Quote:
Originally Posted by GirlySports
As you said, it's good they bombed. Now if they win the European U21, they'll bring most of those players in.
I still wouldn't underestimate Italy next year.
I'm still confident about Brazil next year. Very difficult to beat Brazil in a World Cup outside of Europe.
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If they win the European U21 (dumb name, seeing as every team's best players are 21+ and tenured in), they should bring in several of those players, as well as the top players in the last WC friendlies that were ignored for the Confederation Cup, namely Pazzini, Foggia and D'Agostino.
However, as much as I'd love the conspiracy theory about intentionally fielding a weak team at the CC to force out the old guard to be true, Lippi gives me that old Sutter vibe that they simply don't trust young players and that experience is everything. While Sutter might be slowly changing his tune, I don't think Lippi has been knocked prematurely out enough to change his outlook.
Here's my bold prediction, assuming that Buffon, Chiellini, De Rossi, and Rossi are locks:
If Italy's WC 2010 roster does not feature most of this group of Marchetti, Santon, De Ceglie, Criscito, Giovinco, Marchisio, D'Agostino, Pazzini, Santacroce, Bocchetti, Foggia, Cassano, Amauri and Cigarini;
and if it features more than maybe a couple of: Legrottaglie, Gamberini, Del Piero, Quagliarella, and Pepe;
and if it features ANY of: Amelia, Zambrotta, Dossena, Gattuso and Toni;
and if players like Montolivo, Aquilani, Iaquinta, Palombo, and Gilardino are anything more than supporting depth or last minute replacements;
and if they rely too heavily on and overplay: Cannavaro, Grosso, Pirlo, and Camoranesi;
They will be knocked out at the Group Stage.