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Calcio Debate: Who Should Marcello Lippi Call Up For Italy?
On Sunday Marcello Lippi will name his 23-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Montenegro and Ireland. Carlo Garganese is hoping to see some fresh blood, but who would you select in your squad?
20-Mar-2009 10:38:53 PM
Last month Italy lost 2-0 to Brazil in a prestigious friendly in London, and legendary World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi was heavily criticised by the press for his insistence on sticking with mainly old players.
Squad that travelled to the Emirates Stadium on February 10:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Palermo), Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray)
Defenders: Daniele Bonera (Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyonnais), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan);
Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Andrea Pirlo (Milan);
Strikers: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich).
Ahead of the crucial World Cup 2010 Group 8 qualifying double-header against Montenegro and Ireland, there has been all kind of speculation about who should be called, and who should be axed. There are several youngsters deserving of a chance and with good reason...
Federico Marchetti to replace De Sanctis
The Cagliari No.1 has been a revelation this term and surely deserves his chance to experience Coverciano. De Sanctis has no international future other than as a squad member, so it makes sense to offer rising star Marchetti some valuable experience.
Marco Motta for Bonera
This is an absolute must. Bonera is struggling with injury, and has been very shaky in defence for Milan this term. It is doubtful he will ever be of top international quality, despite his initial promise. Meanwhile Motta has been magnificent since joining Roma from Udinese in January, and he outplayed Gael Clichy in both legs of the Champions League tie against Arsenal. Not only should Motta be in the squad, he should start at right back. He is the future.
Giorgio Chiellini for Gamberini
I have never been convinced by the Fiorentina man, who looked ill at ease against Palermo’s Fabrizio Miccoli last week. Chiellini missed the Brazil defeat due to injury, and his name must surely already be on Lippi’s starting XI for the World Cup double-header.
Matteo Brighi for Aquilani
Injury worries could become a serious threat to Aquilani’s career, and there is surely no other option but to leave him out of this squad. The natural replacement will be club colleague Matteo Brighi, who has had a breakthrough season in the Eternal City.
Angelo Palombo for Perrotta
Perrotta is also struggling to be ready for these games, but, even if he was fit, he no longer has a role in the national team. It is a mystery why the 31-year-old, who is clearly past his best, has featured at all in Lippi’s second stint as coach. Sampdoria’s Palombo is a beast of a player when on top form, and he is now starting to impose himself on game after game after an injury-hit campaign. He can also fill in at centre back if Italy are hit by injuries before the second game.
Pasquale Foggia for Camoranesi
Italy need an attacking midfielder who can dribble past opponents, and move the ball from the midfield into the final third. With Camoranesi also out injured, there are two possible solutions – Lazio’s Foggia and Torino’s Alessandro Rosina. With the former excelling of late, and the latter labouring, Foggia deserves a recall.
Sergio Floccari for Pepe
A late-bloomer, Floccari really does have the ability to star for any of Serie A’s biggest clubs. He has every attribute – pace, skill, strength, finishing, versatility, vision and aerial prowess. His call-up is long overdue. As for Pepe, watching his dire performance against Zenit St.Petersburg on Thursday night confirmed that he is a rather ordinary player, who does not fit the international bracket.
Antonio Cassano for Toni
Luca Toni caused Brazil problems, but he may be ruled out of these two qualifiers due to injury. Aside from this, surely it is time for Italy to look for younger blood in attack. The Bayern hitman will be 33 by the time of the World Cup, and he is not the Toni of 2006. As for Cassano, he has featured in almost every Goal.com Team of the Week since the turn of the year, and is a magical talent who cannot be ignored any longer. Italy are crying out for attacking creativity, but does Lippi have any intention of ever calling the firework that is Cassano?
Giampaolo Pazzini for Gilardino
It is no secret that I am not Gilardino’s biggest fan. The Viola man will always score goals against lesser sides, but he is limited and can't cut it against the great defenders and teams. Providing Cassano is recalled, then club team-mate Pazzini deserves to make it too. If Cassano is left at home, then this complicates things. Pazzini has Pippo Inzaghi-like movement and penalty box intelligence, but he needs to play off a creative support striker, who can supply the passes. Without this player, Pazzini may struggle.
Carlo Garganese’s Italy Squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Palermo), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari)
Defenders: Marco Motta (Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyonnais), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
Midfielders: Matteo Brighi (Roma), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Pasquale Foggia (Lazio), Andrea Pirlo (Milan)
Strikers: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Sergio Floccari (Atalanta), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal), Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria)
I have taken a slight risk by only selecting three centre backs, but, if there is a real crisis in between the two games, then Palombo can always fill in. The only Under-21 member to receive the call is Marco Motta, who will be replaced in the Azzurrini by Inter wonderkid Davide Santon. The remainder of Pierluigi Casiraghi's men, including Claudio Marchisio, who perhaps warranted a call, should be allowed to stay together until the summer in order to win the European Championships. After this, some more of these youngsters can be gradually integrated.
Due to injuries to the likes of Aquilani and Camoranesi, the midfield almost picks itself. Most of the changes are in attack, with Samp duo Cassano and Pazzini, and Atalanta star Floccari coming in. In order to ensure continuity, Di Natale, Quagliarella, Rossi, and the in-form Iaquinta, keep their places.
