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Euro 2008 Team Preview: Italy

May 28th, 2008 | By: chris | 41 Comments »

Group C: France, Netherlands, Romania

Nickname: Azzurri (Blues)

Kits: azzurro/blue

FIFA World Ranking (May 2008): 3

Coach: Roberto Donadoni

Winner of 63 caps himself, Donadoni was hired when Marcello Lippi stepped down after the World Cup 2006 victory. He was seen as a clean break from the old era in the wake of Calciopoli when the FIGC, the Italian football governing body, was in need of a facelift. The beginning was rough, and there were a few stumbles along the way during qualifying, but he seemed to right the ship towards the end and just last week he picked up a new contract extension to take him through World Cup 2010. However, his job security is anything but ironclad; there’s an out clause for both he and the FIGC which can be used within ten days of the closing ceremonies should things no go splendidly. So he’ll be going into the tournament with a bit more at stake than the fortunes of the Azzurri.

Captain: Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid - 115 Caps)

History: Well, it’s been a good one, to say the least. They fall second behind Germany in Europe for their major trophy haul with five (Germany has six), but they have what matters most: the fourth star, picked up at World Cup 2006. So they sit just one behind Brazil in terms of world championships. Safe to say Italy is one of the premier footballing nations in the world.

The team actually fares much better on the global stage than the continental version, as they’ve only won one title (1968) and have failed to qualify for the knockouts twice in the last three tournaments (the one time being a final loss in 2000 - I hear they got revenge). Last time around it wasn’t fun, to say the least, being left at home at the expense of Scandinavia (Denmark and Sweden headed through from the group).

What they do have is pedigree and they return 14 men from the team that won the 2006 World Cup. So the very short-term history should be enough for now.

Expectations: Despite being a participant in the Group O’Death, anything but an appearance in the semi-finals will be a major disappointment and, more than likely, cost Donadoni his job. Obviously the Euros are nowhere near the heights of the World Cup, and the tifosi will soak that one in for another two years regardless of the outcome in Swissaustria, but this is Italia and they are among the best of the best. Their success should match their stature.

A group stage loss will never be accepted - though you can’t rule it out, they do have a history of seemingly just deciding they’re better than everyone else so why even bother showing up? - and the only way a quarterfinals loss could maybe kinda sorta be accepted is if they go down to the uber-talented Spain. But even that would probably signal the pink slip for The Don.

Top four for internal expectations, but many, if not most, will favor them to get to the finals and perhaps even win the whole thing. After all, they are one of the favorites for a reason.

Key Player: In a squad of this magnitude, you could start plucking away, but almost to a person, Azzurri fans will point out one player who shoulders more responsibility and, more often than not, glory in Italian successes: Andrea Pirlo. Fabio Cannavaro is the emotional leader and veritable vacuum in the back line; Gianluigi Buffon is the nearly impenetrable wall in goal; Luca Toni is the irreplaceable provider of goals and goals and more goals; but Pirlo is something else entirely. Not the most athletically gifted player in the world, his key assets are his unbelievable right foot and his top notch footballing intelligence. His role is the deep-lying playmaker, and as he goes it’s often said the Azzurri attack goes. Quite simply were it not for him the Italians would be watching at home.

For the purist, he’s an absolute beauty to watch. He can drop a ball on a half a dime from fifty yards away, and he’ll anticipate the precise moment when a striker is about to release off a defender’s shoulder. He’ll wait for the attack to set up and then deliver a final ball perhaps better than anyone else in the world. And he is simply the best taker of set pieces in the world. Not the most dynamic player in the world, but someone who deserves to be watched for 90 minutes.

X-Factor: This role can only go to Antonio Cassano. Without question the most talented player on the squad, he was a somewhat surprise inclusion due to the wandering nature of his brain and, in particular, his penchant for making really bad decisions. Donadoni has taken him, and as hesitant as some may be, the mere thought of him on the pitch in azzurro is gleefully tantalizing. Kid on Christmas might begin to describe it. If they can’t have Totti, he’s the next best thing.

Of course, that’s only half the story. Antonio has more tantrums than a teething toddler and those can obviously come back to bite the squad in the ass. At times he’s a red card waiting to happen, and in a tournament where each game can be do or die, that is absolutely lethal. A serene, magical Antonio Cassano probably makes the Azzurri the favorites. Cassanata could mean an earlier than expected exit.

