They're sh*t, simple as. Even if they win the goddamn tournament, they'll win it as a sh*t team.

You're beginning to sound awfully aggressive and unnecessarily excessive in your use of language. But I get that the situation with Milan and Italy can be frustrating, sadly.

Yeah, I guess so. Too much sh*t to handle.

I swear han hates any footballer who's physically gifted. I'm not surprised he hates Parolo, Candreva and Zaza. I think the most criminal thing about the squad is Motta in the #10 shirt.

The Juve bias is really bad, though. I can understand taking Ogbonna as he's been very good this season. But Sturaro, Zaza, Giaccherini make no sense. Has Sturaro even played for the NT? His wiki page says not. He's decent and all, but it's madness to take someone that's yet to even play in a friendly.

The England squad is about as good as it can be. Rashford going is a bit odd, but I suppose he's had a very good half season and scored a clinical goal on his England debut.

About the England squad, I don't understand the Wilshere pick. Why not Drinkwater for example?

3 reasons:
*Wilshire is better than Drinkwater
*Wilshire was very good in qualifying, Drinkwater didn't feature
*Drinkwater struggled in both friendlies so far.

Only change I'd have likely made is Townsend in for Rashford. We don't have much width and as an impact player he's pretty good.

People here are jumping on the Drinkwater bandwagon without really watching him. He's a very average player. Just a piece that happened to fit in the Leicester machine. Albrighton was far better, but hasn't got a single mention. I guess who isn't the whole hipster "doesn't get involved 'tidy" player.

Would not be surprised if Wilshire gets injured in this tournament though...touch wood he does'nt though.

Yes, it's typical of Han. He hated Ambrosini all along, he's doing it again with Motta, even though Blanc and Conte seem to think differently. His only deference was Flamini

Fortunately we have a lot of options in midfield, for a change.

We do , but we need some players with flair that can make something happen in midfield , players like Henderson, Milner and co i can't see that happening its just going to be boring midfield. and otherwise apart from Kane who can fashion out chances on his own our attack is nullified.

I actually think our attack is really dangerous. Rooney can make things happen still - his play for United's equaliser in the Cup final was ridiculous. Sturridge has a habit of making something from nothing. Kane is our best all round striker, then you have Vardy who will get in behind. Rashford is a bit of a wildcard.

Henderson, Dier, Milner I agree are very workmanlike type players. But then Alli, Barkley and Lallana have a bit more technical quality about them. I don't really see where Sterling fits in this team.

A bit off topic, but if Kosovo and Gibraltar are going to be in WC 2018 qualifying and the groups have already been drawn, what happens? Do they just get thrown in to one of the smaller groups? I read that Ukraine, Bosnia, Greece and Cyprus do not recognise Kosovo as a nation, so that could be problematic.

My point, he was biased towards the Juve players when he should have been looking at other teams as well, case in point Sassuolo and a couple of our players as well deserve to be in there more than others who are from Juve or have a Juve background like Giaccherini for example, no way he should be in there ahead of Bona who was one of the best players in the league statistically.

Also, I think Pirlo and Conte talked and I really think it was Pirlo's decision not to tag along not Conte's. I think Conte would donate his left nut atm to have someone with Pirlo's qualities in that midfield

As for the building a team theory, I don't buy it, considering he already has a foot out the door and is already eyeing his next cushy job. He just let his past attachments influence his decision imo


Their physicality has nothing to do with it, I just hate dud players who basically manage to scrape through simply by looking like busy bees all the time when they're basically not doing anything of help to the team. Parolo imo is one of those. Motto is just awful, simply cannot stand him. He's so average and lazy I just cannot take watching him in the Azzurri shirt.


Also, I get that it was always going to be a more Juve-leaning side, they are the champions after all and the best team in the league by a distance plus have a strong Italian core, but the team should have been picked based on personal merit as well and not just simply based on how good the team you play for is


Never hated Ambro, just rated Rino higher, and was always a person who advocated for a single DM in the midfield and not 2

Yes. They are trying to find the best fitting group for Kosova since some of the countries in the last 2 groups dont recognize its independence. A decision will be taken on 9 or 10 June.

I think that even though politics didnt recognize Kosova they will still agree to play vs us because the same thing has happened in other sports too, for example Kosova won gold medal in Russia this year in judo. We were allowed to be represented with our flag and our anthem.

Haha, Ukraine doesn't recognize Kosovo. Make me laugh out loud.

I can't wait until Friday! It's that final 5 days where England fans believe we might actually not be totally crap, until we're devastated by some mediocre team.

