Italy vs Paraguay - 7.30pm RTE 2 and BBC HD

D2D

vs.

Match 11 - Group F
Cape Town - Green Point Stadium
7.30pm on RTE2 and BBC HD

Catenaccio!

Predicted Italian line-up?

Vokes

Either Marchisio or Montolivio as the main creative hub in midfield I guess. Or can both play together?

Looking forward to see Barrios playing. He looked a tidy and skillful player in the warm-ups.

Vokes

Possible line-ups from The Guardian:

Le King

2-0 Italy for me.

Catenaccio!

No Di Natale?

Peyton Manning

Maggio won't start for Italy.

Catenaccio!

Hopefully Iaquinta won't start either.

Peyton Manning

Catenaccio! wrote: »

Hopefully Iaquinta won't start either.

He will. It will be:

.........................Buffon

Zambrotta...Cannavaro...Chiellini...Criscito

........................De Rossi
.............Montolivio......Marchiso

......Pepe.........Gilardino.......Iaquinta

Catenaccio!

Was Di Natale not in the running for the position? How are you so certain?

Peyton Manning

Catenaccio! wrote: »

Was Di Natale not in the running for the position? How are you so certain?

He is in the running, but apparently this is what Lippi has reverted back to in training since his failed experiment against Mexico where he tried to replicate the Spanish system. He seems to be going with his trusted line up, which is all well and good, but Di Natale should most definitely be in there.

Catenaccio!

That sucks. Great player. Always find Iaquinta to annoy the hell out of me. Doesn't matter though if it results in an Italian victory. Once again, like in 06, they've been extremely quiet in the build-up to this tournament. Perfect for them imo.

Peyton Manning

Catenaccio! wrote: »

That sucks. Great player. Always find Iaquinta to annoy the hell out of me. Doesn't matter though if it results in an Italian victory. Once again, like in 06, they've been extremely quiet in the build-up to this tournament. Perfect for them imo.

Whatever about playing Iaquinta, it's the playing him out of position that annoys me. He's at his best up top, but that's where Gilardino will be. Imo, it's one or the other between them too with Italy's current formation. Di Natale would be much more effective. Hopefully Lippi pulls a surprise.

Ian_K

I predict a riot upset, 2-0 Paraguay for me

Pinturicchio

Italy have announced their official line up.

Italy [4-2-3-1]: Buffon; Criscito, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Zambrotta; De Rossi, Montolivo; Iaquinta, Marchisio, Pepe; Gilardino

Catenaccio!

Nooooooooooo

Headshot

Barrios will surely be starting for Paraguay

Pinturicchio

What a terrible team. I expect Iaquinta and Marchisio to both have bad games. They're both out of position.

Catenaccio!

Terrible team? Overreacting much?

Might not be as good as the one in 06, but more than capable of going far in this tournament. I agree with Iaquinta being out of position though.

Pinturicchio

Catenaccio! wrote: »

Terrible team? Overreacting much?

Might not be as good as the one in 06, but more than capable of going far in this tournament. I agree with Iaquinta being out of position though.

I doubt that it will.

MR NINE

Pinturicchio wrote: »

I doubt that it will.

Quarters or Semis I'd imagine. Remember they'll face one of the teams from Netherlands group in the second round. Based on todays matches thats a gimme into the quarters for an anyway competent team.

(Assuming Italy win their group of course)

Catenaccio!

It's amazing the number of times people underestimate the Italians. No doubt the panel on RTE tonight will go on with the usual about them...defensive, old, inexperienced in positions, blah...

Pinturicchio

I watch a lot of Italy and I wouldn't be confident of them beating anyone. If they didn't get such an easy group I wouldn't be confident of them getting out of it. They should manage to finish ahead of NZ and Slovakia though.

Pinturicchio

Catenaccio! wrote: »

It's amazing the number of times people underestimate the Italians. No doubt the panel on RTE tonight will go on with the usual about them...defensive, old, inexperienced in positions, blah...

They are old in some positions and inexperienced in others. They're not that defensive though.

Pinturicchio

Apparently kick off has been delayed by 30 minutes for security reasons.