Other Key Players: As was said, on a team of this caliber, they’re all “key players”. However, a few are more so than others. Gianluigi Buffon is obvious, as the best goalkeeper in the world could never be considered anything but key. In the back Fabio Cannavaro, 2006 Ballon D’Or winner, is always at his best for country despite club form (thankfully). The only other real untouchable in the back is Gianluca Zambrotta and his skills on the flanks. In the midfield it’s a bit of a guessing game right now, as Gennaro Gattuso was out of form this year and Daniele De Rossi, the Azzurri midfield phenom, grew up and became the best centrocampista on the peninsula. Mauro Camoranesi, however unsung he may be at times, has also been fantastic this year and will surely be lined up on the right wing. Then there’s Luca Toni, he of 44 goals this season for club & country. Pure goal machine.

So yeah, they’ve got a couple.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Marco Amelia (AS Livorno Calcio), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Sevilla FC).

Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (US Città di Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid CF), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyonnais), Marco Materazzi (FC Internazionale Milano), Christian Panucci (AS Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (FC Barcelona).

Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini (AC Milan), Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan).

Forwards: Marco Borriello (Genoa CFC), Antonio Cassano (UC Sampdoria), Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese Calcio), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese Calcio), Luca Toni (FC Bayern München).

Team Blogger Assessment: Well, the team blogger is me (hi), so here’s my take:

Less important than the squad itself is The Don. After the brilliance and majesty of Marcello Lippi, he hasn’t done anything to really inspire any confidence in the fans, despite winning the qualifying group. His tactics are questionable, squad selection even more so, and at times his ability to motivate the squad has been completely absent. This is a team which was a moment of Buffon magic away from drawing the Faroe Islands, a team comprised of amateurs. What will his impact be, and in which direction will it fall?

The team defense is the least of the worries. The back line is very good and often great, while the midfield will undoubtedly provide something of a secondary backline. De Rossi, Gattuso, Perrotta, Ambrosini and Aquilani can all defend like madmen and to make it through that many skilled tactical defenders takes a good deal of something. And as everyone knows, defending has never been a big issue for Italians. Plus, if all goes to hell, you can pepper Gigi Buffon all you want, they ain’t goin’ in. The guy’s simply on another planet from everyone else.

What can be an issue is scoring goals, however, and the only sure through lanes of the offense are Luca Toni and Andrea Pirlo. If one or both are off their games, it’s time to look around at other, less enticing options. Of course, that was the case before Cassano was called up. Now the Azzurri have perhaps the premier technician at the tournament available either from the start or the bench, but they have a 3rd elite attacker now, which may very well be the difference. That is, if he says somewhat mentally stable.

The greatest worry I think may people have is seeing either Cassano or Marco Materazzi, if he plays, going apeshit and winding up with an early shower. Tactically and technically this team is good enough to beat anyone, but each game matters and they can’t afford a blow up from the batshit cracy phenom or the butcher disguised as a football player.

Personally, I think this team will go one of two ways and the difference is Cassano. If he plays to his capabilities and stays sane, I honestly think they’ll win the tournament, even though I, like many others, was picking Germany before he was named to the squad. It’s no exaggeration to say he can be the best player in the world and he may just prove that at in June. If he doesn’t make the lineup and/or pulls a Cassanata….don’t know, but I’d go back to picking Germany - with a major reason being the road on to the finals on the other side of town being much easier. Another being complacency may set in one day and that’ll be all she wrote.

Gun to my head I think something gets screwed up in the semifinals. Just enough to keep Donadoni employed and just enough to piss off Azzurri fans until South Africa.

Italy Blog.

Random International Moments:

Marco Tardelli’s infamous celebration in the World Cup final of 1982.

Fabio Grosso’s infamous celebration in the World Cup semifinal of 2006.

Baggio’s late game heroics against Nigeria in ‘94.

Berlin, July 9th 2006.

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Tags: Andrea Pirlo, Antonio Cassano, Azzurri, Daniele De Rossi, Euro 2008 Team Profiles, Fabio Cannavaro, Gennaro Gattuso, Gianluigi Buffon, Italy

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 41 comments.

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By Jan | May 29th, 2008 at 6:36 am

I accept your apologies. In deep honesty I say that I had nothing against the Italian team before Italy-Australia but after that game it played in a way that I didn’t like and the long-term attitude of the Italian media was outrageously ridiculous.

