Italy play Cameroon on Wednesday in one of the matches building up to the world cup.

Squad
Goalkeepers: De Sanctis (Napoli), Marchetti (Cagliari), Sirigu (Palermo);
Defenders: Bonera (Milan), Bonucci (Bari), Legrottaglie (Juventus), Cannavaro (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Cassani (Palermo), Maggio (Napoli), Criscito (Genoa);
Midfielders: Pepe (Udinese), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pirlo (Milan), Marchisio (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Gattuso (Milan), Cossu (Cagliari);
Forwards: Borriello (Milan), Di Natale (Udinese), Pazzini (Sampdoria), Quagliarella (Napoli).
   

Great to see Leo Bonucci in the squad has had an excellent season so far, as has Cassani of Palermo. Actually, I quite like the look of the defensive options with Maggio and Criscito in their as well.

Yeah some interesting games there. I guess your right, this isnt or at least hasnt since the 2006 world cup been an Italy side performing with conviction. But, the draw is favourable and the quarter finals at least look a distinct possibility. I have to say I am looking forward to the world cup especially as my clubs season is disappearing down the toilet. 

I really didn't see this italian team going very far to be honest but with the group they should really have no problem making it through and probably finishing first. I think if they finish first then they face denmark which also isn't that bad of an opponent.

Other games that interest me:

brazil v portugal
chile v spain
netherlands v denmark
germany v serbia
england v usa

So Italy draw Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia for the world cup. Not bad really, could have been a lot worse.

Looks like Pazzini will start for this one. I see him as the one to lead the line next summer. Gilardino could also, but Pazzini has been in inspired form this season so it's nice to see him get the chance to lead off. Im looking forward to see more of Candreva, he played very well against Holland the other night.

Thought I'd get the topic rolling and don't have time post my comments but Italy are up against the WC unqualified Sweden who I believe are a strong team but had bad luck. Had they beat Denmark in the second legge they would have been in the playoffs instead of Portugal. Lippi is still experimenting with the team .. i'm thinking by early next year he'll have a better idea of his starting 11 and try to build chemistry from there.

From Associated Press:

ROME — Italy's friendly with Sweden on Wednesday may be remembered more for the players missing than the match's participants.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi sent home Gianluigi Buffon, Fabio Cannavaro, Gianluca Zambrotta and Andrea Pirlo after Saturday's 0-0 draw with the Netherlands, while Sweden is without forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is taking a break from the national team to decide if he wants to continue playing for his country.

The game in Cesena will mark the debut of new Sweden coach Erik Hamren, who was hired two weeks ago to replace Lars Lagerback, who resigned last month after Sweden failed to qualify for the World Cup.

Hamren has picked an extra large squad of 24 players -- including seven from the under-21 side -- in order to familiarize himself with his team.

Italy will also field a youthful squad, as Lippi wants to get a good look at some developing players before choosing his 23-man team to defend the World Cup title in South Africa next year.

"I already have 16 or 17 players certain for the World Cup," Lippi said. "I've got to find another six or seven."

Sampdoria forward Giampaolo Pazzini has been outspoken in making his case for one of those spots.

With constant reports over the possibility of Juventus' Brazilian-born forward Amauri joining Italy's team, Pazzini didn't conceal his opinion on the matter Monday.

"It is a little bothersome if it's going to be a Brazilian to win the race for the national team," Pazzini said. "It's one thing if you're half Italian and half foreigner but in this case there really isn't any Italian involved."

Amauri is attempting to gain Italian citizenship by ways of a distant relative.

Pazzini's honesty also extends to the field, such as when he told the referee he scored with his hand in the 82nd minute against the Netherlands. That was Pazzini's first appearance for Italy since picking up a red card in the third minute of a 1-1 draw with Ireland in April, after he elbowed John O'Shea as they went up for a header, bloodying the defender's face.

"That expulsion stuck with me. I was in great form, playing my first game as a starter and I had scored four days earlier in Montenegro," Pazzini said. "I paid for that and I feel like I should have some good fortune now."

Pazzini is near the top of the Serie A scoring chart with seven goals this season, taking advantage of his partnership at Sampdoria with the talented Antonio Cassano, a player Lippi refuses to call up.

Another Italy forward, Giuseppe Rossi, is also showing signs of a return to form.

Like Pazzini, Rossi performed well when he came on in the second half against the Netherlands.

The New Jersey-born forward scored twice in a 3-1 win over the United States at the Confederations Cup in June, but it had been mostly downhill since then for the 22-year-old.

Rossi's club Villarreal was languishing in last place in the Spanish league until recently, and his performances with Italy had also not impressed lately.

"I had never gone through such a difficult moment in my career," Rossi said. "I don't know if the honeymoon with the national team is already over, but I'm not thinking about losing my spot for the World Cup. Right now the only thing that counts for me is Azzurro and the next game with Sweden."

Along with Pazzini and Rossi, other new players Lippi might use include goalkeeper Federico Marchetti, defenders Christian Maggio and Domenico Criscito and midfielders Davide Biondini and Antonio Candreva.

Besides Ibrahimovic, Sweden is also without Hamburger SV striker Marcus Berg, who has a cold.

"I would love to have Zlatan in the national team, since he is the best football player we have in Sweden. But he has to be motivated as well," Hamren said.

Hamren currently coaches Norwegian team Rosenborg and will remain in that job until August when he will switch to coaching Sweden full time.

Wow, this was interesting .. after I posted my comment I found this article on football italia .. could I be onto something ?

Mancini reveals his Italy XI     
Tuesday 17 November, 2009
Former Inter, Lazio and Fiorentina Coach Roberto Mancini has revealed the XI players he would select if he were in charge of Italy.

The 44-year-old recently decided to rescind his contract with Inter just over a year after being sacked by Massimo Moratti.

Mancini is still without a job and would be one of the frontrunners to take over from Marcello Lippi, if the World Cup winner steps down next summer.

Interviewed on Italian TV show Le Iene, Mancini named his XI as Buffon; Zambrotta, Nesta, Barzagli, Grosso; Pirlo, De Rossi, Gattuso, Cassano; Totti, Toni.

Interestingly, Mancini differs with Lippi in that he would prefer Barzagli to Cannavaro.

There is also no room for Cannavaro's Juventus team-mate Giorgio Chiellini.

But perhaps most important of all is Mancini's decision to include Antonio Cassano, the Sampdoria fantasista, who has so far been ignored by Lippi during his second stint in charge of La Nazionale.

Cassano has become something of a cause célèbre among the Italian people.

A fan got on the pitch during Italy's friendly with Holland on Saturday and showed off his T-Shirt on which was printed: “Cassano in the national team.”
   

I would normally say Capello who I thought would have taken the job after donadummy but he went to england and at this point I think he's going to have a permanent position with the english. I would have to say Mancini would be a great candidate since he's not doing anything at the moment and probably the best of the currently unemployed coaches.

Missed the game but can't be too upset with a tie against holland which is a great team. Next is sweden.. i hope lippi finds his winning formula soon it seems like the roster changes every game but the one missing ingredient he's overlooking is definately cassano and even the fan who stormed the field was kicked out of the stadium to prove his point .. unless he had other motives just to get publicity which is just as likely and if so he succeeded.

Looks like the Azzurri will be looking for Lippi's predecessor. 

"Candidates to take over include Fiorentina boss Cesare Prandelli, former Inter Coach Roberto Mancini, ex-Roma tactician Luciano Spalletti and Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti."

Your thoughts?


www.football-italia.net/nov16v.html