Brazil vs. Italy - Friendly

[Locke]

Feb 10/09

Italy's Grosso had a goal called back on a close offside call.

Elano scores in the 13th minute to make it 1-0 Brazil.

Robinho makes the entire Italian back 4 look like amateurs and scores an amazing goal with a superb individual effort. He deked the Italians out of their hair grease.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Locke

Feb 10/09

Italy's Grosso had a goal called back on a close offside call.

Elano scores in the 13th minute to make it 1-0 Brazil.

Robinho makes the entire Italian back 4 look like amateurs and scores an amazing goal with a superb individual effort. He deked the Italians out of their hair grease.

Italy's greatest strength is now their biggest weakness, since they are recycling has-beens, and not cultivating new talent in defense very well.
Cannavaro and Zambrotta are finished. Legrottaglie is a solid defender, but hardly NT quality, he's good depth for a top team, or a star on a midtable club. He's filling in for Chiellini, the only good young Italian CB, who Juve refused to release, since he's still recovering from injury.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

Italy's greatest strength is now their biggest weakness, since they are recycling has-beens, and not cultivating new talent in defense very well.
Cannavaro and Zambrotta are finished. Legrottaglie is a solid defender, but hardly NT quality, he's good depth for a top team, or a star on a midtable club. He's filling in for Chiellini, the only good young Italian CB, who Juve refused to release, since he's still recovering from injury.

Are you watching this game? It was all Italy for the first 10 minutes but once Brazil calmed down and started playing their game they've been taking it to Italy.

I hate announcers that dub someone 'the greatest goaltender in the world.'

It drives me insane, they said it about Petr Cech in the Euros and then these guys say it about Buffoon. Really? Based on what criteria?

I hear you about the development of new talent, but Brazil is always a mix of whoever is available. No Kaka was a fairly huge blow.

Whats the deal regarding the controversy surrounding Amauri?

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Locke

Are you watching this game? It was all Italy for the first 10 minutes but once Brazil calmed down and started playing their game they've been taking it to Italy.

I hate announcers that dub someone 'the greatest goaltender in the world.'

It drives me insane, they said it about Petr Cech in the Euros and then these guys say it about Buffoon. Really? Based on what criteria?

I hear you about the development of new talent, but Brazil is always a mix of whoever is available. No Kaka was a fairly huge blow.

Whats the deal regarding the controversy surrounding Amauri?

I'm at work, so I can't really watch the game, which sort of sucks.

Its tough to dub a "best goaltender", but Buffon would be a good choice. Not sure how they critique that, maybe a GAA, quality of team, quality of saves, international caps, etc. Ironically, Juve did better this season with Manninger (except one game) than with Buffon, since sometimes teams relax when they have a "top goalie". He's definitely one of the best alongside Cech and Casillas, but its tough to say.

Brazil is a mix of who the coach likes and who wants to play, which makes them a powderkeg all the time, but typically fun to watch.

The controversy with Amauri is this: He was never capped by Brazil, and has lived and grown in the Italian system for over 5 years. His wife is Italian, and he's about to get an EU (Italy) Passport. He is leaning towards playing with the Azzurri, due to the snub Brazil gave him in years past, the open spot for an elite striker, and encouragement by the Juventus "senators" (Buffon, Del Piero, Camoranesi, Trezeguet and Nedved), but his paperwork is being delayed, and he's getting antsy. Dunga didn't call him to the main team initially which pissed him off, but decided to really stir up trouble, and call him up as a last minute replacement. Amauri was stumped and was considering doing it to finally get a NT shirt, but Dunga really pissed off Juventus by doing this, so they blocked his call-up.

Now he's right back where he was before... waiting for his paperwork and inevitable call from Lippi, and a tough decision.

[kobasew19]

Originally Posted by Thunderball

I'm at work, so I can't really watch the game, which sort of sucks.

Its tough to dub a "best goaltender", but Buffon would be a good choice. Not sure how they critique that, maybe a GAA, quality of team, quality of saves, international caps, etc. Ironically, Juve did better this season with Manninger (except one game) than with Buffon, since sometimes teams relax when they have a "top goalie". He's definitely one of the best alongside Cech and Casillas, but its tough to say.

Brazil is a mix of who the coach likes and who wants to play, which makes them a powderkeg all the time, but typically fun to watch.