In the same way as you say the debate should be over I say that the nationalist boasting of most Italians should be over too so everytime I read about that World Cup it pretty much annoys me. Also because I’m against finals being won on penalties, they’re draws to me, not victories.

I’m also half Dutch, another form of perfection

Posted from Italy

By tito | May 29th, 2008 at 7:31 am

Nice post, Chris. I’m so used to your endless ummm ‘appreciation’ for DDR that it’s nice to see the very appropriate Pirlo-love. As he goes, we go.

I was in Italy (Ponza) for the final of the 2000 euro and I still haven’t recovered from that wretched experience… Forza ragazzi - please make the nightmares go away! ;^>

Much love to the Danes, French and British who come to argue calcio con i tifosi… you make the victories that much sweeter!

By k | May 29th, 2008 at 7:42 am

i find that a possible reason behind the extreme arrogance after the world cup win was due to all the crap being hurled at italy due to the whole calciopoli scandal… italian football and serie a was and still is constantly and wrongly berated around the world because of calciopoli and catenaccio tactics(which i dont believe they even use, anymore)…

this brings out that feeling of “us against the world,” which in turn brings out the “we showed them” attitude to compensate for the negative media…

also, like i said, italian football(usually the national team and the big teams in the cl) is constantly chastised for catenaccio, when the national team doesnt really play that game, and milan, roma, fiorentina play very attractive football in europe… inter, however play their boring brand of football which should be rightfully berated… yet, the media and commentators,(especially in england) will take every opportunity to use ignorant statements like well thats the italian way and the italians will use their negative football…

whats even more annoying is that when italian teams do it, its cattenacio, and when other teams do it, its brave defending and smart tactics… look at man utd’s run to the final(smart tactics) and even more so the rangers semi-final against fiorentina(brave defending)… don’t get me wrong, i am not taking anything away from man utd, they learned their lesson at the san siro and used “smart tactics” to get their win… thats not my problem, its the difference in the way teams are treated for using precisely the same brand of football…

that is just a general annoyance to most fans of the italian national team and italian football in general… that could possibly be a reason for the arrogance over the world cup victory… its just over compensation for all the insults both indirect and direct, that we have had to endure…

Posted from United States

By McTalian | May 29th, 2008 at 7:50 am

Donadoni will be making a mistake if he starts an all-Milan midfield. This is the midfield that, despite their huge talent, underperformed all year and led the Rossonerri to an embarassing 5th place finish. Danielle DeRossi, the best defending mid in Italy, deserves a start. You can’t bench Pirlo because of his versatility and brilliance as a playmaker and free kick taker. Gattuso, off-form as he was much of the year, is still the “snarling dog” and always plays huge for Italy, so he needs to start. That leaves Ambro. He’s got to sit down.
The attack, strangely, appears to be our deepest pool. If Del P. or Cassano tire, we can trot out Napoli-born speedsters DiNatale and Fab Quags, and even bring on Camo in a playmaking role.
While we have the big names in defense, all those greats are in their mid ’30s! That’s a little worrying, but maybe their legs have one more big tournament in them. Combine that with football intelligence and there’s a chance for something great.
FORZA ITALIA!

Posted from United States

By McTalian | May 29th, 2008 at 8:06 am

I think K’s points are right on.
Furthermore, the winners are always labelled “arrogant.” Remember when Germany was winning everything in sight? “Fat, arrogant Germans” is all you heard. Hating on Italy is the sincerest form of flattery.
The argument that France deserved the title more than Italy is fallacious. Italy scored twice in open play and had one goal unfairly ruled offside. France scored thanks to a heinous penalty call. France came forward more, but Italy contained and had about as many valid chances on net.
Germany should have won? Well, then they should have beaten Italy. They had every advantage: home crowd, home turf and even calls that went their way. What happened? Italy scored two and hit the post two other times. That means the Azzurri “deserved” it, in the sense of the word as I understand it.
Italy conceded only one goal from open play — an own goal, mind you — and beat the world number 2 at the time, Czech Republic, and the tournament’s two most surprising upstart teams, Ghana and Australia, the latter while playing with only 10 men. The penalty against Australia was undeserved? It could have went either way. The ref gave it. End of story. Move on.
Italian “arrogance” is, as K points out, simply defending a team that rightly became world champions and doesn’t get the respect it deserves. But go on hating. It makes every victory sweeter.

