Conchaga
Let's fuck some shit up
I'm going to start listing teams and we'll discuss their strengths and weaknesses.
First team, one of my two favorites, Italy.
Let's look at the Azzuri's squad.
Coach:
Lippi, Marcello
Keepers:
1 Buffon, Gianluigi
58 Caps, 0 Goals
12 Peruzzi, Angelo
31 Caps, 0 Goals
14 Amelia, Marco
1 Caps, 0 Goals
Defenders:
2 Zaccardo, Cristian
11 Caps, 1 Goal
3 Grosso, Fabio
15 Caps, 1 Goal
5 Cannavaro, Fabio
91 Caps, 1 Goal
6 Barzagli, Andrea
7 Caps, 0 Goals
13 Nesta, Alessandro
73 Caps, 0 Goals
19 Zambrotta, Gianluca
52 Caps, 1 Goal
22 Oddo, Massimo
18 Caps, 0 Goals
23 Materazzi, Marco
26 Caps, 0 Goals
Midfielders:
4 De Rossi, Daniele
15 Caps, 3 Goals
8 Gattuso, Gennaro
40 Caps, 1 Goal
10 Totti, Francesco
49 Caps, 8 Goals
16 Camoranesi, Mauro
19 Caps, 1 Goal
17 Barone, Simone
12 Caps, 1 Goal
20 Perrotta, Simone
22 Caps, 1 Goal
21 Pirlo, Andrea
22 Caps, 4 Goals
Forwards:
7 Del Piero, Alessandro
72 Caps, 25 Goals
9 Toni, Luca
16 Caps, 7 Goals
11 Gilardino, Alberto
13 Caps, 6 Goals
15 Iaquinta, Vincenzo
11 Caps, 0 Goals
18 Inzaghi, Filippo
48 Caps, 21 Goals
Player to watch:
De Rossi
Note: All of these caps and goals are from games when the player played on an international venue.
This team wears three stars on their jerseys. That's quite a feat. They've gone to the World Cup finals 18 times. However, it's been 24 years since their last time holding the trophy.
Strenghts:
Defense. Italy has proven time and again that when their defenders are on their game nothing gets through. They normally play with a 4
3 formation on the field, relying heavily on their defenders and mids.
Their star keeper, Buffon, is an amazing, seasoned player. When he stays inside the goal and doesn't venture too far into the penalty box, you can rest assured that nothing will get by him. Case in point, he stopped a penalty kick against Korea in the '02 world cup.
Their defenders are all great players. The best of these are: Nesta, Materazzi, Cannavaro, and Zambrotta. These are my picks as starters. All of them have plenty of time on the field. None of them are too old. Nesta and Zambrotta are in their prime. These men will provide great coverage and are a force to be reckoned with.
The midfielders will be the deciding factor. De Rossi, Pirlo, Gattuso, and Totti are their top mids. De Rossi is quite a rising star and already has 3 international goals. He scored a goal against Norway on his debut in the WC '06 qualifiying matches. Totti, for sure, is their one of their overall top players.
Weakness:
This year Italy just doesn't have the firepower in their forwards as they did several years ago. One of their best forwards, Vieri, is not on the team. Del Piero, Inzaghi, and Gilardino are thier best forwards. Inzaghi is the second-oldest player on the team. Gilardino, though talented just doesn't have the experience needed for a good forward. Del Piero, back in '98 hurt his knee and has never fully recovered.
Totti, thier star midfielder suffered a broken ankle in February of this year. This injury could seriously hurt their chances.
Overall:
I think Italy has what it takes to go all the way. If their friendly vs. Germany is any indication at least. They decimated the Germans 4:1. As long as Lippi does a good job managing the army of a team that he has they might take the cup. He has to make sure that his defense holds for the entire game, and not letting things slip at the end. They'll need to come out strong and try and score before halftime. Also, they'll need to start making penalties. The March 1st game was a total disaster. Totti, even though he's lame will need to make sure that he doesn't collect another red card like he did in the '02 games against Korea.
