Nah, not every year. But I don't know much more than that, I really don't follow what goes on with football over here


We'll see, I don't think it's that cut and dry, and I think the Italian players will adapt faster to the heat and humidity than the English players

Predicting outcomes months before the match even starts? Guys...really...

It's only normal to do so on the draw date. But obviously anything can happen in the next 6 months.

Semi finals:

Germany, Brazil, Belgium, Uruguay.

Messitina to be papped out at the QF's, England won't get out their group.

This man speaks truth.

Spain will definitely be in those semis imo

Already talk that the England-Italy fixture may be swapped with Uruguay-Costa Rica. I think it would make sense for the fans. Uruguay/Costa Rica local team would mean it wouldn't be too late for them to watch it.

Part of me doesn't like switching stuff around though, there's a draw to place teams in a certain position in a group for a reason.

I think their time has come and gone. They're still very very strong and their record speaks for itself but this upcoming world cup has a glut of VERY strong countries;

The 4 I mentioned, plus Croatia, Portugal, and Argentina to name merely 3.

It's not a stupid bet to say they'll make the semis, but my early prediction is they won't.

Spain need to change their way of playing. No more six friggin' midfielders and no CF or crap like that. Use the wings better. They've got all the talent in the world.

Yeah, it's effective but it's so boring. Watching Spain/Barca is probably the least enjoyable thing in football.

...after Matri...

+1

Fancy a Brazil - Argentina final, don't see the Europeans having enough in South America personally.

I'd prefer Brazil - Uruguay, rematch to the legendary Maracana final.

But honestly, this is the last chance for Germany. I think they'll do it.
I just hope Spain gets out as soon as possible.

Agree about Spain, but I'd actually prefer Germany out in the group stage. They are lethally efficient, and and even during the last World Cup, apart from England, no other team seemed to trouble them. Once they get going, it's darn near impossible to stop the German machinery, and I can already see them locked for the final.

But a Brazil Uruguay final would be stuff of dreams, wouldn't mind seeing that to be honest.

Germany?

They buckle under the pressure each time, sure they sail to the latter stages but then they're a let down each time. Especially if they meet Italy

They are a let down each time, only near or on the last hurdle. The law of averages says, it could be their time. And that's what scares me the most. These guys get going, there is no stopping them. A bit like the Spain of the recent past, and that actually takes the fun out of the games, if I may say.

German football is the 'in place' at the moment. What Germans have is great teams, if not so many great individuals.

It's far less focused on their star players than their overall teams.

Which is precisely how you win in international football, Maradona aside.

Another thing if Messi can't put his stamp on the World Cup even if only in the group stages then there's no hope at International level on the highest stage for him.

True, true. And that's what I fear the most, they get going they will decimate everything in their path. At least with Brazil and other teams you know it's even ground, they can lose, as much as they can win. Even the 2002 winning Brazil NT had that going for them with their air of sheer brilliance. Germans are just lethal.

Sure like I said they do encounter psychological hurdles every now and then, but they're towards the very end.


I have a feeling he just may. Not go all the way, but an appearance in the quarters, with him in the center could be a real possibility. I just hope Ibra was there, that's the biggest loss of the tournament.

I have a feeling this will be Messi's WC.

Wouldn't that be something. In Brazil, no less.

I'd be amazed if he doesn't shine when he's at his prime in a group involving Bosnia, Iran & Nigeria, especially with the ridiculous attacking talent that Argentina have at their disposal around him. Only thing that will stop them is how bad/good they are at the back for me.

France's group aside this is the best group to be in.

Word. Two of my least favorite teams, getting the time of their life, in the Brazil, no less. Here's hoping they get out of the gates slacking, which they may very well do. I want a dark horse in the semifinals, along with the host nation. And the remaining two spots go to the other deserving giants.

Guys guys! Iran will kill that group. Messi's got nothing on this son!

Iran, the best football team ever known to man...

I don't doubt it.

I noticed the African Cup of Nations has started, it looks very weak. I don't know if they aren't very good anymore or didn't take it seriously, but no Cameroon, Ivory Coast or Egypt.

Italy probable line-up vs Spain: 1 Buffon; 2 Maggio, 14 Paletta, 15 Barzagli, 4 Criscito; 18 Montolivo, 5 Thiago Motta, 8 Marchisio; 25 Cerci, 6 Candreva; 10 Osvaldo

That attack line...