The controversy with Amauri is this: He was never capped by Brazil, and has lived and grown in the Italian system for over 5 years. His wife is Italian, and he's about to get an EU (Italy) Passport. He is leaning towards playing with the Azzurri, due to the snub Brazil gave him in years past, the open spot for an elite striker, and encouragement by the Juventus "senators" (Buffon, Del Piero, Camoranesi, Trezeguet and Nedved), but his paperwork is being delayed, and he's getting antsy. Dunga didn't call him to the main team initially which pissed him off, but decided to really stir up trouble, and call him up as a last minute replacement. Amauri was stumped and was considering doing it to finally get a NT shirt, but Dunga really pissed off Juventus by doing this, so they blocked his call-up.

Now he's right back where he was before... waiting for his paperwork and inevitable call from Lippi, and a tough decision.

Thunderball, nice to see another Juve fan on the flames board. Question for you is where would Amauri fit in for the Azzurris? Would he be the one that takes Toni's spot as the sole striker on the team or would they have some sort of twin tower partnership?

Il Captaino (Del Piero) should have played in the game yesterday against Brazil, it would have ended up 2-2 if had occurred. ahah just jokes but my love for DP is 100% true.

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by kobasew19

Thunderball, nice to see another Juve fan on the flames board. Question for you is where would Amauri fit in for the Azzurris? Would he be the one that takes Toni's spot as the sole striker on the team or would they have some sort of twin tower partnership?

Il Captaino (Del Piero) should have played in the game yesterday against Brazil, it would have ended up 2-2 if had occurred. ahah just jokes but my love for DP is 100% true.

Toni has been just dreadful for Italy since leaving Serie A for the Bundesliga. Only reason he looks good there is Ribery. I'd say boot him off the team outright. Italy has a lot of good younger strikers that need a chance. No more Toni, Di Natale, or even Iaquinta. Gilardino should only be a reserve for the Azzurri.

Amauri would most likely be the sole striker replacing Toni outright in the current Lippi system, like he was often with Palermo, with wide wingers like Camoranesi and Di Natale (probably not a good idea). I would rather an Amauri-Rossi partnership, with DP, Cassano or Quagliarella as a sub, or to bring back the trequartista, either Totti, or someone with the potential to be better, like Montolivo or Giovinco. Just because Ranieri wastes him doesn't mean Lippi has to.

I was quite happy Il Capitano wasn't at the game, since it was a meaningless friendly. Sampdoria is way too important to have him fatigued, especially with the defense in such dire shape without Chiellini.

[Bagor]

Looks like Italy and Ireland's two games against each other will determine who wins their qualifying group. Trapattoni vs his countrymen.

By all accounts it appeared to be a strangely refereed game between Ireland/Georgia in Dublin today

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ls/7881893.stm

[Thunderball]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Looks like Italy and Ireland's two games against each other will determine who wins their qualifying group. Trapattoni vs his countrymen.

By all accounts it appeared to be a strangely refereed game between Ireland/Georgia in Dublin today

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ls/7881893.stm

Should be a good couple games. It really depends on who is selected and/or matchfit at the time, especially for Italy. Cassano, Del Piero and Chiellini simply have to play for Italy to be successful.

[Bagor]

Yeah, same could be said for ROI. Take either Keane or Duff out at the front or O'Shea at the back and they have nothing worth talking about.

Only thing going in Ireland's favour is that they still have the loan of Croke park (and the subsequent increased crowd) until the end of the year before they have to go back to Lansdowne Road.

[flip]

Originally Posted by Bagor

Looks like Italy and Ireland's two games against each other will determine who wins their qualifying group. Trapattoni vs his countrymen.

By all accounts it appeared to be a strangely refereed game between Ireland/Georgia in Dublin today

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/foot...ls/7881893.stm

Awesome. My two background nationalities facing each other. Not sure who to cheer for but I think I have more allegiance to the Azzurri.

[GirlySports]

Ireland were very fortunate to beat Georgia today in WCQ. Robbie Keane saved them.

As for Brazil, woohoo!!!!!
I didn't see the game.. I know Kaka is out and will miss the derby this weekend. Did Pato play?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Ireland were very fortunate to beat Georgia

How . . . dare . . . you?

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by troutman

How . . . dare . . . you?

I'm just stating fact

I'm neutral!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by flip

Awesome. My two background nationalities facing each other. Not sure who to cheer for but I think I have more allegiance to the Azzurri.

Of course you do you greasy basterd. We discussed this in the car...you know what I think of Italians and the French!