Prandelli has announced the squad of 23 which will face Estonia and the Faroe Islands this International break for the Euro 2012 qualifiers. The azzurri will face Estonia in Tallin September 3rd, and then the Faroe Islands in Florence September 7th. While they aren’t the toughest of opposition, Italy will also have to eventually face Serbia, Slovenia, and Northern Ireland as they attempt to qualify for the European Championships being held in Ukraine and Poland.
Here’s the 23-man squad:
Goalkeepers:
Marchetti, Sirigu, Viviano
Defenders:
Chiellini, Bonucci, Cassani, Bovo, Antonelli, De Silvestri, Gastaldello, Molinaro
Midfielders:
Pirlo, De Rossi, Pepe, Palombo, Montolivo, Cigarini, Lazzari
Forwards:
Cassano, Pazzini, Gilardino, Quagliarella, Rossi
There’s quite a list of injured players who could’ve been useful for Prandelli: Buffon, Iaquinta, Balotelli, Amauri, and Marchisio are all unable to play for Italy due to injuries. But it’s important to think about the players that Prandelli called up, I’m looking forward to possibly seeing a 4-3-3, with Cassano on the right wing, Pazzini in the middle, and Giuseppe Rossi on the left, but that isn’t Lippi’s only option. He could go with a 4-2-3-1, using De Rossi and Pirlo in front of the defence, and Pepe on the right, Rossi on the left, and Cassano supporting Pazini. There are plenty of attacking opportunities, but it’s important also to look at the rest of the team.
The squad looks solid in midfield and attack, but if there’s an area that worries me it’s the defence. The only well-known names among the defenders are Chiellini, Bonucci, and maybe Molinaro, the rest are relatively new to the Italian national team. While it’s positive thing that there are new faces, and not the same old players which Lippi used, I still worry whether the new players will be able to play well wearing the azzurri jersey. It’s good that there are some quality keepers though: Marchetti has already played for Italy, Sirigu is unproven at international level but is strong for Palermo, and Viviano personally held Inter to a 0-0 draw this weekend playing in goal for Bologna.
What are your thoughts on the Italian players which Prandelli has called? Can they do the job? What formation will the coach use? There are plenty of questions which will hopefully be answered on September 3rd and 7th when Italy plays Estonia and the Faroe Islands.
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You used the words “Iaquinta” and “useful” in the same sentence. That is a laugh!
You scared me when you wrote “…but that isn’t Lippi’s only option.” I’d like to remember ’06 Marcello and just delude myself into thinking everything that happened afterward was a dream.
It’s a shame Balotelli is injured and Marchisio isn’t up for it yet. He may never be. I still don’t know what they see in Pepe as I think he’s tits on a bull. The Azzurri will need 6 points from these matches and it shouldn’t be a problem but Italia typically has a stumble in qualifying, particularly early in the campaign. Something about this MF bothers me I can’t quite put my finger on it. I’d love to see Cigarini get some time as Mazzarri never gave him a shot at Napoli and he is a terrific passer of the ball.
FORZA AZZURRI!
Yeah, that was a mistake, I ment to put Prandelli instead of Lippi.
I agree that it’s a shame that Balotelli can’t make it and Marchisio just seems inadequate wearing the azzurri jersey. As for Pepe, I actually think he’s very useful: he covers a lot of space and is a dynamic player when needed.
No doubt that Italy should win with ease, but you never know how the team can mess it up. I agree that Cigarini is a smart inclusion, and I think that maybe this season will be his best.
As for the thing that you can’t put your finger on about the midfield, maybe it’s the fact that it’s the most similar to Lippi’s midfield from the 2010 World Cup. What do you think?
Great comment btw, keep it up.
Well i am not too sure on the specific players but i do know that over time only a handful will be considered as a core of the team as a lot of the players picked are still for experimental stages…i only see few names there which might be certain for the next squad picks…
Yes, that’s a good observation, I think that when everyone is fully fit and into the swing of the Serie A season, about 1/4 of the squad could be different. As for the individual players, I repeat that for me, the defence is a weak spot.
Thanks for the comment, keep them coming!
Seems Prandelli is off the Juve kick a bit. Never could figure out why Lippi built the WC squad around the core of a very middling Juventus.
Yeah, I’m really glad to see the Juve addiction gone, hopefully when they produce a few more quality players, then Prandelli will draw on them.
yo creo q la selccion esta muy buena jugadores jovenes que aguantan tienen creatividad y son buenos, y yo soy de la juve y me parece bien que no casi todo el equipo se de la juventus solo mira como va en la serie a MAILISIMO
para ser un equipo tan bueno como la juventus (comentarios de la eurocopa 2012)
italy is gonna win euro 2012 trust me