The who's who of mid-table fame

It's clear that Pandelli is just testing things out though, Paletta? Motta? Osvaldo? Criscito? These guys haven't got a look-in in years.

When do they play?

Cerci obviously deservedly in there. No Abate another obvious choice. Montolivo!?

Your bias towards our own players is simply put head scratching kurt.

Monto has been amazing this last month, same goes for Abate. And Prandelli left out Pirlo, De Rossi, Verratti, Barzagli, Chiellini, DS, Abate, etc to accommodate mid-table fodder in a FRIENDLY.

Making an example out of these selections is really sad on your part, come gloat when Abate, Monto, DS, Balo are left out of the WC squad

You are aware that this month we played 6 competitive matches, of which 3 Montolivo started. He played well/very well in 2 of those he started. So, saying he's been great all month may be even right (if you consider 50% relevant enough to conclude for a whole), but it isn't especially relevant. But in a more general way, I'd say Montolivo should be shortlisted for the Italy WC team.

Abate is another question. He's played even less then Montolivo; he has been injured and hasn't played regularly up until the recent MDS injury. It's hard to tell, but if he continues to be a sub for MDS and Urby, I don't think Prandelli should select him.

I can only judge on the games he's played. When you say 50% you make it sound like he played half the games badly and half good.

His performances this month have been great. It doesn't matter if he didn't play in all the games but from the ones he played it's safe to say that he more than deserves that call up, he was better than Pirlo and Pogba in a head-to-head battle for that midfield last Sunday. That says enough

Abate has been great in all the games he's played as of late, yes he had that one second lapse against Atletico, but otherwise he's been top notch, and atm he's still the better RB when you compare him to DS. Plus Prandelli considers DS as a LB. He's always played him there. Maggio and Abate are the RB choices under Prandelli.

Italy squad

Goalkeepers: 1 Buffon, 26 Perin, 12 Sirigu
Defenders: 7 Abate, 13 Astori, 15 Barzagli, 19 Bonucci, 3 Chiellini, 4 Criscito, 20 De Sciglio, 2 Maggio, 14 Paletta
Midfielders: 6 Candreva, 23 Giaccherini, 8 Marchisio, 18 Montolivo, 5 Thiago Motta, 16 Parolo, 21 Pirlo, 24 Verratti
Forwards: 25 Cerci, 22 Destro, 11 Gilardino, 9 Immobile, 17 Insigne, 10 Osvaldo


This is the squad for Italy, I think it's safe to say that this is very close to what Prandelli will take with him to Brazil. Obviously, the usual suspects like DDR, Balo will come in to replace the likes of Parolo, Gila

I would keep a close eye on Immobile. I think the guy has a bright future. In fact, if we were to sell Balo this summer, he's the one I'd go after.

Anyway, Italy have quite a decent roster. A lot of quality in that midfield (Pirlo, Marchisio, Verratti, De Rossi, Montolivo), and in attack I would always play Insigne, maybe as trequartista behind Balo and Immobile.

Enough with Candreva, Giaccherini, Osvaldo etc. They're mid-table quality, not Azzurri material.

I think Prandelli just sees them as dependable squad players. They do relatively well for their respective sides anyway, I just don't understand when he starts them ahead of the Verrattis and Insignes in the squad most likely because they have more experience

Agreed on Immobile, but I have not decided if he'll be another Gila or if he'll be able to do well for a top side.

And yeah, I'm really excited to see how they do in this WC, I've always been an Azzurri fan, they're my adopted NT so to speak, and even if one wouldn't call this a vintage Azzurri side I think there is a LOT of potential and talent. A great mix of experience and talented youth

Defence is pretty great although the CBs don't play as well as they do for their club but anyway, Abate and DS at FB with pretty great direct subs should they get injured, midfield speaks for itself and in attack they have multiple wildcards in there. Really hoping Rossi recovers, ideally it would be a front 3 of Balo, Rossi and Insigne.

I don't really care about NTs. Sure, I'd like Italy to do well, but my support for them doesn't even compare to that I have for Milan. Speaking of NTs, Albania 2-0 Malta, han.

France playing some good football, and Benzema has really stepped up this season from what I've seen.

That's an understatement. they made Holland look like a Sunday league team if I may exaggerate a bit.

LOL, Italy just can't keep up with Spain.

Thiago Motta is one of the most overrated players in the world.

