Awful but unexpected? Nope.

[diemme]

Apart from the bad luck of losing Canna; Oddo and Pippo not being selected due to injury and Sandro and Totters retiring (yes Sandro's usually sidelined by his wonky but v. hot body but he's usually an option for the first two games)

Frankly Donadoni needs his head examined.

1. That formation was a mind bogglingly poor choice against a team as quick as the Dutch.
2. Luca Toni is at his best up front alone.
3. Di Natale? Camaronesi? * shudders * He would have done better to start Cassano.
   
4. Ambrosini - I love him to death but De Rossi would have been miles the better choice against the Dutch.

We will be astoundingly lucky to make it out of the group. Even without the injuries we're still a team in major transition and not yet at the standard of the 2006 WC team. No shame in it, really.

Congratulations to the Dutch.

Comments

[rose-of-rouen.livejournal.com]

Donadoni didn't pass on Pippo because he was injured, but because of technical reasons, whatever that means. I can see his point on Oddo, he's had an awful time of it this season.

[diemme.livejournal.com]

When he didn't choose Pippo I had the same sinking thought as in 2004 - who else is going to score?

[rose-of-rouen.livejournal.com]

I'm hopelessly biased, but Pippo can come on and score in the last minute, if he has to, he's a terrible distraction to the defence, and he just never gives up, which it sounds as if Italy could have done with last night.

[diemme.livejournal.com]

Yep, I was saying so to a buddy last night - that frantic running and "will he, won't he" offsidedness is important to the team. * sighs * Shades of 96 and 04, I guess.