By Anna Italia

Italian Soccer Serie A supports 100% Italy National team in the EURO 2012

                     40% Ball Possession Slovenia and 60% Ball Possession Italy
                       Slovenia 0 - 1 Italy
                                                                                   73' Thiago Motta

Substitutions:  56' Zlatko Dedic out, Zlatan Ljubijankic in     63' Stefano Mauri out, Antonio Nocerino in
                            69' Miso Brecko out, Sinisa Andjelkovic in    74' Antonio Cassano out, Giuseppe Rossi in
                            74' Valter Birsa out, Josip Ilicic in                    87' Riccardo Montolivo out, Claudio Marchisio in 
 
      

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Slovenia - Italy  (before the match)
UEFA Euro 2012 Group C  Standing
Italy 1st position with 10 points
Slovenia 2nd position with 7 points

 

It's the third time that Slovenia play  with Italy in UEFA European Championship qualifying.  Challenge is for the  Italian National football team to keep the first position, following Slovenia  in the second  place with 7 points,  in third place is  Estonia with 6 points, Northern Ireland with 5 points, Serbia with 4 points and Faroe Islands  with 1 point. 

Here is the situation.  Italy with a victory  reach 13 points.  The ideal  scenario will be for Estonia vs Serbia ending with a draw or Serbia defeating Estonia which will increase the  leadership of the Azzurri. Estonia and Serbia play on March 29.

Advantage for Italy having a positive goal difference of +9 while Slovenia having a positive goal difference of +4.  Italy scoring 10 goals while conceding only 1 goal.  Slovenia scoring 7 goals  while conceding 3 goals.
 
Slovenia players called up playing in the Italian Serie A and Serie B:
Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic, Empoli goalkeeper Jasmin Handanovic, Crotone goalkeeper Vid Belec, Chievo Verona defender Bostjan Cesar,  Chievo defender Bojan Jokic, Palermo defender Sinisa Andelkovic, Palermo midfielder Armin Bacinovic, and Palermo midfielder Josip Ilicic.


Here is the official formation from SLOVENIA by coach:

SLOVENIA:  Samir Handanovic, Brecko, Cesar, Suler, Jokic, Koren, Radosavljevic, Kirm, Birsa, Novakovic, Dedic; 


Here is the official formation from ITALY by coach Cesare Prandelli:

ITALY (4-3-1-2)Buffon, Bonucci, Balzaretti, Maggio, Chiellini, Motta, Mauri, Aquilani, Montolivo, Cassano, Pazzini
 


Photo Getty Images

Here is the official starting lineup from Italy National Football team for the match against Slovenia valid for the EURO 2012 Qualification from Group C


Oops, guys,  there are  lot of whistling during the singing of the Italian National team.   Closeup from our players and Buffon looking firm encouraging his teammates.  Buffon as Captain.

Game is on !   Referee whistling the beginning of the match. 

Mamma mia guys...   my heart beats so fast watching Slovenia creating danger...  come on Italiaaaaa.... 
 
Knock knock anybody home... in the 6th minute an attempt by Italy with midfielder Riccardo Montolivo with a right footed shot  forcing Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic to a low save in the bottom left corner. 

In the 18th minute there you see on a one on one with Giampaolo Pazzini and Slovenia defender Bostjan Cesar  clearing the danger and is corner.....

In the 23rd minute mamma miaaaaa hellloooo so close and Pazzini with a right footes hot hitting the right post!!!!
 
Awesome, a super save by Gigi Buffon with one hand!!!  Yep in the 26th minute a super stretch by Buffon to clear Koren's right footed shot  from outside the area after an assist by Valter Birsa!   Grande Gigiiiii forzaaaa  Just like a cat, a lion fighting and protecting the goal.
 
Chants by Slovenia fans increasing and I am  shouting  so loud for ITALIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA 

Pazzini has not scored with the Nazionale in 2 years ... last time on March 2009.   Come on Pazzini let's go for it.