MR NINE

Pinturicchio wrote: »

I watch a lot of Italy and I wouldn't be confident of them beating anyone. If they didn't get such an easy group I wouldn't be confident of them getting out of it. They should manage to finish ahead of NZ and Slovakia though.

I'd be amazed if they didn't get out of their group. They may well draw with one of Paraguay or Slovakia but I still expect them to finish top. Their squad does lack creative options however so I don't expect much in the way of entertainment

Pinturicchio

Pinturicchio wrote: »

Apparently kick off has been delayed by 30 minutes for security reasons.

Scratch that. There was some problem but the game should go ahead as usual.

joe123

Dont follow the italian league week in week out but what ive seen of Montilivio hes a really tidy player. Dont like Iaquinta or Gillardino though up front.

Quick question. Two players Amauri and Giovonco (sp?). Neither of them made the italian squad? I thought they were the next big thing in Italy with Amauri having to choose declaring for Italy or Brazil?

And completley off topic why are so many people putting "much" after sentences now? eg. Tired much? Angry much? Happy much? Its bloody annoying! Its all over boards these days.:mad: That and Vuvuzelas. :rolleyes:

steelcityblues

Hope the Paraguay team can do it for Cabanas!

Stevecw

Reckon Italy will win a boring enough game 1-0. Don't think they have enough about them to win by more.

cm2000

Looking forward to see how Montolivo gets on in the play maker Pirlo role. I've been impressed with him and think he's had a far better season than Pirlo.

redout

Pinturicchio

joe123 wrote: »

Quick question. Two players Amauri and Giovonco (sp?). Neither of them made the italian squad? I thought they were the next big thing in Italy with Amauri having to choose declaring for Italy or Brazil?

Amauri got Italian nationality just before the end of the season but he had an absolutely awful season. Only scored 5 goals. He's hardly the next big thing. He's 30 years old.

Giovinco never really plays for Juve. He'll probably leave this summer.

Headshot

redout wrote: »

is that Barrios up front ?

redout

Headshot wrote: »

is that Barrios up front ?

No idea but why the fcuk is Cardozo on the bench

Kiwi_knock

Yeah he must be going by Lucas. No Santa Cruz, injury or out of form

Headshot

redout wrote: »

No idea but why the fcuk is Cardozo on the bench

he doesnt start much for Paraguay afaik

mostly santa cruz and Barrios

im shocked santa cruz is on the bench

redout

Headshot wrote: »

he doesnt start much for Paraguay afaik

mostly santa cruz and Barrios

im shocked santa cruz is on the bench

The chap bangs in about 40 goals this season and he doesnt usually start!

I read that he had recovered from a ankle injury he got a couple of weeks back.

I presume he must not be 100% - in fact just read a quote from the coach saying he will be on the bench.

titan18

Presuming it's Valdez and Barrios up front.It was Valdez and Cabanas for the Qualification

redout

titan18 wrote: »

Presuming it's Valdez and Barrios up front.It was Valdez and Cabanas for the Qualification

Lucas is Barrios.

titan18

redout wrote: »

Lucas is Barrios.

I never said he wasn't Lucas

redout

Italy will lineup like this according to the Italian press - Numbers correspond to lineup above

Headshot

redout wrote: »

The chap bangs in about 40 goals this season and he doesnt usually start!

I read that he had recovered from a ankle injury he got a couple of weeks back.

I presume he must not be 100% - in fact just read a quote from the coach saying he will be on the bench.

looking at paraguays wc qualifying he has only started like 3 times according to soccerway

Seaneh

redout wrote: »

Italy will lineup like this according to the Italian press - Numbers correspond to lineup above

Playing Marchisio in the #10 role is a massive mistake, doesn't have the creativity needed for it.

Peyton Manning

10 seconds in, and we've already got a "They're an aging side"

Seaneh

Jesus Souness talking through his arse.

McGrath5

Brady: "Eamon is prone to exaggerate" that's an understatement!

OPENROAD

I don't like this RTE squad rotation :mad::mad: where is Eamon Grumpy

Seaneh

Seedorf on BBC1, go there, man knows what he is talking about.

Cypher_sounds

Looking at the conditions it should suit Italy.

redout

Passion.