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

Good morning my friends.  It is Tuesday, November 10 and the called up players by Italian Head Coach Marcello Lippi meet today in the Centro Sportivo Borghesiana.  I woke up early, got my cappuccino and started to follow the updates from the Italian National team through the official website of the Italian Football Federation and the Italian media.  Italy is preparing the 2 friendly games against Netherlands and Sweden to be ready for the 2010 World Cup South Africa.
                  

Italy vs Netherlands Saturday, November 14, 2009   Venue: Stadio Adriatico, Pescara, Italy  Time: 20:30 Italy time Buy your tickets online now: :  Italy vs Netherlands tickets

Italy vs Sweden   Wednesday, November 18, 2009 Venue: Stadio Manuzzi, Cesena, Italy   Time 20:30 Italy time     Buy your tickets online now:  Italy vs Sweden tickets

Buy your football tickets for the Italian National Team matches now. Click here to buy all your Football tickets online Buy Your Italian Serie A Football / Soccer Tickets   Buy your Official Italian National Team Gear including the 2009 FIFA Confederations Home Jersey Click Here to buy Italy Home Soccer Jersey, Italy Away Soccer Jersey, Italy 4 stargoalkeeper jersey, Caps, Italy socks, Italia Soccer Balls, Italy Soccer Scarf, Italy World Cup Posters, etc. Jerseys with names of Pirlo,Totti, Gattuso, Toni, Cannavaro, Del Piero, Italy La Quarta Stellavictory, and more. Italy 08/09 Home Soccer Jersey Italy 08/09 CANNAVARO Home Soccer Jersey   Italy 08/09 DEL PIERO Home Soccer Jersey The 2006 FIFA World Cup DVD-The Grand Finale The Final Italy vs France

Tuesday, November 10 / Martedì 10 Novembre 2009

h. 12.00 Group Meeting  / Raduno presso il Centro Sportivo La Borghesiana
h. 13.30 Press Conference with Head Coach and players /  Incontro con la stampa (CT + calciatori)
h. 15.30 Training open to the media / Allenamento (aperto alla stampa)

Photo Getty Images
Italy Head Coach Marcello Lippi

Here are the latest updates on the called up players:

-  Lippi giving permission to Villareal forward Giuseppe Rossi to join the team until Wednesday because he is busy with the club.

-  Fiorentina midfielder Riccardo Montolivo is replacing the Romangladiator Daniele De Rossi who underwent surgery on Monday afterclashing with Inter midfielder Patrick Vieira in the Serie A Week 12match Inter - Roma.

-  Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon having fever and not meeting today with the rest of his teammates. Juventus club notifying Lippi on his situation and if fever continues Buffon might miss both friendly games.  Well, guys, this will leave the option for goalkeepers Morgan De Sanctis and Federico Marchetti to prove themselves...



Italy Head Coach Marcello Lippi's declarations in the Press Conference

Guys, the "word battle" between Inter coach Jose Mourinho and Marcello Lippi continues... yep.  Last controversy was about Lippi declararing that Juventus was going to win the Scudetto while Mourinho criticizing the statement from Lippi.  There were people taking the side of Lippi and others the side from Mourinho.

Well, part two... here it comes another push... this time it is Lippi to respond to the declarations from Mourinho on Balotelli .. the younger players. 

Lippi said, "It is exaggerated when I heard to talk about immature young players. I like them very much.  We cannot pretend that a 20-yeard old be the same kid to that of 30 years ago.  They are children of the times, and even if they don't have great models, I find htem intelligent, mature, and full of passion. "  

Wow, that was really a PUNCH!

Lippi talks exclusively on Inter defender Davide Santon and Inter forward Mario Balotelli.  The whole controversy started 2 weeks ago when  Mourinho talked about a generation of footballers not ready, talking about Balotelli and Santon.  So, Lippi adding now his grain of salt saying, "I am sorry for Santon because he does not play much. If he wants to be in the National team, he has to play more.  About the maturity of Balotelli, "non metto bocca," I only say that I see a young man with great quality. Every time he is on the pitch, he makes interesting things.

On Sampdoria Forward Antonio Cassano

oh oh spaghetti oh... here we go again with the eternal "Caso Cassano....".   The point is that whether Lippi likes it or not, journalists are curious to know the reasons on why not calling up Cassano to satisfy their readers. 

Lippi adding, "What's the bad story about the missing called up from Cassano? You should not ask me but ask Garrone."  Lippi just limited himself to say that as a coach he does not need to explain his choices.

Guys, at this point, why to insist on Cassano?  It is obvious Lippi is not considering him  at all... 
In the interview, Lippi said the 25 players going to the 2010 World Cup South Africa will be from the 30 - 35 players he already tested... but still saying that nothing is impossible.




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Click the video to watch the press conference from Italy Head Coach Marcello Lippi on Tuesday, November 10, 2009 after the first day training of the Italian National team in the Borghesiana.



 Here is the training and press conference program / Questo il programma degli allenamenti e delle conferenze stampa:

Wednesday, November 11 / Mercoledì 11 Novembre 2009
h. 10.30 Training open to the media / Allenamento (aperto alla stampa)
h. 13.30 IPress Conferece with players / ncontro con la stampa (calciatori)
h. 15.30 Training  closed doors / Allenamento (a porte chiuse)

Thursday, November 12 / Giovedì 12 Novembre 2009
h. 8.45   Departure in pullman to L'Aquila / Partenza in bus per L’Aquila
h.10.30 Arrival and transfer to the Fattori Stadium for training open to the media. After training departure from the stadium to visit the zone affected by the earthquake. After the visit, lunch in the Centro DI COMA.

- Arrivo a L’Aquila e trasferimento allo Stadio Fattori perl’allenamento (aperto alla stampa) a seguire Partenza dallo Stadio pervisita nelle zone colpite dal sisma e in quelle ricostruite. Al terminepranzo nella mensa del Centro DI.COMA.C (Direzione Comando e Controllo)– presso la Scuola della Guardia di Finanza di Coppito (5 km daL’Aquila) .
Nel pomeriggio Trasferimento a Pescara

Friday, November 13 / Venerdì 13 Novembre 2009
h. 10.30 Training  open to the media  in the Francavilla Stadium / Allenamento allo Stadio di Francavilla (aperto alla stampa)

After training press conference with Italy Head Coach Marcello Lippi and players
Al termine incontro con la stampa (CT + Calciatori)

Saturday, November 14 / Sabato 14 Novembre 2009
h. 20.50 Gara ITALIA-OLANDA
Al termine incontro con la stampa e rientro hotel

Sunday, November 15 / Domenica 15 Novembre 2009
In mattinata Trasferimento da Pescara a Milano Marittima
h. 15.30 Allenamento presso lo stadio "Germano Todoli" di Cervia (aperto alla stampa)
Al termine incontro con la stampa (CT)

Monday, November 16 / Lunedì 16 Novembre 2009
h. 10.30 Allenamento stadio "Germano Todoli" di Cervia (aperto alla stampa)
Al termine incontro con la stampa (calciatori)

Tuesday, November 17 / Martedì 17 Novembre 2009
h. 10.30 Allenamento allo Stadio di Cesena (aperto alla stampa)
Al termine incontro con la stampa (CT + calciatori)

Wednesday, November 18 / Mercoledì 18 Novembre 2009
h. 20.50 Gara ITALIA-SVEZIA
Al termine incontro con la stampa e scioglimento della comitiva


What do you think of the declarations from Lippi and the current situation with the called up players?

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