Close up from Slovenia goalkeeper our Udinese goalkeeper Samir Handanovic yelling at his teammates to protect the area.... 

I can't believe it... uuffaaaaaa guys, Italy closer to score in the 34th minute after an assist by Antonio Cassano to Thiago Motta  heading the ball and missing to the left...

What a luck guys,,,, no goals yet.

Oh my gosh!!!! Helloooooo  In the 40th minute so close to the goal with Cassano with a pass to Pazzini missing his right footed shot from the center of the area missing to the right ... oh gosh.... come on Italiaaaaa we want to see the duo meraviglia Cassano-Pazzini!!!! Forza Ragazzi let's goooooooooooo

Cassano latches on to a floated through ball, and plays Pazzini in with a superb inviting header, but he's millimetres from the making contact with his boot.

Slovenia are pressing while Italy not finding their way to the goal.  We had good chances with Pazzini and Montolivo. 

One minute added time for the first half.....

Referee whistles the end of the first half ending 46% ball possession Slovenia and 54% ball possession Italy.

Let's see how it goes in the second half... we just need the goal guys.....  keep pushing Italy bandwagon!!!!



Photo LaPresse

Italy forward Antonio Cassano making his way to the goal while blocked by Slovenia

Second half starting without substitutions....  let's go Italy....  we got to score now....

Guys, in the other game from Group C, up to 65th minute is Serbia 0 - 1 Northern Ireland with goal by McAuley.   If the draw persists with Slovenia-Italy, then, Northern Ireland will reach to 8 points jumping to the 3rd position as Slovenia would have 8 but better goal difference.  Italy will reach 11 points.    Anyway, we rather  win this match to get closer for the qualification!

wow, wow. wow in the 52nd minute .. guys, an assist by Cassano to Stefano Mauri delivering  left footed shot forcing  Slovenia goalkeeper Handanovc to  a stretch throwing himself to save in the bottom left corner.....  wait... not over yet. ball still with Italy and now  Cassano with a right footed shot and mamma miaaa helloooo Handanovic saves.... uffaaaa  what??!!!!!  Italy practically bombarding Handanovic now with Alberto Aquilani with  a right footed shot and again Handanovic saves again!!... oh my gosh!  

Slovenia making a substitution in the 56thminute
Zlatko Dedic out, Zlatan Ljubijankic in 

Wow..  super Buffon!!!!  guys a shot by Ljubijankic forcing Buffon to a super stretch .. hellooo Ljubijankic just in and already making his presence clear that he means business... but so is Buffon... forza Italiaaaa
 
Palermo midfielder Josip Ilicic warming up and also italy midfielder Antonio Nocerino both playing for Palermooooooooo 

oh goshhhhh a handball in the 62nd minute by Mauri!

Italy making a substitution in the 63rd minute
Stefano Mauri out, Antonio Nocerino in
 
Update on the Serbia -Northern Ireland and now Serbia taking the lead with 2 -1.  This is a better result for Italy as we keep Northern Ireland away.....

Oh well, come on Italiaaaaaaa  we are seeing no goals...  we need the goals...

In the 70th minute Slovenia making another substitution.
Miso Brecko out, Sinisa Andjelkovic in
 
This ist guys, shout with me,, oh come on stand up and lets say it GOOOOOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL GOOOAAALLLL GOAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL yep, yep, yep!!!!! In the 73rd minute an assist by Federico Balzaretti  to Thiago Motta  delivering a right footed shot where Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic could not save towards the lower right corner.... and you bet I am jumping of joy with tears rooting for ITALIAAAAAA bravo Thiago Motta!!!!  Motta with his second appearance in the Italian National team and you bet this is a goal he won't forget.
Slovenia 0 - 1 Italy



Photo Getty Images

The joy from Italy midfielder Thiago Motta celebrating his goal against Slovenia putting Italy ahead in Group C.


With this result so far we see Italy keeping the first place now with 13 points and since Serbia are defeating Northern Ireland the gap in favor of Italy with 6 points...

