Chiellini wary of French firepower
June 16, 2008 at 8:11 pm | In Italy | Leave a CommentTags: Adrian Mutu, Franck Ribery, Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Italy, Roberto Donadoni, Thierry Henry
After overcoming “high emotions” when making his UEFA European Championship debut against Romania on Friday, Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini is preparing for another stiff challenge, in the form of France danger men Franck Ribéry and Thierry Henry.
Promising pair
Chiellini was given his first taste of action in a major senior tournament when he was drafted into Roberto Donadoni’s Azzurri lineup for the 1-1 draw against Romania on Friday. One of five changes to the side which lost 3-0 against the Netherlands, Chiellini confessed the tension was high before the match at the Letzigrund Stadion in Zurich, but he forged a promising partnership in central defence alongside Christian Panucci, for whom he even set up the equalising goal. “Before the match I felt very emotional to be playing but then when I got on the pitch I just tried to concentrate on the match,” Chiellini said. “However, there’s no doubt the emotions were high. It takes a little while to get to know one another [in a new partnership] but Christian and I both went out of our way to help each other out and in the end it went pretty well for us.”
Del Piero relishes added responsibility
June 13, 2008 at 11:51 pm | In Italy | Leave a CommentTags: Alessandro Del Piero, Gianluigi Buffon, Italy, Roberto Donadoni
A veil of secrecy hung over the Italy camp on Thursday evening as they prepared for their crucial Group C tie with Romania at the Letzigrund Stadion.
Great form
Roberto Donadoni spoke of making major changes to the side that had lost 3-0 to the Netherlands on Monday, but was giving little away as he fielded questions from the massed ranks of Italian journalists. All he would confirm was that Giorgio Chiellini would start in defence and that Alessandro Del Piero would indeed be captaining the side. Del Piero’s inclusion has been an open secret since he brought Italy to life after coming on as a substitute against the Netherlands. He showed enough to keep his place in the side and now Italy’s most-capped player, with 87 appearances, will take over from goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon as skipper. It is a remarkable turnaround for a player who was only on the fringe of coach Donadoni’s plans at the turn of the year, but whose superb form since for Juventus has forced the Azzurri coach’s hand.
Donadoni plots Azzurri rescue mission
June 13, 2008 at 11:49 pm | In Italy | Leave a CommentTags: Italy, Roberto Donadoni
Desperate times call for desperate measures and Italy coach Roberto Donadoni will ring the changes as he looks to rescue the world champions’ UEFA EURO 2008™ campaign against Romania at the Letzigrund Stadion in Zurich on Friday.
Changes
Italy crashed to their worst defeat in 25 years in their Group C opener against the Netherlands and face another stern test against a Romania team buoyed by a goalless draw against France that has boosted their hopes of qualifying from the toughest of sections. Only Gianluigi Buffon, Luca Toni and Andrea Pirlo are deemed safe in an Italy side that could feature up to five changes according to Donadoni. “There will be four or five players who will play tomorrow who did not play in Berne,” said the Azzurri coach who has a full-strength squad at his disposal. “[Giorgio] Chiellini and [Alessandro] Del Piero will play, but I haven’t mentioned any other names. If you hypothesise they will be your mistakes.”
Make or break time for Italy
June 13, 2008 at 11:28 pm | In Italy | Leave a CommentTags: Italy, Luca Toni, Roberto Donadoni
In their worst case scenario, UEFA EURO 2008™ could end today for FIFA World Cup winners Italy, but are Luca Toni & co ready to turn things around?
Zurich showdown
Will they stay or will they go? That’s the key question In Zurich tonight when Italy face Romania. Should the 2006 World Cup winners slip up again, the Italians will be facing a situation that few had reckoned with prior to the tournament. A defeat for Roberto Donadoni’s men, coupled with a Dutch win against France later in the evening, would spell the end for Italy.
Questions, questions
Can the World Champions bounce back or was it just a slip-up? Are the Dutch too strong for Italy or was it just a flash in the pan? Can Italy handle France in their last game? Lots of questions there, but what are the answers? Tell us what your opinions are by joining the chat.
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