon will captain the "Azzurri"during their opening match against Romania on Monday.This information was confirmed on Sunday the 8 by the goalkeeper himself who said"Yes,I will be the captain".Holland 3 Italy 0,Monday 9 of June 2008.Bad news yesterday for my adopted country.The Dutch really handed it to us.Traditionally strong in the defense,it is had to believe that we conceded three goals,our worst ever defeat at the Euro.When you get beat by three goals to zero there is a lot of blame to go around.Starting with the coach,he just signed a new two year contract.If the "Azzurri"continue to play like they did yesterday Coach Donadoni will be gone by the end of this competition.Picked as one of the favorites to lift the trophy come June 29th,the Italians will now have to fight real hard to make it out of the group stages.The whole team played poorly,goalkeeper,defense,midfield and forwards.The Dutch were the team that was filled with injured players.The coach has to strengthened the defense.If you do not concede any goals you at least come out with a draw.The Dutch got on the attack from the word go and got their opening goal from Ruud van Nistelrooy in the 26 minutes of play.After the goal it was an uphill struggle for the Italians as they try to get an equaliser.The next goal for the Dutch came in the 31st minutes from a counter attack that resulted in a goal from the man of the match,Wesley Sneijder.That is the problem with trying to play from behind.As you move forward to get an equaliser,your defense it exposed.The last goal for the Dutch came at the 79 minute from Giovanni van Bronckhorst to complete the rout.All the talk about the Dutch not being able to beat the Italians in thirty years or so went completely down the drain.Was it over confidence?It is now back to the drawing board as the Italians try to fight their way back into this competition.The following players lined up for the Italians .Goalkeeper:Gianluigi Buffon,Defenders:Christian Panucci,Marco Materrazzi(Fabio Grosso)54',Gianluca Zambrotta,Midfielders:Andrea Pirlo,Daniele De Rossi, Gennaro Gattuso,Massimo Ambrosini,Forwards:Luca Toni,Antonio Di Natale(Alessandro Del Piero)64',Mauro Camoranesi(Antonio Cassano)75'.On Thursday the 12 of June 2008 Coach Donadoni announced that there will be some line-up changes, the first being giving Alessandro Del Piero a place in the starting 11 for the game on Friday against Romania. This will be Del Piero's first start for the "Azzurri" since last September when he was dropped from the squad following a poor showing against France. With 87 caps already under his belt, he will also captain the match against Romania.Defender Giorgio Chiellini is also expected to be start in a line up that could see up to five changes,said the coach.There is talk also of a change in formation, going from the 4-3-3 to say a 4-3-1-2(Luca Toni and Alessandro Del Piero being the two inside forwards. A lot of pressure here and Coach Roberto Donadoni will surely resign his position as head coach if the Azzurri were to lose the game against Romania.A 1-1 tie against Romania on Friday the 13 of June really deems our chances of qualifying for the next round of the competition.There was enough controversy in the game itself as a late first half goal by Luca Toni was disallowed for offside and the referee awarded a controversial penalty to Romania which fortunately for us was stopped by Buffon.With one point out of a possible six after two matches played, we are really in trouble.We have to beat France and hope that Holland beat or tie Romania for us to qualify.Changes were made in the line up as coach Donadoni had promised but we did not get the victory.We came real close to elimination,but were saved by Andrian Mutu's late miss from the penalty spot.Traditionally the Italians are slow starters in major competitions(take the 1982 World cup for example)They made it through to the second round on goals scored following three draws and went on to win the competition.So if we can get out of the group stages I believe that we will be okay.The shock defeat against Holland was the real blow and it is difficult at times to come out of a defeat like that.For the game against Romania the Azzurri lined up the following players;Goalkeeper:Gianluigi Buffon,Defenders:Christian Panucci,Giorgio Chiellini,Fabio Grosso,Gianluca Zambrotta,Midfielders:Andrea Pirlo,Daniele De Rossi,Simone Perrotta(Antonio Cassano)57',Mauro Camoranesi(Massimo Ambrosini)85',Forwards:Alessandro Del Piero(Fabio Quagliarella)77',Luca Toni.Tuesday the 17 of June 2008,Italy defeats France by 2 goals to 0.A goal by Andrea Pirlo in the 25 minute of play from the penalty spot got the Azzurri going.Luca Toni was brought down deep into the penalty area by French defender Eric Abidal who was sent off and the referee awaided a penalty.The second goal came from man of the match Daniele De Rossi(in the 62 minute) from a free kick that deflected off the leg of Thierry Henry into the net for a two goal to nil victory for the Italians.The Italians move on to face their Iberian counterpart Spain on Sunday.Gettuso Gennaro and Andrea Pirlo each picked up a second yellow card and will both be suspended for the quaterfinal encounter.The Italians lined up the following players for the match;Goalkeeper:Gianluigi Buffon,Defenders:Christian Panucci,Fabio Grosso,Giorgio Chiellini,Gianluca Zambrotta,Midfielders:Andrea Pirlo(Massimo Ambrosini)55',Daniele De Rossi,Simone Perrotta(Mauro Camoranesi)64',Gennaro Gattuso(Alberto Aquilani)82',Forwards:Antonia Cassano,Luca Toni.Andrea Barzagli will miss the rest of the Euro after picking up a knee injury during training on Thursday.Further checks reveal a tear in the meniscus of the left knee and he will undergo an operation in a few days.Since the team is in the middle of the competition,he can not be replaced.He will be undergoing an operation according to information from the Italian Football Federation.Italy are home thanks to penalty shoot-out misses from Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale.A tense quarterfinal contest against Spain ended in a 0-0 tie after 120 minutes of play.The Italians were provided with a lifeline when Holland beat Romania and thus allowed them to get into the knockout stages of the competition with only 4 out of a possible 9 points.The failed to capitalise on their new lease to life though as Spain clearly had the upperhand thoughout the encounter.But the Italians defended very well and took the game into extra-time and eventually into penalty shoot-out.Gianluigi Buffon stopped Daniel Guiza's spot kick,but Spain converted on 4 others.Spain's Casillas was the hero for his side as he saved penalty kicks from Daniele De Rossi and Antonio Di Natale.The Italians now have to set their sight on qualifications for South Africa 2010.The Azzurri line up the following players for the quarterfinal encounter against Spain.Goalkeeper:Gianluigi Buffon,Defenders:Christina Panucci,Giorgio Chiellini,Fabio Grosso,Gianluca Zambrotta,Midfielders:Massimo Ambrosini,Daniele De Rossi,Simone Perrotta(Mauro Camoranesi)58',Alberto Aquilani(Alessandro Del Piero)18x,Forwards:Luca Toni,Antonio Cassano(Antonio Di Natale)75'.If the Italians have to look back on what went wrong in the competition,look no further than their forward line that did not produce a single goal thoughout the competition.
4 comments:
Italy just tied with Romania! That leaves Italia with a point and -3 goal difference. I imagine Italy will have to do a number on France if any she has to advance
darn the Dutch are up on the French. Not that I can be accused of being a Francophile, but they do line up a few players of African origin
the lead has turned into a route! That has been a fine performance by the Dutch team so far; what do you think so far given your earlier estimation?
The Dutch team has really surprised me.I think their performance has to do a lot with the coaching.Their players are good but I do not think they are much better than the players in the French or the Italian team.You have to give them a lot of credit though.
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