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


  "We did not come here to waste time, we want to advance," Gennaro Gattuso

                           Tshwane Eleven 0 - 6 Italy
                                                                                     19' Andrea Pirlo
                                                                                     33' Luca Toni
                                                                                     37' Vincenzo Iaquinta
                                                                                     63' Alberto Gilardino
                                                                                     76' Fabio Quagliarella
                                                                                     93' Alberto Gilardino


Guys, good news with the last testing practice game in the training of the Italian National Team on Friday, June 12, 2009.  Italy beat 6 - 0 the local team Tshwane Eleven in the SuperStadium di Atteridgeville. The enthusiasm as seen in RAI SPORTS for the Azzurri is spectacular.  5,000 fans attended this practice match and constantly cheering for the Italian National Team!!!   Italy Head Coach Marcello Lippi seems ready for the  2009 FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa taking place from June 14 to June 28, 2009. Hip hip hurrah!!!!

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. Buy your football tickets for the Italian National Team matches now 2009 World Football Challenge tickets for AC Milan, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Club America, and Manchester United    Italy National Team Soccer Gear, outfield, training wear, accessories, in Subside US Italy Sloffies Italia "Italy" Olympic Soccer International Track Jacket Click Here For a list of Italy Discount Hotel Reservations Italy Soccer Scarf - Italia Forza Azzurri Scarf Italy Street Sack (Royal) - Italia The 2006 FIFA World Cup DVD-The Grand Finale FIFA Fever - Best Of The FIFA World Cup (DVD)      Italy 4-Star Backpack This is an official product of Italy National Soccer Team. Italy 4-Star Medium Bag. -  Soccer Gift Ideas - Italy items Soccer Gift Ideas - Football DVDs, Books History of Italian Football, MILAN DERBY History DVD, Inter Milan One Century of Emotions, Juventus, World Cup, UEFA European Championship Puma Trunks Football Thong (Italy) Sandals Italy 4-Star Medium Bag. Would you Rather Be In Italy?  Say it and buy this T-shirt        I'd Rather Be In Italy (Flag) Women's Plus Size Sc

Buy all your tickets for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. 
Click here to buy your Tickets: Italy, USA, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Iraq, New Zealand, Spain and USA.

Here is what happened today Friday, June 12, 2009 in Pretoria during the Italian National Team training.


photo: AP / La Presse

- Last practice test for the Azzurri with an unofficial practice match game against the local team Tshwane Eleven. The objective as declared by Lippi was to test the campioni "the expected official starting eleven formation" in the Confederaitons Cup.  The test was especially for the players arriving last Saturday and in need of more playing time to be in shape and ready for the kick off match on Monday, June 15, 2009 USA - Italy

Don't miss this match guys and buy your tickets now.
2009 Confederations Cup South Africa
USA - Italy
June 15, 2009
Venue: Loftus Stadium, Pretoria, South-Africa
Buy your tickets USA - Italy

- Lippi tested in the attack Bayern Munich forward Luca Toni and FC Juventus Vincenzo Iaquinta.  Guys, I think here the one ready to claim a spot in the starting line up is Iaquinta after showing consistency and scoring the brace in the friendly match against New Zealand. Don't you think?



-  Interestingly guys, the Italian National Team did not use their uniforms for the match against Tshwane, instead they played with their training uniforms and WITHOUT NUMBERS ON THE BACK.  So, it was really a practice game LOL. 

The starting line up and expected to be the selected for the match against USA were:

Goalkeeper: Gigi Buffon
Defenders: Gianluca Zambrotta, Nicola Legrottaglie, Giorgio Chiellini and Fabio Grosso
Midfielders: Gennaro Gattuso, Daniele De Rossi, and Andrea Pirlo
Forwards: Mauro Camoranesi, Luca Toni and Vincenzo Iaquinta.

-  Cannavaro is expected to be in the starting line up against USA, although he did not play today to give him more time to recover.

- Guys, I was watching the report from RAI SPORT with Carlo Paris and so happy to see the fans cheering for the Azzurri.  They were singing, dancing and carrying flags.  Imagine that there were more spectators today than in the match against New Zealand!   5,000 spectators!   Their support was gladly received by the Azzurri who observed and thank the fans for their support.  I am totally excited for this Confederations guys. 

- Guys, back to the training "testing period."  According to the "Corriere dello Sport," Lippi was not convinced with the performance from Luca Toni. OUCH!!!!!  Hey, eventhough Luca scored a goal.  I am telling you guys, Luca need more testing, get his confidence back with the Azzurri before getting a spot in the starting line up.  I would go without a doubt with Vincenzo Iaquinta and Alberto Gilardino.  They seem and proving to be ready for the Azzurri and having better chemistry with the team during the game. Don't you think?  I will even use Fabio Quagliarella before Luca Toni.

