Pfft. Matrix is there because he can do the job and do it well!

Materazzi and Borriello are there simply because there's no one better... which is sad...

I think that's the case for alot of them, dst. Based on this seasons form Gattuso wouldn't have got into the Faroe Islands starting line-up, but he's still there!

Didnt know where to put this, so this thread will have to do

The Azzurini (Italy U21) will be playing three games over the next couple of days, (Ivory Coast, Turkey and USA in that order) I will be watching all three and monitoring the progress of the youngsters especially if there are any Rossoneri playing in the lineups. Matches are on Wed, Fri and Sunday if anyone is curious

Mods can i open a thread dedicated to U21 business?

Edit: dst i think Borriello is there mainly because he is one of the top scorers, but also because he is a tall strong target man, similar to Toni, which makes him a natural understudy. The current Italy tactics rely heavily on a target striker, so his inclusion seems logical

This post has been edited by whoarethepatriots: May 20 2008, 05:49 PM

I think it's a mistake to leave Pippo out of the squad, especially when Borriello hasn't actually scored a goal in a couple of months and Pippo's on a streak. But eh.

As for the U23 tournament thingy, have at it whoarethepatriots. Programming note for those in North America: Fox Soccer is showing all of the games from that tournament.

Tennie, how namy defenders and midfielders do you count? (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif) (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Actually, it's a 24 players list and only one player will be left. My bet is Cassano (or Montolivo). I think Donadoni should have pick up another Denfeder and left both Cassano and Montolivo out of the squad. About the Boriello/Pippo thing I think Donadoni wanted someone with similar characteristics as Toni and Boriello is the only (on form, somehow) striker he have, unless he can call Trezeguet ... Pippo would have made it if Italy didn't play a 4-3-3 formation.

morgoth, is France the NT you follow as your first choice? Or is it Algeria (You were born there, right? Or we you born in France?) Just curious. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thing is, Del Piero wants to play ONLY as a striker not as a winger, so he doesn't really fit into the system either....unless he's changed his mind. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

It's too bad for Pippo.

As for the numbers being dropped...oops.

I'd drop Aquilani before Montolivo, though, if we're dropping a midfielder. Montolivo is perhaps the only guy on the call up list who can come anywhere near to the same sort of play as Pirlo. So for me, Montolivo stays even if it's mostly a sub position.

I'd drop the crazy dude from Bari. Talent though he is, he's....BONKERS.

Del Piero should be dropped, for the reasons you stated tennie. I doubt it due to public pressure. Cassano is a live wire and more effective than Del Boy out wide in Donadoni's system

Monto is probably gonna be dropped, which isnt surprising as Aquilani is pretty damn versatile and has more experience in the highest levels than Monto (CL)

I was born in Algeria (still Algerian) and I only follow Milan and it's players no matter what, so technically I think I'm for Italy because they have most Milan players as starters. (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

Oh and I dislike the french NT because of their captain, coach and the euro 2000 final (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

Finally we have something in common.

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

the itlaian defence is the weakist link in their team which is quite strange and picking of cassano and Alex means that donadoni has felt the pressure of the press and mite be forced to change the system unless both of them are at bench

(IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) ... (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) you must be the first algerian/french arab person i know that doesnt support france.

over here we have lots of arab speaking people, they all go for france because of zizou + it's more team africa than team france.

one thing is it's easy to judge a team like spain and italy look at every player individually and rate the squad like and say that they look average. but in the end only 12 or 13 players will get a shot at starting and play a lot. also no one saw italy as one of the favorites to win the WC... it's always like this, before every big tournement you have the provisional favorites. then it starts and 3/4 of those teams fail and then everyone changes their opinion and most of the teams that make it far seem like they were the strongest to begin with.