Pop the popcorn now!!!!!!!

In the 74th minute Italy with a substitution
Antonio Cassano out, Giuseppe Rossi in

In the 74th minute Slovenia making a substitution
Valter Birsa out, and time for Joseip Ilicic the Palermo midfielder .....

In the 82nd minute Referee gives a yellow card to Slovenia defender Bostjan Cesar for a foul on forward Giuseppe Rossi.

In the 87th minute  Italy making a substitution.
Riccardo Montolivo out, Claudio Marchisio in 

Three minutes added time.....

In the 90th minute Referee gives a yellow card to Italy midfielder Thiago Motta for a foul on Zlatan Ljubijankic
 
This is it !!!!! Yep, Referee whistles the end of the match with 46% ball possession Slovenia and 54% ball possession Italy.


Photo AP

Our super Italy goalkeeper Gigi Buffon jumping high to save!
 


Photo Getty Images

Italy forward Giampaolo Pazzini so close to the goal and practically Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic taking the "goal out from his feet".  Good try Pazzoooo



Photo AP

Italy forward Giuseppe Rossi challenged by Slovenia Dejan Kelhar.
 



Photo Getty Images

Celebration from Thiago Motta, Antonio Cassano after Thiago's goal and Italy  with an important victory!


Photo AP

Italy Head Coach Cesare Prandelli now can relax and enjoy the giant step forward the EURO 2012 qualification with 6 points lead over the second place.


Watch the goal by Italy midfielder Thiago Motta worth the "3 precious golden points" for Italy towards the EURO 2012 Qualification.





Click the video to watch the highlights of the match SLOVENIA vs ITALY for the UEFA EURO 2012 qualification on Friday March 25, 2011.




Here is the video  with Italian National Football team singing the Italian Anthem "L'Inno di Mameli"

	UEFA Euro 2012 Group C Standing As of Friday, March 25, 2011 Italy leads the Group!
	Teams	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	Pts
1	Italy	5	4	1	0	11	1	10	13
2	Slovenia	5	2	1	2	7	4	3	7
3	Serbia	5	2	1	2	7	8	-1	7
4	Estonia	4	2	0	2	6	5	1	6
5	Northern Ireland	4	1	2	1	3	3	0	5
6	Faroe Islands	5	0	1	4	3	16	-13	1

 
 
Slovenia 0 - 1 Italy
Friday March 25 2011
Italy - Euro 2012 Qualifying Tickets
Italy National Soccer team 
Stadium SRC Stozice
Ljubljan

Referee: 
Assistants:
Fourth Official:

OFFICIAL FORMATIONS

SLOVENIA: Samir Handanovic, Brecko, Bostjan Cesar, Suler, Jokic, Koren, Radosavljevic, Kirm, Birsa, Novakovic, Dedic;

Subs: Jasmin Handanovic, Andjelkovic, Ljubijankic, Bacinovic, Ilicic, Sukalo, Mavric

Coach:

ITALY (4-3-1-2): Gianluigi Buffon, Bonucci, Federico Balzaretti, Christian Maggio, Giorgio Chiellini, Thiago Motta, Stefano Mauri, Alberto Aquilani, Riccardo Montolivo, Antonio Cassano, Giampaolo Pazzini;

Subs: Viviano, Criscito, Marchisio, Gilardino, Gastaldello, Rossi, Nocerino

Coach:  Cesare Prandelli

Slovenia 0 - 1  Italy  Friday March 25 2011 Italy - Euro 2012 Qualifying Tickets Italy National Soccer team  Stadium SRC Stozice Ljubljan
Slovenia	Match Stats	Italy
0	Goals scored	1
40	Ball Possession	60
2	Attempts on target	5
3	Attempts off target	1
10	Corners	7
18	Fouls committed	13
1	Yellow cards	2
0	Red cards	0

What do you think of the results? Which players surprised you or disappointed you and why? 



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