How Would You Rate the ITALIAN PLAYERS in the EURO 2008 Preparatory Match Italy - Belgium?
By Anna ItaliaCovering the EURO 2008 from an Italian Perspective
Time for YOU to be the COACH and evaluate how EACH PLAYER
did in the friendly match with Belgium.
Italy 3 - 1 Belgium 
9' Antonio Di Natale 93' W. Sonck
41' Antonio Di Natale
49' Mauro Camoranesi
After 5 days training in Coverciano of the Italian National team preparing the road towards UEFA UERO 2008, we finally watched our Italian players in the friendly match Italy 3 - 1 Belgium.
Although our players have a well deserved 2 days off, YOU AS A COACH cannot afford that luxury because you must evaluate and continue preparing different strategies for what will be convenient for ITALY when playing the first round of the UEFA EURO 2008 against Netherlands, Romania, and France.
What would you do if you were the Italian head coach? How would you evaluate the performance from each player during Italy - Belgium? Who convinced you? Who needs to train more? Who won his place as permanent starting lineup? Who disappointed you? - Let's start by analyzing Italian Head Coach Roberto Donadoni's choice for using the 4-3-3 formation. Did you agree with this formation for this particular match, yes, no, and why?
- Here are the the Italian lineup including substitutes. How would you rate each player in each department? By the way, try not to put your personal preference for your favorite players and let's try to be objective about our evaluation (starting with myself who as you know my 2 guys are Buffon and Del Piero). Just pretend YOU ARE THE COACH and have to think about what is good for the TEAM not for the PLAYER. Is this a deal? Good!
Goalkeeper: Gigi Buffon,
Defenders: Christian Panucci (Fabio Grosso 46), Fabio Cannavaro (Giorgio Chiellini 46), Andrea Barzagli, Gianluca Zambrotta,
Midfielders: Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Alberto Aquliani (Massimo Ambrosini 75),
Forwards: Mauro Camoranesi (Antonio Cassano), Antonio Di Natale (Alessandro Del Piero 46), Luca Toni (Marco Borriello 75)
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Posted by Anna Italia at 5/31/2008 1:19 PM 
Categories: International Friendly, Italian National Team, Euro 2008, General Surveys
Categories: International Friendly, Italian National Team, Euro 2008, General Surveys
Don played with 3 strickers because he knew Belguim was not a threat and also it gave him a chance to try almost all the forwards.Barzagli is a keeper, and so is Chiellini.It is hard to judge the midfielders, they were all excellent. I think Donadoni will rotate them to keep them fresh. I'm glad we have so many good ones to pick from. Defense is a problem area, and I hope Donadoni is brave enough to put some of these big name defenders on the bench. We can’t keep on making certain mistakes in the back.
Who impressed me?
1.Barzagli=8
2.Camorensi=9
3.Del piero=9
4.Di natale=9
5.Azzurri midfield=10
Who disappointed me?
1.Cannavaro=3
2.Borriello=5
I love Cannavaro,but like Anna said this is about objectivity and not favoritism.
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- Yes, Donadoni already tried most of his forwards and the result is that DI NATALE should be considered among the starting line up not as a sub? Dont' you think?
- That's my vision too. Rotating the strikers depending on the adversary and the quality from each our strikers.
- Defense, definitely, there is a big hole with our guys, starting from Cannavaro. Against Romania we cannot go with a weak defense. In their friendly match, Romania beat 4-0 Montenegro! Plus, Adrian Mutu is there and he is not shy at all when it comes to break our defense and score.
- Wow... so low for Cannavaro, a 3? I give him maybe a 5. Borriello, that was my biggest disappointment.
Since you arrived to our "Coach Meeting Evaluation" first, then, you will be the chairman? Go on girl, take the lead.
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Are we in a coach meeting again? I love it. I see Nina already made her evaluation.
I think Donadoni opted the right formation 4-3-3 for this friendly match because he wanted to see how the tridenti work and because there was no big danger as Belgium technically was not at the level of our opponents in EURO 2008, France, Holland, and Romania.
The problem was clear in the defense not in the offense.
I will try to be objective and put aside my favorite players too.
Buffon: 10
Defenders: Christian Panucci 8
Fabio Grosso 8,
Fabio Cannavaro 5
Giorgio Chiellini 7
Andrea Barzagli 10
Gianluca Zambrotta 7
Midfielders:
Gennaro Gattuso 8
Andrea Pirlo 10,
Alberto Aquliani 10
Massimo Ambrosini 9
Forwards:
Mauro Camoranesi 10
Antonio Cassano 9,
Antonio Di Natale 10
Alessandro Del Piero 10
Luca Toni 8
Marco Borriello 5
Big disappointment were Cannavaro, whom I think is not ready to be in the starting lineup, making many common errors.
