Supras Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Europe's most successful ever World Cup Team goes into the competition on the back of two fantastic international tournaments. They surpassed all expectations and brushed past Germany in the 2012 Euros to reach the final, and they finished third in the Confederations Cup under a Spain side who could only knock them out on penalties. Undefeated in qualifying, and likely not caring in the slightest about their friendlies as usual. They are in a difficult group, but one they will likely navigate with relative ease. They don't need to beat England, and I don't think they will, but a draw and two victories will see them comfortably through. With the greatest goalkeeper of all time between the sticks, a magnificent Juventus defence and a mixture of exciting youth and legendary midfielders they will be a formidable force in this World Cup. In Balotelli they have a striker proven in the latter stages of international tournaments and, with Cassano off the focaccia, it's bound to be interesting. All Italian news and discussion here. #spiritofcannavaro Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Tell me that was a reserve side that just drew with Luxembourg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supras Posted June 4, 2014 Author Share Posted June 4, 2014 Not really, no. It's not as if they care about friendlies - now or ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lichtie23 Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Not really, no. It's not as if they care about friendlies - now or ever.Still......that's incredibly embarrassing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustOneCornetto Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 I'm confident they'll qualify from their group and their pre WC friendlies will have no bearing on how they perform once the tournament starts. Montolivo is a big loss but this is the stage that Balotelli relishes and with Pirlo pulling the strings in midfield plus a solid looking defence they are a good outside bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Gaines Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 It's obviously a poor result, but you just can't read anything into ANY of the friendlies this close to the World Cup, for obvious reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dunning1874 Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 For all that Italy have always had some weird results in friendlies, that is fucking ridiculous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanetti Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Tell me that was a reserve side that just drew with Luxembourg I watched the first 25 minutes or so and I turned it off because it was pretty obvious the players didn't care. They didn't even try and I can completely understand why. Anyway, I'm pretty confident that Italy will get out of the group, although I'm not sure who's going to go with them and whether they'll get first or second. I think it's a fairly strong team, especially the midfield and to be honest I don't see any reason why they couldn't go all the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supras Posted June 4, 2014 Author Share Posted June 4, 2014 It's obviously a poor result, but you just can't read anything into ANY of the friendlies this close to the World Cup, for obvious reasons. Some countries care more about friendlies than others. Italy, ludicrously, have never cared. They probably don't need to, they are an extremely successful footballing nation. Friendlies are beneath them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamieStevenson Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 I look forward to seeing them in the final. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanetti Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Some countries care more about friendlies than others. Italy, ludicrously, have never cared. They probably don't need to, they are an extremely successful footballing nation. Friendlies are beneath them. If anyone is curious about just how little Italy do care about friendlies, have a look at this table of the last games they played before every major tournament (it's in Italian but I'm sure you can work it out). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Cort's Hamstring Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 What possible benefit could they get from playing Luxembourg anyway? Seems like a bizarre choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zanetti Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 What possible benefit could they get from playing Luxembourg anyway? Seems like a bizarre choice. It was worth it for the greatest throw in of all time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Cort's Hamstring Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 It was worth it for the greatest throw in of all time. :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smurph Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Before the World Cup in 2006, they drew the two previous friendlies. Why would they care? Why show others what tactics you're trying to use? It's just like pre-season friendlies - they mean absolutely nothing at this stage, it's just to test players' fitness and play about with formations. Interestingly, excluding friendlies, since Prandelli took charge - Italy have only lost 2 games in 90 minutes. The European Championship final to Spain in 2012 and once, to Brazil, in the Confederations Cup last year. The only thing that really worries me is that Italy haven't won since September, with a record of D6 L1. However two of those games were in the WC Qualifiers, of which they had already qualified, and the rest friendlies (Germany, Nigeria, Ireland, Luxembourg, with the loss coming against Spain). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Gaines Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 It was worth it for the greatest throw in of all time. Magical. EDIT: Doesn't quite beat this though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enigma Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 Italy are just lucky New Zealand didn't qualify this time round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherrif John Bunnell Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 Italy are just lucky New Zealand didn't qualify this time round. Or Slovakia. Or Paraguay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 Could you imagine this thread if Italy went out of the competition because of a refereeing mistake from Craig Thomson? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busta Nut Posted June 5, 2014 Share Posted June 5, 2014 I am a plastic Tally Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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