-  Scoring in the match were Luca Toni, Andrea Pirlo, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Alberto Gilardino, and Fabio Quagliarella.  Simply put giuys, the one making a clear impression was Gilardino who substituted Luca Toni in the 62nd minute and scoring 2 goals!!!!!  Awesome.   So, take notes and see how will you choose your starting eleven formation.

- Bottom line guys, clearly, Luca Toni is not ready to be in the starting line up at least for the first match based on this last testing practice game.  So come on GILARDINO AND IAQUINTA.



- At the end of the game the optimism  of the Azzuri  is clear.

Gianluca Zambrotta: This tournament  will help us to construct the grup towards the World Cup next year.  We want to make it all the way and perhaps take revenge against Brazil.

Giorgio Chiellini: I feel  fine, though it is on the pitch that we will talk.  This is an important  tournament.  we all want to do well and it will be determinant to start with the right foot. The USA  focus their game on the physical level and we are not under evaluating them.

Gennaro Gattuso: We did not come here to waste time, we want to advance. It's incredible to see all these people participating (around 5,000) in the practice game.  Seeing their enthusiasm towards life despite the difficulty they face in daily life.


LINEUP

ITALY (4-3-3): Gigi Buffon (62'  De Sanctis); Zambrotta (57' Santon), Legrottaglie (46' Gamberini), Chiellini, Grosso (62'  Dossena); Gattuso (46' Montolivo), De Rossi (62' Palombo), Pirlo  (Rossi); Camoranesi (62' Pepe), Toni (62' Gilardino), Iaquinta (62'  Quagliarella)

Subs not used:  (Amelia).

Coach: Marcello Lippi.

TSHWANE XI (4-4-2): Siya; Samutsi, Zongo, Isaacs, Mohua; Matsi (dal 1' st Kwela), Madubanya (dal 17' st Klate), Yende (62' Kannemege), Mawleke (dal 17' st Ndilele); Thabo, Lerato (dal 1' st Wesley) (Godman, Kekana, David).

Coach: Hunt

SCORERS: 19' Andrea  Pirlo, 33' Luca Toni, 37' Vincenzo Iaquinta.; 63'  and 93' Gilardino, 76' Fabio Quagliarella

This is the schedule of the Italian National team for tomorrow.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
h. Training TBD in Southdowns College Irene/Centurion (open to the press)
After training press conference with players


Italian National Team fixtures for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. 
Click here to buy your Tickets

Confederations Cup
USA - Italy
June 15, 2009
Venue: Loftus Stadium, Pretoria, South-Africa
Buy your tickets USA - Italy

Competition: Confederations Cup
Egypt - Italy
June 18, 2009
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg, South-Africa
Buy your tickets Egypt - Italy

Italy - Brazil
June 21, 2009
Venue: Loftus Stadium, Pretoria, South-Africa
Buy your tickets Italy - Brazil





Related Stories:

-  RESULTS International Friendly NEW ZEALAND 3 - 4 ITALY Goals by Smeltz, Killen, Alberto Gilardino and Vincenzo IaquintaRESULTS International Friendly NEW ZEALAND 3 - 4 ITALY Goals by Smeltz, Killen, Alberto Gilardino and Vincenzo Iaquinta. Watch Videos . Watch Videos

 -  RESULTS International Friendly ITALY 3 - 0 NORTHERN IRELAND Goals by Giuseppe Rossi, Pasquale Foggia, and Sergio Pellissier

 -  "We expect to play excellent matches in South Africa, we want to grow as a team and a working group," Italy Head Coach Marcello Lippi on the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup , Monday, June 8, 2009

-  Official Squads 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa for Italy, Brazil, South Africa, Spain, USA, Iraq, New Zealand, and Egypt

- Soccer DVDS Gift ideas: Defending techniques, Match Fitness Circuit, Midfield, Modern Defending Tactics, Individual Tactics, Individidual Attacking, Individual Defending, Group Attacking, Group Defending, Greatest Soccer Funnies Ever DVD, Goalkeeping, The

- FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009: Match Officials, Fixtures,Schedule, Tickets for Italy, Brazil, New Zealand, South Africa, Iraq, USA, Egypt, and Spain

-Soccer Gifts Ideas - Games: Soccer Sketch, Play Game Board, Soccer Tactics World, Pro Evolution Soccer for X360, Zelosport Finger Soccer Game, Kids and Girls Soccer Gifts, Coaching Gifts, Soccer Accessories

- 23 Official Called Up Players by Italy Head Coach Marcello Lippi for the 2009 Confederations Cup South Africa. Fixtures and Schedule. Buy your confederations tickets now


Guys, now that  Lippi already tested  almost every single player, which will be your ideal formation to face the United States on Monday, June 15, 2009?







blog comments powered by Disqus