England starts on Saturday right?

Euros topic, anyone?

Done

Kosovo and Gibraltar assigned to 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying groups

UEFA’s Emergency Panel has today decided that Kosovo will join Croatia, Iceland, Ukraine, Turkey and Finland in Group I, and Gibraltar will join Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Estonia and Cyprus in Group H.

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2016/m...ps-2800709.html

A really tough group, but the important thing this time is participating.

Good news for Kosova, as our players that play in Europe for other countries have started to return.

Manchester Citys midfielder Sinan Bytyqi 21 y/o has choosen Kosova and has left Austrias NT.

Milot Rashica playing for Vitesse 20 y/o has choosen Kosova and has left Albanias NT.

Bersant Celina playing for Mancherser City 19 y/o has choosen Kosova.

Alban Meha playing for Al Nassr 30 y/o has choosen Kosova and has left Albanias NT.

Enis Alushi playing for Nurnberg 30 y/0 has choosen Kosova.

There are strong rumors that Besart Berisha playing in Australia.

There are rumors that Xherdan Shaqiri, Granit Xhaka, Adnan Januzaj and Shani Tarasha are reviewing the invitation to play for Kosova since Kosovas NT coach said that he has officially invited every Kosovan player and those named before too. As for Januzaj there are are high chances that he will join Kosovas NT since he was left out of the Belgiums NT in the Euros. As for Shaqiri and Xhaka there are voices that they will join since even RTK (Kosovas state telivision) posted news that they already accepted our NT but then they deleted it. If they join, we will defenitely have a really decent NT, since we already have some good players like Bernard Berisha who is has been voted in top 11 in Russian Leauge.

After our first draw with Finland as guests, tonight we meet Croatia in Albania for World Cup Qualifiers (since our stadiums still dont meet UEFA and FIFAs standards). No doubt that Croatia is the absolute favorite tonight, but I am keen to see my NT play its second official game.

This will not be awkward? Or does the Croat-Serb troubles not affect Kosovo at all? I'm terribly sorry, but my grasp of European politics is next to null. You guys don't provide as much entertainment as the US.

Croatian-Albanian (the nationality of the majority in Kosova) relations are very good. Take a look at this: http://www.telegrafi.com/mediat-serbe-sa-s...-serbine-video/

Shameful chanting from both sides.

You don't see that every day...

Honestly, I don't know what Ventura is trying to accomplish by walking the same path as Conte without being able to provide the same tactical noose and grit Conte can.

Parolo, Monto, and even De Rossi were all just horrific against Spain. How Parolo and Monto got called up is beyond me. Monto has been ghosting around on the pitch for about 2 years now. While Parolo is as limited as it gets.

Same with Eder and Pelle. Pelle is just a sh!t striker. Simple as. He doesn't belong in the NT and same goes for Eder who might be lightning quick but basically provides nothing in build-up and end product.

Immobile and Bellotti did more in the half hour they were on than the other 2 did all game.

Also, why wasn't Verratti on the pitch? Italy's most talented player sitting on the bench to play the likes of Parolo and Monto makes no sense. Same goes with Insigne, SES, Berardi (when he's fit) and a couple of other players who are more talented than the guys currently in the team. It's time to push out the older players who aren't really all that great and start building a new Italy team

Sometimes things are more about the sum of the parts rather than the individual pieces. Eder, Pelle and Parolo were sensational against Spain at the Euros. Though I find you very narrow minded in your thinking towards player quality in general.

Hahaha...

han needs players who can do 99,797 stepovers per minute, while also play-making from any position in the field, has great crossing and heading ability, shoot from long distance and is a deadly finisher.

Said player MIGHT make it to han's first XI. Might - because said player might have had the bad game where he shot when he should has passed and so obviously he's not world class.

#trollhan because I haven't done so in ages. And he's that friend who I love to piss off.

So they were good in a handful of games but are generally p!ss poor in others so they should start for Italy?

I personally think that only the best players should pull on that Azzurri shirt and the fact that guys like Eder, Parolo, Pelle, Giaccherini, etc are able to be regulars for this current Italy mostly speaks to the current desperate situation Italian football is going through

But to leave your best and brightest out to accommodate those players for me is inexcusable.

Also, this culture of being more than the sum of their parts was introduced by Conte. And let's all just put aside the fact that Italy were unwatchable through the Euro qualifying (getting there is what counts after all) and they were able to be in fact greater than the sum of their parts (Italy generally revel in rising to the occasion, especially when they're underestimated and are counted out). But not every coach (especially not Ventura) will be able to bring that out in them. Conte is special in that sense. But Ventura needs to select his best team

And sorry, but Monto, Parolo, Eder and Pelle are certainly not the best selections he can make.

