Hm,

Since only the gorgeous staysinvegas and I have nailed our hearts to the mast for the boys who brought you anglosaxons the beautiful game in the first place (Ah, the joy of catenaccio) this thread is devoted to the love of the true blues.

So. What happens if Cannavaro or Nesta gets injured, or 2 yellow cards? We have Materazzi as backup so it has to be a disaster. No? Ferrari, Favelli - I think so.

Pippo Inzaghi - what a relief that theatrical little madam won't be poncing about.

Mauro Camoranesi - time for a haircut?

I'm disappointed that Inzaghi won't be there. He's a superb striker. I doubt that Nesta will be injured again (remember the match against Germany in 98?). I'm counting on del Piero to really come into his own this time.
I am concerned about the absence of DiBiagio, who was a wonderful but underrated midfielder, but I do think that Zambrotta should be able to pick up where Maldini left off in defending.

I'm not so sure (as you see) about Pippo. Best attack in the tournament without him, anyway.

Giovanni Trapattoni will keep faith with his preferred starting line-up for Italy’s game against Denmark.

The two teams meet on Monday and today’s training session didn’t see Trap experiment with the side.

Gigi Buffon will be in goal, guarded by a defence of Christian Panucci, Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Nesta and Gianluca Zambrotta.

Cristiano Zanetti and Simone Perrotta will be the holding midfield duo instead of Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso.

Alex Del Piero, Francesco Totti and Mauro Camoranesi – who has pipped Stefano Fiore for a shirt – will support lone striker Christian Vieri.

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun13j.html

On Zambrotta I think you're right, but it's the thin blue line at the back, the replacements are weak. The starting line-up looks OK, so we can hope.

I can hope since I'll be at 30,000 feet during the match. Drat and double drat.

I'm not pleased with Trappatoni staying on. I guess we'll wait and see.

Scores a lot at club level but I don't see the Azuri missing Pippo "offside" Inzaghi much

I'm not pleased with Trappatoni staying on. I guess we'll wait and see.

Even though he hates Boby, and he's a Juve boy at heart (ffs) we'll love him if we win. I could live with that, but Bob Mancini leading the Azurri to the 2006 Cup; I would die for that.

Nothing wrong with Ferrari or Materazzi. Both are very solid centre backs.

Its a shame Gattuso wont be in the starting line up as he is such a hard working player, and has good distribution too.

We all know with Totti he is an awesome talent. But trouble is he is prone to drifting out of games, the same with Del Piero too.

But Vieri is always lethal up front, a true predator in every sense of the word. As long as its on his left not his right (anyone remember that 6 yard right foot miss against South Korea last world cup haha)

Its a shame Gattuso wont be in the starting line up as he is such a hard working player, and has good distribution too.


He shares your belief. He also wanted Pirlo to play. You may both be right, he is less beautiful than Perrotta, but maybe more effective.

I'd like to see Fiore playing, too; but Camoranesi could just be great.

I' look at TV guide , we get games but there delayed i think anyone here in Merica got a tv link?

Pippo Inzaghi - what a relief that theatrical little madam won't be poncing about.

Mauro Camoranesi - time for a haircut?

I look at Pippo Inzaghi as Italy's version of Andy Cole. A more over rated player in his country there isn't and it's a blessing for Italy he is not there. He has never understood offside and requires at least 20 chances just to get 1 on target.

Camorensi must wonder how he is so lucky to be in the squad let alone the team. Fiore is pissed and I dont blame him. Zambrotta is wasted at left back as he is so good offensively, but if Totti and Del Piero are on form that won't matter too much. As long as there aren't too many tantrums today, Italy should win comfortably.