First team, one of my two favorites, Italy.
Let's look at the Azzuri's squad.
Coach:
Lippi, Marcello
Keepers:
1 Buffon, Gianluigi
58 Caps, 0 Goals
12 Peruzzi, Angelo
31 Caps, 0 Goals
14 Amelia, Marco
1 Caps, 0 Goals
Defenders:
2 Zaccardo, Cristian
11 Caps, 1 Goal
3 Grosso, Fabio
15 Caps, 1 Goal
5 Cannavaro, Fabio
91 Caps, 1 Goal
6 Barzagli, Andrea
7 Caps, 0 Goals
13 Nesta, Alessandro
73 Caps, 0 Goals
19 Zambrotta, Gianluca
52 Caps, 1 Goal
22 Oddo, Massimo
18 Caps, 0 Goals
23 Materazzi, Marco
26 Caps, 0 Goals
Midfielders:
4 De Rossi, Daniele
15 Caps, 3 Goals
8 Gattuso, Gennaro
40 Caps, 1 Goal
10 Totti, Francesco
49 Caps, 8 Goals
16 Camoranesi, Mauro
19 Caps, 1 Goal
17 Barone, Simone
12 Caps, 1 Goal
20 Perrotta, Simone
22 Caps, 1 Goal
21 Pirlo, Andrea
22 Caps, 4 Goals
Forwards:
7 Del Piero, Alessandro
72 Caps, 25 Goals
9 Toni, Luca
16 Caps, 7 Goals
11 Gilardino, Alberto
13 Caps, 6 Goals
15 Iaquinta, Vincenzo
11 Caps, 0 Goals
18 Inzaghi, Filippo
48 Caps, 21 Goals
Player to watch:
De Rossi
Note: All of these caps and goals are from games when the player played on an international venue.
This team wears three stars on their jerseys. That's quite a feat. They've gone to the World Cup finals 18 times. However, it's been 24 years since their last time holding the trophy.
Strenghts:
Defense. Italy has proven time and again that when their defenders are on their game nothing gets through. They normally play with a 4
3 formation on the field, relying heavily on their defenders and mids.Their star keeper, Buffon, is an amazing, seasoned player. When he stays inside the goal and doesn't venture too far into the penalty box, you can rest assured that nothing will get by him. Case in point, he stopped a penalty kick against Korea in the '02 world cup.
Their defenders are all great players. The best of these are: Nesta, Materazzi, Cannavaro, and Zambrotta. These are my picks as starters. All of them have plenty of time on the field. None of them are too old. Nesta and Zambrotta are in their prime. These men will provide great coverage and are a force to be reckoned with.
The midfielders will be the deciding factor. De Rossi, Pirlo, Gattuso, and Totti are their top mids. De Rossi is quite a rising star and already has 3 international goals. He scored a goal against Norway on his debut in the WC '06 qualifiying matches. Totti, for sure, is their one of their overall top players.
Weakness:
This year Italy just doesn't have the firepower in their forwards as they did several years ago. One of their best forwards, Vieri, is not on the team. Del Piero, Inzaghi, and Gilardino are thier best forwards. Inzaghi is the second-oldest player on the team. Gilardino, though talented just doesn't have the experience needed for a good forward. Del Piero, back in '98 hurt his knee and has never fully recovered.
Totti, thier star midfielder suffered a broken ankle in February of this year. This injury could seriously hurt their chances.
Overall:
I think Italy has what it takes to go all the way. If their friendly vs. Germany is any indication at least. They decimated the Germans 4:1. As long as Lippi does a good job managing the army of a team that he has they might take the cup. He has to make sure that his defense holds for the entire game, and not letting things slip at the end. They'll need to come out strong and try and score before halftime. Also, they'll need to start making penalties. The March 1st game was a total disaster. Totti, even though he's lame will need to make sure that he doesn't collect another red card like he did in the '02 games against Korea.
