Italian WC Squad

eirebhoy

My team for the world cup deserve a thread.

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Peruzzi (Lazio), Amelia (Livorno)

Defenders: Zambrotta (Juventus), Nesta (Milan), Cannavaro (Juventus), Grosso (Palermo), Zaccardo (Palermo), Barzagli (Palermo), Materazzi (Inter), Oddo (Lazio)

Midfielders: Camoranesi (Juventus), Pirlo (Milan), Gattuso (Milan), De Rossi (Roma), Perrotta (Roma), Barone (Palermo)

Attackers: Totti (Roma), Toni (Fiorentina), Gilardino (Milan), Del Piero (Juventus), Inzaghi (Milan), Iaquinta (Udinese)

Reserves: De Sanctis (Udinese), Bonera (Parma), Marchionni (Parma), Semioli (Chievo)

What a team. Player to player they have the best team in the world atm.

Pepe LeFrits

They're the form team at the moment, but that squad looks like it's lacking width to me. They'll be tough to break down as usual I suppose.

eirebhoy

Pepe LeFrits wrote:

They're the form team at the moment, but that squad looks like it's lacking width to me. They'll be tough to break down as usual I suppose.

Camoranesi on the right wing with Zambrotta getting forward on the left. De Rossi is very highly rated and can play on either wing too if needs be.

Sandals

too old.

Pepe LeFrits

eirebhoy wrote:

Camoranesi on the right wing with Zambrotta getting forward on the left. De Rossi is very highly rated and can play on either wing too if needs be.

That's what I'm talking about, a lack of width.

Mr. Presentable

Lucarelli (19) or Rocchi (16) would surely have been better choices than Iaquinta (9)

eirebhoy

Sandals wrote:

too old.

Who?

Buffon - 28
Zambrotta - 29
Grosso - 28
Cannavaro - 32
Nesta - 30
Camoranesi - 29
Pirlo - 27
Gattuso - 28
Totti - 29
Toni - 28
Gilardino - 23

You couldn't get more perfect if you were to decide the ages yourself. The only player not in his prime is Gilardino. Cannavaro is the oldest player and he looks like he could play on for years. He's the captain and arguable the best centre half in the world atm.

arbeitsscheuer

Sandals wrote:

too old.

Agreed.

Lack of width is also a problem, as Pepe pointed out. Some great goalscorers, Toni, Totti, Inzaghi, Del Piero etc... But not much creativity i.e. supply line providing them with chances.

Isolate the forwards and use the wings, and you can beat Italy.

USA and Czech Rep to come out of that group, maybe with some dodgy refereeing (again!).

I love it when the Italians see everything as some massive conspiracy against them...:D

eirebhoy

Pepe LeFrits wrote:

That's what I'm talking about, a lack of width.

One out and out winger and a left back that gets forward at every opportunity. Very few teams use 2 out and out wingers. If you're talking about the squad overall then I agree but the same could be said about Brazil.

SebtheBum - Totti is one of the most creative players in the world.

Mr. Presentable

eirebhoy wrote:

Totti is one of the most creative players in the world.

but a very suspect temperament that may ruin another tournament for him.

eirebhoy

nipplenuts wrote:

but a very suspect temperament that may ruin another tournament for him.

Agreed. He's an idiot tbh but I'll be shocked if he's not the star man for Italy this time. He has something to prove on the international stage. Before he got injured this season he had played 24 league games, scoring 15 goals and getting 11 assists. He also scored 2 in 3 UEFA cup games and set up 3 goals in 3 qualifiers for Italy. His main job is to create goals and Roma have no real out and out striker (most of their goals come from midfield). He'd have a field day setting up Luca Toni and Gilardino/Inzaghi.

bazzman

Totti (Roma)


has he not got a broken leg?
will he be fit for the wc?

eirebhoy

He's back fit a few weeks. He started a reserve match and came off the bench 2 or 3 times. He came on after 35 minutes yesterday and should be fine for the WC.

Aldini98

That squad has no depth whatsoever, they'll struggle.

eirebhoy

Aldini98 wrote:

That squad has no depth whatsoever, they'll struggle.

You're all destroying my hopes here. :mad:

They've plenty of backup in the 4 forward positions. They're short on central midfielders but Pirlo will start all games. Gatusso might get a suspension. The forward positions are the positions that need most rotating so they'll have no problems there. If the defensive players can avoid suspension they'll be ok but 1 or 2 suspensions won't destroy their tournament.

iregk

Aldini98 wrote:

That squad has no depth whatsoever, they'll struggle.

I'm going to assume you haven't watched any italian football over the season. Personally I'd put Bonera in the full squad and maybe even drop Amelia for Pellitzoli but thats nit picking.

I also second some calls for Luceralli over Iaquinta but the latter is a player I see coming up onto the big world stage over the next few years. The team as an entity I think is very good with good depth. They have great firepower, great defence and good playmaking in midfield. I tip them to do rather well.

masterK

While they are very strong defensively (for a change) and have some good forwards they seem to be lacking that bit of spark in the middle of the park IMO.