Also, I don't think it's narrow mindedness that I don't rate certain players. Just a difference of opinion. Think back to the great debated of Ambro v. Rino. Did that make either one of use narrow minded because we each rated one over the other. And let's face it, neither one of those was a player who could do: "99,797 stepovers per minute, while also play-making from any position in the field, has great crossing and heading ability, shoot from long distance and is a deadly finisher." - as Jack would put it


What can I say, I have high standards

#trollFail

Sometimes it's about getting the most well rounded team, though. Pelle and Eder worked really well together and no team really knew how to cope with them as a duo.

Should Veratti be dropped now? He was easily Macedonia's best player, and Italy had to be saved by the awfully mediocre Candreva.

I'm all for a well rounded squad that has a diverse skillset, but Eder and Pelle epitomise mediocrity. And teams couldn't "cope" with them? Hardly...

As for Verratti, he might have made the mistake that let Macedonia back into the game, but he redeemed himself after that and was the driving force for Italy's comeback. Candreva was good as well, but Verratti made all the key moments happen

Not to mention Immobile's energy and constant movement in the second half was a constant problem for Macedonia.

I couldn't possibly disagree any more than I do on any of the above points to be honest.

Well let's agree to disagree.

It's the kind of situation where's it's best to do so. But what would be a very good thing to do as well is try understanding the different viewpoint. Because here we don't have as much of a difference in opinions; it's more a difference in viewpoints.

Let's put it this way, I don't see any of the mentioned players being in the squad or at the least important cogs in the team that goes to the WC (If they get there that is)

Italy against Spain soon. Bonucci will start, Conti and Donnarumma on the bench. I will be keeping a special eye on Marco Asensio. They say he's a star in the making.

This Italy formation makes no sense to me. They're way too exposed in the center, Immobile and Belotti are completely isolated and Insigne is playing way out of position. And why is Darmian playing instead of Conti? Ventura never seemed the right coach to me for Italy.

Ventura was a terrible decision from the beginning. The game today has been an embarrassment and he's mostly to blame. You play 4-2-4 against f@cking Spain of all teams??!! Completely overrun in the midfield. Darmian and Spinazzola in the FB positions? Candreva?

I just can't even begin to list all that was wrong with the tactics today. And even after being completely outplayed in the first half he made no changes until the 70th (!!) minute. Add to that, he leaves the same shape and brings on Eder



Now what will happen? Will Italy have to play in the play-offs to make it into the World Cup?

Yes.

Maybe they'll sack Ventura before the play off. But wait, ain't two teams advancing directly?

No, only the first one advances directly.

They won't because Italy will win the easy games. But yesterday shows how ill-equipped he is to be a NT coach. For someone who's never even coached a half decent team, I honestly don't know what Tavecchio was thinking when he chose him.

His call ups are appaling as well. To leave a player like Jorginho back home and then call up Montolivo just says it all.

https://streamable.com/353l5

Not sure anyone else saw it, but the U21 game (v Slovenia) yesterday was a lot of fun. The kids looked an awful lot better than their own mess v Spain. They played a fluid, cohesive sort of football that was a joy to watch.

The Milan kids - Cutrone, Locatelli, Calabria - all did well, Loca providing the assist for Cutrone's goal.

MOM for the game for me at least was Federico Chiesa of Fiorentina. That kid is really good.

so the last thing which was left to witness was Italy failing to qualify for WC !!

Speaks volumes as to the quality of players available for Italy. Reminising on the 2006 team that went to Germany.

Complete utter disaster.

I don't even think it had anything to do with the quality of the players. Horrible coaching. No tactical identity. Daniel De Rossi's rant says it all at the end.

Ventura was a disastrous choice. It’s all on Tavecchio.

Football Italia is running a report saying Tavecchio won't be held to task. It has to do with him having managed finances really well, the introduction of VAR and the hugely improved performance of the U-21s.

I sort of see the point. Ventura had won 4 out of 5 games till the disasters against Macedonia and then Sweden. I'm not sure if firing the coach would have helped by that point.

But some really basic disasters in his play. I think Low hit upon the best method. Which is to take the best players from the best playing clubs and give them the system they're most comfortable playing in.

And here we had Insigne being played in centre midfield.

Italy should have been a 3-4-3 or a 4-3-3 - No question. And Jorginho should have been a part of it.