Other disappointment Marco Borriello, he cannot be in the starting line up and need more training in final definitions.
Big impression was Antonio Di Natale, Mauro Camoranesi and Del Piero. All three deserve a permanent position.
I don't know if the other coaches agree, want to hear from Kenntak, Pietro?
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I am glad we are all trying to be objective and putting our personal preferences aside. That's the way to go to succeed as coach. Imagine how Donadoni must feel.
It seems we all agree that Cannavaro and Borriello were the biggest disappointment.
Definitely, I agree 100% with your "big impression" Di Natale, Camoranesi, and Del Piero.
Pietro, gave his evaluation below. I am waiting to hear from Kenntak, Monica, Suri, Vivek, and Domimic
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Buffon: 10
Defenders: Christian Panucci: 9
Fabio Grosso: 7
Fabio Cannavaro:5(i was expecting more from him)
Giorgio Chiellini: 7
Andrea Barzagli: 9
Gianluca Zambrotta: 8
Midfielders:
Gennaro Gattuso: 8
Andrea Pirlo: 9,
Alberto Aquliani: 10
Massimo Ambrosini: 10
Forwards:
Mauro Camoranesi 10
Antonio Cassano: 7
Antonio Di Natale: 10
Alessandro Del Piero: 10
Luca Toni: 8
Marco Borriello: 4 (what happen to that goal it could have been 4-1)
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I noticed you gave higher grades to our azzurri. Wow, it surprised me to see Cassano getting a "7" why?
Barzagli, I agree, he was the best along Panucci in the defense. Cannavaro, Chiellini, and Zambrotta among the poorest performance, especially Cannavaro.
Wow, Borriello , 4, I agree and believe me him and Cannavaro have to really work during this week training because I am not convinced to include them in the starting lineup against Holland. What do you think?
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Man, i apologize for arriving late at our "coach meeting" to give our evaluation. Nina and Mark were on time, so I will be like milan99 adding my evaluation late in this memorandum.
I agree with Mark that Italy's problem is with the defense, ironically, because we are known for a strong catenaccio.
Buffon: A perfect 10, the goal conceded not his fault but our defense.
Defenders:
Christian Panucci: 9
Fabio Grosso: 8, he impressed me and will make a difference in the team.
Fabio Cannavaro:5, he really disappointed me and i don't know if my fellow coaches agree with me but i don't think Cannavaro is ready to play 90 minutes.
Giorgio Chiellini: 7
Andrea Barzagli: 10, he saved us from getting a goal after a mistake from Cannavaro.
Gianluca Zambrotta: 7, not that convinced.
Midfielders:
Gennaro Gattuso: 8
Andrea Pirlo: 10, without Pirlo in the midfield, Italy will risk a lot.
Alberto Aquliani: 10 , the young fellow proved to be big in this match.
Massimo Ambrosini: 10, a joy to watch and have in the starting lineup
Forwards:
Mauro Camoranesi 10, undisputed among the starting lineup.
Antonio Cassano: 7, he was under pressure for being observed by almost everybody, i will keep testing him during training and see if i can use him with Del Piero i a 4 -4-2
Antonio Di Natale: 10, does anybody have any doubt about Di Natale being ready to be in the starting lineup? He is the man.
Alessandro Del Piero: 10 same as Di Natale, Buffon, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Gattuso, and Camoranesi, he is among the starting lineup.
Luca Toni: 8 i still consider him the main striker but with a brilliant Di Natale he better start scoring or making assist or Di Natale will be the man.
Marco Borriello: 6, he still need to train and practice shooting to the net from close range.
Waiting to hear from my fellow coach Kenntak, man where are you? I miss reading your comments. What's your take?
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I apologize again, i forgot to comment on the 4-3-3 formation chosen by Donadoni.
For this match, it worked because as preparatory the idea was to see if he could count on the tridenti Toni - Camoranesi - Di Natale. I think he also realized that Del Piero could be part of a tridenti too.
Donadoni has 1 week to keep checking our azzurri and made changes during the training in Admira.
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Hey Pietro, I made t before u anyway!!!(lol) man u got the influence from me huh?
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I guess it is unanimous and no point of discussion regarding Cannavaro getting a poor grade.
I see you gave him a 5.
Based on your evaluation, you think the midfield is our best section followed by the offense?
I agree with your suggestion on testing DEL PIERO - CASSANO for the 4-4-2. Though, based on this friendly match my main 2 guys in the offense will be DI NATALE - DEL PIERO. What do you think?
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