Posted from United States

By Laurie | May 29th, 2008 at 8:54 am

In Jan’s defense, let’s remember that after World Cup, the president of the Italian Senate said that Italy won because the France team was made up of “blacks, Islamists and communists.”

Let me reiterate: The President. of the. Italian. Senate.

He then refused to retract the statement and instead said that the World Cup victory was “a victory for Italian identity”. Meaning white Italian identity.

I believe that is the definition of arrogance.

Posted from United States

By Jan | May 29th, 2008 at 8:58 am

“thats not my problem, its the difference in the way teams are treated for using precisely the same brand of football…”

Yeah, but that’s a general phenomenon, which doesn’t just apply to Italian football. When a Brazilian dribbles past a player you have samba football magic, when an Italian defends a ball you have catenaccio and when a German converts a penalty he is clinical, cold blooded and efficient.

By Jan | May 29th, 2008 at 9:18 am

Thanks Laurie,
you’ve understood what I mean. Evidently people who don’t live in Italy don’t know what they’re talking about.
I realize nasty things were said about Italy before the World Cup but it doesn’t compare with the insults, the lies (la Gazzetta dello Sport always makes Domenech say things he hasn’t said, they also raised the issue of Gallas’ comments about Italy which were not anti-italian but they made it look that way), Italian sports journalists mock England, France and Germany in any situation.
Basically before the World Cup there was some humility in the Italian Medias, after winning it, it has completely disappeared and their arrogance is second to no one.
As a matter of fact I’ve lived here and by now I know the defects of this country so it’s easy for superficial touristy people to picture it as Eden and adore it, whilst living here is a different matter. The medias are awful and I watch French, Swiss and Dutch tv, so I can compare.

In my belief Italy didn’t deserve the World Cup and I’m entitled to have my own opinion. If that’s not fine with some people I couldn’t care less since people who think differently are always insulted and disrespected.

Posted from Italy

By McTalian | May 29th, 2008 at 9:35 am

Jan I was hearing ya until you said “people who think differently are always insulted and disrespected…”…Who are you - Socrates? Get over yourself.
And Laurie: There’s always an idiot politician willing to make an idiotic statement. France has loads of them. See the right winger that’s running the country these days for example.

Posted from United States

By Chris | May 29th, 2008 at 10:37 am

WTF? Can someone explain to me what the rantings of that nutcase Calderoli, head of the right-wing Northern League party, VICE president of the Senate UNTIL 2004, who had already resigned under pressure as reforms minister in February of 2006 (!!!) have to do with the Azzurri deserving to win WC 06?

No right-wing nutcases in France, eh? Le Pen, anyone?

Posted from United States

By john | May 29th, 2008 at 10:45 am

Laurie,

If indeed the President of the Italian senate said what you quoted I am the first to say his comments are outrageous.

However is this a game you want to play? It wont take me long to find quotes by both politicians and players from Germany, France, Argentina ect… that are at the very least equally as offensive.

Mctalian has it right on in his post

Arrogance or confident? Don’t both go hand in hand? The Italian football team deservedly should have both.

By Fred | May 29th, 2008 at 10:57 am

I understand about opinions but I really think this artical was written to discuss the current national team and what to expect of them in the upcoming tournament. Jan, though your opinions are valid, I really don’t think they are required right now, Italy hasn’t done anything wrong yet. At least wait until we’ve played our first game I’m sure there will be plenty to discuss then.

Posted from Canada

By BOB | May 29th, 2008 at 11:53 am

Close down the Italy Blog now before it’s too late…Euro hasn’t even started yet and you’re team and nationality are already being bashed. That’s a bad sign. When you won the World Cup you made a deal with the devil. France ensured your victory would be discredited. Devious are the French. Italy can’t win or lose in peace, I feel for you guys.