When you say this month, people would assume he's played more then just 3 games. It's almost like saying "Amelia has been excellent this month". I just don't think 3 matches or 50% of the games started qualify as a whole.

We'll see. As I said, if he doesn't get playing time, Prandelli will find a different solution. I don't think he's completely sold on Abate anyway. Top notch? I don't know man, he's been good to solid, made a terribly stupid game-costing mistake. I wouldn't call it top notch, I still have memories of Cafu, Sergio or Billy playing fullback top notch.

Smells like your FA were seeking a cheep morale boosting win


You're really going into technicalities over a simple comment about me saying a month instead of 3 games.... Does that negate the fact that he's been great in those 3 games he's played in the last month? No, so why create a debate about wording?

Abate was one of our best performers against Juve, completely shut out their left side plus made a good contribution in attack. Against Atletico, aside from that slip up he was completely solid and immediately after coming on showed the different attacking impact he brings to the game which DS doesn't when playing on the right.

And really, Cafu, Serginho, Billy?

First off, Billy played at FB in the heyday of his career when we had our hands tied, and he was never all that great at doing that job. He was a CB through and through so it's pointless bringing him up. Serginho was an amazing winger, but was never a proper FB defending wasn't really his strong point. And Cafu, being as legendary as he was, he only had a very small amount of years where he played at the top of his game with us.

All of those guys were great at what they did, but once again you're falling into the trap of comparing who we have now with the absolute legends of the game we had in the past. Compare Abate to other RB out there now who we can buy, not retired players who it's pointless to compare to now. You're completely ignoring your own quoted phrase about not crying over spilt milk.

Yes, it is a technicality, agreed. But it's pretty deceitful though.

You remembered Billy's performances wrong. Yes, he was a last resort, but man was he good on the fullback against Fiorentina and then in the CL again. It's still hard to forget.

Same goes to Serginho and Cafu. Yes, both had weaknesses, Sergio not being a true defender, Cafu being late in his career with us. But that doesn't change the fact that both produced top notch performances. I simply think you overrate the guys you like: Monto and Abate. Sure, the first was very good for the last few matches. The second did also mostly well. Top notch? No, I don't think so. Call-up worthy? Montolivo - surely.

Not deceitful at all, referring to the last month of games doesn't really mean I'm referring to x amount of games but the performances he showed in the last month, regardless of the amount

2 games? And IIRC you're referring to the ones in 05/06 am I correct? Sure I remember them, but the majority of Billy's games at FB were always rather average, no one really took to him playing there. You can look trough the archived posts here yourself to see this. As I said, Billy was a CB. An amazing one, it's pointless bringing him up in a discussion about FBs

Serginho. I totally loved him and was a huge fan boy of his back in the day. But facts are facts, he was a winger more than a FB. Me saying that does not negate the fact that he was a class player in his time, especially when he was on song, he could tear right through any team's wide areas. Same goes with Cafu, I never said anything bad about him, just that his great years with us were limited, that does not negate the fact that he had 2 really amazing seasons where he was still at the top of his game which was being one of the best FBs around at the time.

But again, my point wasn't about bringing those players down to make Abate look good. It's about pointing out facts bout their time with us because you made it sound like they had Paolo-like stretches with us at FB to make Abate look doubly inferior to them.

And again, it's pointless to even compare Abate to them. Totally crying over something that makes zero sense as we can't bring those players back, give me names of players who you think are so much better than Abate and are playing the game now. And that would be a fair debate, not this nostalgia woe is me cry fest

I don't get how this has gone so wrong...maybe it's me. I didn't compare Abate to any of them. I just said those guys I remember have had top notch performances. I can add up Maldini if you want - I'm not speaking of the player characteristics - I just wanted to say that "top notch" IMO is reserved for the real classy performances (even if Leonardo played CB and did that particular game brilliant); Abate didn't play that well if you ask me.

He made a winning cross for Kaká, and suddenly he was great as FB? Nah man, Billy was just forced in there cos we had no subs for a couple of games. He wasn't particularly great or anything, just decent. And seriously, if Abate had played in that Milan side, he'd have produced 2x-3x better performances.

Again: surely Costacurta wasn't a great fullback, he was a natural central defender. Yet, he nailed it that time. Not just the cross, but his work rate and game flux + defensive abilities as well. Anyway, seems you guys are sold on Abate being top notch the past weeks. I just think otherwise, nevermind my bad examples.