By Anna Italia
Covering the 2010 World Cup South Africa Qualifiers from an Italian Perspective


One more day and tomorrow is the "Big Day" for the Italian National team to win at at home their fourth 2010 World Cup South Africa Qualifier against Montenegro. No more excuses and a draw will not be acceptable at all. Let's consider there are three players of our Italian Serie A with Montenegro: Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic, AS Roma forward Mirko Vucinic and Genoa Bosko Jankovic.

Click here to Buy the gear you need of your favorite national soccer team football / soccer home jerseys, soccer balls, shorts, and more.

Here is what happened today - Third Day Training Italian National Team in Galatina on Tuesday, October 14, 2008: 

h. 10.30 Italian National Team Training at the Via del Mare Stadium in Lecce (Open to the press).

-  In the press conference, Italian Head Coach Marcello Lippi said that all players are available even the injured ones Daniele De Rossi, Giuseppe Rossi and Gennaro Gattuso.

-  An interesting detail is that before the training started, Lippi talked for a while with AS Roma midfielder Alberto Aquilani. It means that -most likely- Lippi opted for Aquilani instead of Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo to form the midfield along AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso and As Roma midfielder Daniele De Rossi.


                     

-  Morning training session started at 10:30 a.m.divided in two parts.  First part Daniele De Rossi and Giuseppe Rossi followed a light athletic workout. De Rossi arrived at the training at 11:00 a.m. and Lippi approached him to verify his condition. After talking, De Rossi started running around the field alone.  Minutes later joined by Rossi.

                               

- Gennaro Gattuso was back - apparently recovered - after having rested. The rest of the group followed regular training.



October 14, 2008 Third day Training Italian National Team - A close up of Daniele De Rossi injured knee. Photo:AP/LaPresse
- Journalists asked Lippi that how was possible for De Rossi to play when he is visible injured. Boh! Lippi said that he can play and will play. wow!  I am worried about De Rossi's condition because he might worsen his injury and miss Sunday's match Roma-Inter too.

         

Italy - Montenegro        Wednesday, October 15, 2008             Make your BET now!!     They play, you WIN! Open an account now with eurobet.com Italian National Team  Buy your Official Italian National Team Gear Click Here  to buy Italy Home Soccer Jersey, Italy Away Soccer Jersey, Italy 4 star goalkeeper jersey, Caps, Italy socks, Italia Soccer Balls, Italy Soccer Scarf, Italy World Cup Posters, etc. CLick here  to buy  your soccer fans wigs

-  In the second part of the training, guess what? what!  Well, calm down.  Villareal forward Giuseppe Rossi -supposedly another of the injured players - joined the group for the attack drills and also in the practice match game. Well, after all, if Rossi handle all two things, it means his injury is not that bad.  Lipppi said it was probable to see Rossi in the starting line up or in the second half.

-  Practice match game indicating the possible starting line up: Gattuso and Aquilani. Forwards on the left Udinese forward Antonio Di Natale, remember that this position is also the one for Rossi. If Rossi does not feel ready tomorrow, then, Di Natale will be the starter. On the right wil be Udinese forward Simone Pepe.
  
 Here is how Lippi divided the groups:

PINK GROUP: (supposedly this will be the starting lineup)

Amelia; Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Dossena; Gattuso, Aquilani; Pepe, Gilardino, Di Natale.

BLUE GROUP:

De Sanctis Santacroce, Gamberini, Ferrara, Bonera; Perrotta, Montolivo, Nocerino; Maggio, Quagliarella, Rossi. Verso la fine del test hanno cambiato squadra Perrotta con Aquilani, e Pepe con Giuseppe Rossi.

- Point is that it is not clear who the starters will be because Lippi alternated Perrotta with Aquilani.

- A funny note, Daniele De Rossi made of referee and his teammates contested him when he denied a penalty in the practice. Oh my gosh, what a laugh!



Here is the UDINESE tridente Fabio Quagliarella, Simone Pepe, and Antonio Di Natale during practice. I am all for this TRIDENTE.  Photo: Grazia Neri.

PROBABLE FORMATIONS:

Italia (4-3-3): 1 Marco Amelia, 2 Gianluca Zambrotta, 5 Fabio Cannavaro, 4 Giorgio Chiellini, 3 Dossena, 8 Gennaro Gattuso, 6 Daniele De Rossi, 10 Alberto Aquilani, 7 Simone Pepe, 9 Alberto Gilardino, 11 Antonio Di Natale.

Subs: 12 De Sanctis, 13 Bonera, 14 Gamberini, 15 Perrotta, 15 Montolivo, 17 Rossi, 18 Quagliarella

Montenegro (4-5-1): 1 Poleksic, 2 Pavicevic, 5 Tanasijevic, 6 Batak, 3 Bozovic V., 4 Drincic, 8 Zverotch, 7 Vukcevic, 10 Jovetic, 11 Boskovic, 9 Vucinic.

Subs: 12 Bozovic M., 13 Jovanovic, 14 Jeknic, 15 Burzanovic, 16 Novakovic, 17 Bogavac, 18 Vujovic.

Referee: Oliveira Alves Garcia (Por)

For traveling to Italy to watch a soccer match or vacation, I suggest you click the following link: - Travelocity for all your European Vacation destinations and Package deals  it include hotels, traveling, airplanes. - Click here for a list of Italy Discount Hotel Reservations  - Click here to get your EURAIL train Italy Rail Passes

Here is the schedule for tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008
h. 20.50 2010 World Cup South Africa Qualifier
    ITALY - MONTENEGRO
    Followed by Press Conference

Related Stories:

-  First Day Training Italian National Team in Galatina - Sunday, October 12, 2008 for the 2010 World Cup Qualifier ITALY - MONTENEGRO

-  Second Day Training Italian National Team in Galatina - Monday, October 13, 2008 for the 2010 World Cup Qualifier ITALY - MONTENEGRO

blog comments powered by Disqus