What are your views on this topic? Who would you select in your Italy squad? Do you agree with the selection above? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…
Carlo Garganese, Goal.com
Squad that travelled to the Emirates Stadium on February 10:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Palermo), Morgan De Sanctis (Galatasaray)
Defenders: Daniele Bonera (Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Alessandro Gamberini (Fiorentina), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyonnais), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan);
Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Roma), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Simone Pepe (Udinese), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Andrea Pirlo (Milan);
Strikers: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal), Luca Toni (Bayern Munich).
Ahead of the crucial World Cup 2010 Group 8 qualifying double-header against Montenegro and Ireland, there has been all kind of speculation about who should be called, and who should be axed. There are several youngsters deserving of a chance and with good reason...
Federico Marchetti to replace De Sanctis
The Cagliari No.1 has been a revelation this term and surely deserves his chance to experience Coverciano. De Sanctis has no international future other than as a squad member, so it makes sense to offer rising star Marchetti some valuable experience.
Marco Motta for Bonera
This is an absolute must. Bonera is struggling with injury, and has been very shaky in defence for Milan this term. It is doubtful he will ever be of top international quality, despite his initial promise. Meanwhile Motta has been magnificent since joining Roma from Udinese in January, and he outplayed Gael Clichy in both legs of the Champions League tie against Arsenal. Not only should Motta be in the squad, he should start at right back. He is the future.
Giorgio Chiellini for Gamberini
I have never been convinced by the Fiorentina man, who looked ill at ease against Palermo’s Fabrizio Miccoli last week. Chiellini missed the Brazil defeat due to injury, and his name must surely already be on Lippi’s starting XI for the World Cup double-header.
Matteo Brighi for Aquilani
Injury worries could become a serious threat to Aquilani’s career, and there is surely no other option but to leave him out of this squad. The natural replacement will be club colleague Matteo Brighi, who has had a breakthrough season in the Eternal City.
Angelo Palombo for Perrotta
Perrotta is also struggling to be ready for these games, but, even if he was fit, he no longer has a role in the national team. It is a mystery why the 31-year-old, who is clearly past his best, has featured at all in Lippi’s second stint as coach. Sampdoria’s Palombo is a beast of a player when on top form, and he is now starting to impose himself on game after game after an injury-hit campaign. He can also fill in at centre back if Italy are hit by injuries before the second game.
Pasquale Foggia for Camoranesi
Italy need an attacking midfielder who can dribble past opponents, and move the ball from the midfield into the final third. With Camoranesi also out injured, there are two possible solutions – Lazio’s Foggia and Torino’s Alessandro Rosina. With the former excelling of late, and the latter labouring, Foggia deserves a recall.
Sergio Floccari for Pepe
A late-bloomer, Floccari really does have the ability to star for any of Serie A’s biggest clubs. He has every attribute – pace, skill, strength, finishing, versatility, vision and aerial prowess. His call-up is long overdue. As for Pepe, watching his dire performance against Zenit St.Petersburg on Thursday night confirmed that he is a rather ordinary player, who does not fit the international bracket.
Antonio Cassano for Toni
Luca Toni caused Brazil problems, but he may be ruled out of these two qualifiers due to injury. Aside from this, surely it is time for Italy to look for younger blood in attack. The Bayern hitman will be 33 by the time of the World Cup, and he is not the Toni of 2006. As for Cassano, he has featured in almost every Goal.com Team of the Week since the turn of the year, and is a magical talent who cannot be ignored any longer. Italy are crying out for attacking creativity, but does Lippi have any intention of ever calling the firework that is Cassano?
Giampaolo Pazzini for Gilardino
It is no secret that I am not Gilardino’s biggest fan. The Viola man will always score goals against lesser sides, but he is limited and can't cut it against the great defenders and teams. Providing Cassano is recalled, then club team-mate Pazzini deserves to make it too. If Cassano is left at home, then this complicates things. Pazzini has Pippo Inzaghi-like movement and penalty box intelligence, but he needs to play off a creative support striker, who can supply the passes. Without this player, Pazzini may struggle.
Carlo Garganese’s Italy Squad
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Marco Amelia (Palermo), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari)
Defenders: Marco Motta (Roma), Gianluca Zambrotta (Milan), Andrea Dossena (Liverpool), Fabio Grosso (Olympique Lyonnais), Nicola Legrottaglie (Juventus), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
Midfielders: Matteo Brighi (Roma), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Pasquale Foggia (Lazio), Andrea Pirlo (Milan)
Strikers: Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Sergio Floccari (Atalanta), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal), Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria)
I have taken a slight risk by only selecting three centre backs, but, if there is a real crisis in between the two games, then Palombo can always fill in. The only Under-21 member to receive the call is Marco Motta, who will be replaced in the Azzurrini by Inter wonderkid Davide Santon. The remainder of Pierluigi Casiraghi's men, including Claudio Marchisio, who perhaps warranted a call, should be allowed to stay together until the summer in order to win the European Championships. After this, some more of these youngsters can be gradually integrated.
Due to injuries to the likes of Aquilani and Camoranesi, the midfield almost picks itself. Most of the changes are in attack, with Samp duo Cassano and Pazzini, and Atalanta star Floccari coming in. In order to ensure continuity, Di Natale, Quagliarella, Rossi, and the in-form Iaquinta, keep their places.
What are your views on this topic? Who would you select in your Italy squad? Do you agree with the selection above? Goal.com wants to know what YOU think…
Carlo Garganese, Goal.com
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