Posted from Canada

By k | May 29th, 2008 at 12:06 pm

yeah, what a single moronic politician says should have no bearing on the general belief of the population…

sadly, most people in the world cant look past it… most of the hatred in the world towards america is really directed at bush… they just assume his opinion to be the general opinion of all americans… obviously, this is untrue…

“Yeah, but that’s a general phenomenon, which doesn’t just apply to Italian football. When a Brazilian dribbles past a player you have samba football magic, when an Italian defends a ball you have catenaccio and when a German converts a penalty he is clinical, cold blooded and efficient.”

jan, this is true, but only the catenaccio reference is negative… samba is a positive reference and clinical and efficient as well… had the italian’s tactics called smart or brave, people wouldn’t have thrown a hissy fit…

also, yes it is true that i dont live in italy, but that does not mean that i have no idea what i am talking about… italian media may insult english, french and germans every opportunity they get, but its not like the english, french and german media are angels… i have read article after article from the english media and heard commentator after commentator constantly berate serie a and italian football… lets not forget that the german media referred to italians as slimy parasites before the semi-final… i am not familiar to the french media so i will refrain from making a judgment on them, but i highly doubt that they are free of any guilt of spreading such propaganda… if they are, they will be the only ones in the world… of the top of my head, i cant think of any country whose media doesn’t spread propaganda against other rival countries…

i am not disrespecting you nor insulting your opinion… was just hoping to have an adult debate…

Posted from United States

By k | May 29th, 2008 at 12:13 pm

also bob, its not too bad… the term was always lovable loser… no one ever attached that term to winners…

Posted from United States

By mele419 | May 29th, 2008 at 1:46 pm

The only thing that matters, is that us, the ITALIANS, not the french came out on top in Germany. Does it matter what the president of Italy said? Does it matter what Matrix said? Does it matter what anyone says?
Nope. We won. We are the CHAMPIONS. And now, we’re going to come out and fight in the Euro’s and kick some ass.
Il Cielo Sopra Svizzera-Austria è Azzuro.
FORZA ITALIA!

Posted from United States

By Weston | May 29th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

lets hope for more head shaving as i predict a Germany - Italy final and a (hopefully)repeat of the semifinal.

Posted from United States

By Kelly | May 29th, 2008 at 5:35 pm

How can you say Italy did not deserve to win. They would have won with no extra time if Malouda did not dive for the penalty and all. But whatever,I think we will see a Germany-Italy final.

By Jan | May 29th, 2008 at 10:50 pm

“ets not forget that the german media referred to italians as slimy parasites before the semi-final…”

Not sure it was slimy parasites exactly, but it definitely were a lot of other things as well. And it wasn’t “the german media”, it was one newspaper or weekly magazine - don’t remember exactly. And this one publication isn’t even tabloid level but caters to a more educated readership. Scandalous you might say, but this article was satire and it was completely over the top on purpose. The paper published an explanation and apology, but the damage had long been done.

By Jan | May 30th, 2008 at 4:55 am

I see we cannot agree. I do not intend to continue this debate. Nothing to me is a dogma and I can’t accept people saying “How can you possibly say …” and “You’re completely wrong” etc. Since I’m also a blogger on this website I shall not persevere although I will keep on believing what I believe.

Furthermore after Malouda’s “dive”, there was a second crystal-clear penalty which was not given. That’s all I wanted to say.

Posted from Italy

By john | May 30th, 2008 at 5:44 am

I cant wait for Italy’s first game v Holland. I love this group of mega death. It is going to be a great Euro.

I looking forward to see “peter pan” play as well…that beautiful mental case.

By Chubby | May 30th, 2008 at 6:14 am

Agree to disagree

I thought we were talking about Italy’s chances in the upcoming Euro tournament, and while we can’t just pass their previous achievements, they are not the point.

Personally, I would like to see Ambrosini getting a nod before Rino, and maybe even before De Rossi (in no particular order). Massimo was fantastic this season (as far as you can call this season fantastic), with his leadership, right kind of energy and on field presence.

By Enrico | June 4th, 2008 at 5:34 pm

K, your points are right on.
Jan, you are certainly entitled to your opinion, but I don’t know which World Cup you watched. If Italy didn’t deserve it in ‘06, then no one did. Their defense let by 0 goals, from regular play! Yet they got goals from almost every player on the team. I’m willing to hear more, but your argument doesn’t sound very convincing. As for the French, what can you say, with a culture very similar to Italian, they are jealous that Italians do everything a bit better then they.

Anyway, chances for Euro..if Cannavarro was still in it, I think Italy had one of the best chances. Now, not so sure. Though Spain is always dangerous, as well as Portugal and Germany.

By Indra | June 4th, 2008 at 10:46 pm

I am a die hard fan Of ITALY since the days of the maldinis, the Baggio brothers. Even though in the Group o Death. We will survive till the end.

Posted from Australia