3/06/2007 12.20
Totti And Nesta Warned Of Sanctions By FIGC

The Italian Football Federation have warned Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta that a failure to answer a national call-up could result in serious problems for them, and asked them to come clean.

FIGC President Giancarlo Abete has warned against players refusing to turn up for international duty, in as many words.

Nesta and Totti have both ruled themselves out of international football for the time being, and Abete insists that it is not good enough.

While he has no problems with the verbal understanding they seem to have with coach Roberto Donaoni, which is seeing them not being called up, he has insisted that it cannot be the case for the future.

"Platini's comment [that players be banned heavily for staying away from national teams] was entirely plausible and is shared by the Federation rules, as players who refuse the international call are in for suspension." said Abete.

Nesta, who seems to be ready to hang up his boots for good, got the lighter of the treatment.

"This is a difficult situation, though, as Nesta has asked to walk away after giving a great deal to the Nazionale and the Coach has agreed to let him take this move," he continued.

"We hope he will change his mind and that Totti can return in September, as he hinted, because Italy needs a player of his talent."

He then dropped his warning, suggesting that the Roma skipper needed to clarify his future once and for all, and either reach an understanding and retire for good, or make himself available.

"Right now Totti and Roberto Donadoni have discussed the matter and agreed to accept that decision. If Totti is called and he refuses, then that will be different.

"We will not arrive at September living in hope. We have to prepare for the future and that means knowing who will be with us and who will not."
http://goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=319106

Faroe Islands vs Italy videos

Inzaghi's 1st
Inzaghi's 2nd
Jacobsen

Highlights

lucky italy won the match

4/06/2007 9.10
Totti Promises Return To Azzurri Squad - Report

The captain of Roma declared that he will be ready to play for the Italian national side from this summer.

Exactly a year after announcing that he will take a long break from the world cup winning Azzurri side, Francesco Totti has decided that it is time to make a comeback in the most important phase of the Euro Qualifiers.

This was reported by the daily Italian newspaper 'Il Messaggero', who quoted Totti as saying that after the summer holidays, he will respond to the call-ups of current Italian national team coach Roberto Donadoni.

"I'll go for a holiday and then I will call (Gigi) Riva," declared the Roma player who has turned down all call-ups since the world cup final.

"I'm ready for the important matches of Italy," confirmed Totti.

This will be an important boost for the Azzurri who will be facing Ukraine and Scotland away from home, and hosting France in the coming months.

http://goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=319608

happy to see Totti come back for italia national squad... Forza My TOTTI , FORZA ITALIA

totti willing to be in italy squad again..yeah...

Oddo apologises for error

Massimo Oddo has explained what went wrong when the Faroe Islands scored an historic goal against Italy.

"Unfortunately it was three against one and I didn't spot in time the fact he had lost his marker," said the defender.

The Milan man was closest to Rogvi Jacobsen when he turned his towering header into the back of the net - only their second goal in qualifying.

Italy emerged 2-1 winners, but it was far from a vintage performance in the northern storms, particularly from the forwards.

"It was a match in which we created so many chances, but when you don't put it in the back of the net then you do run risks at the end. We poured forward a little too gung-ho and that left them room to counter."

Cristiano Lucarelli, Alessandro Del Piero and Aimo Diana all missed open goals, while Andrea Pirlo's free kick was tipped on to the woodwork.

"I would not make a drama out of it. You are bound to run into this type of problem with a side like the Faroe Islands. We didn't underestimate them, we just failed to kill them off earlier," insisted Oddo.

http://www.acmilan-online.com/cgi-bin/news...180907555,33239,

Totti's return to Italy national squad will be a big boost, especially after his impressive performance in this season.

05/06/2007 16.09
Totti Moves To Clear The Air

Francesco Totti has released the following statement on his website in a bid to avert the controversy following his statements yesterday, when he had said he was ready to return for the "important" games...

"As I prepare to leave for a holiday with my family, I am sorry to see that everyone's attention is focused on my presence in the Italy squad.

"This is not fair towards my teammates and friends who will play on Wednesday.

"I believe that we should hail the entire group, rather than concentrate on the individuals.

"This team was able to react to the crisis of Italian football and is trying with its hard work to continue what was started in Germany.

"I think I have proved my affection for the Azzurri jersey and my teammates last year.

"I am sure these men can keep on giving Italians moments of great joy, with or without Totti.

"As to my plans, when I return from my holidays I will speak to Donadoni and Gigi Riva, and we will decide together what is the best thing to do.

"Now we must only support the Nazionale and avoid useless controversy."
http://goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=320819

Azzurri: All change in Lithuania

Roberto Donadoni is ready to make five changes to his starting XI in Lithuania, including Gianluca Zambrotta, Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Quagliarella.

The Azzurri may have won 2-1 in the Faroe Islands to go second in Euro 2008 qualifying Group B, but it was hardly a vintage performance last Saturday and was criticised by the Press.

The Coach never disguised the fact he was aiming to make massive changes to his line-up over the space of this international week.

More...

==================================================

with the stronger lineup i expect a more convincing win in this 1.

hey guys, i'm still wonder,where is fabio grosso??
he is good last world cup,but where is he going now??

he was crap for Inter throughout the whole year after WC, plus he's injured if i not mistaken.

This post has been edited by Chrisky: Jun 6 2007, 11:20 AM

oh, so he should not play for inter after WC,
others team are better,

i guess expectations were juz too high on him after his heroic performance in WC.

dont want to expect much. 3 points is enough ady. must grab 3 more tonite

Lituania-Italia, probabili formazioni
Buffon, Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Materazzi, Tonetto, Quagliarella, De Rossi, Pirlo, Perrotta, Di Natale, Inzaghi. All: Donadoni
http://sports.alice.it/it/cmc/calcio/200723/cmc_110301.html

no gattuso??
and toni?
iaquinta??

This post has been edited by scorps: Jun 6 2007, 10:01 PM

Lithuania vs Italy

HT : 0-2

Quagliarella scored 2 very nice goals... man this guy is really starting to impress me. Forza Fabio !

FT : 0 - 2

another 3 points in the bag. we should hav scored more in the 2nd half. but anyway a win is a win. well done to the boys.

Updated: June 6, 2007, 8:00 AM UK
Lithuania 0-2 Italy: Quagliarella double


KAUNAS, Lithuania, June 6 (Reuters) - Two superb strikes from Fabio Quagliarella on his first start gave Italy a 2-0 win over Lithuania in a Euro 2008 Group B qualifier on Wednesday.

The result keeps the Azzurri in second spot as they head towards September's home clash with leaders France.

Sampdoria striker Quagliarella lashed home from the edge of the penalty area with his left foot in the 31st minute after cutting inside from the right wing.

The 23-year-old, only a late substitute in his previous two appearances, then scored with a delightful dipping effort on the stroke of halftime to settle Italy's nerves after a difficult start.

'I tried to pay back the faith shown in me by the manager and my team mates,' Quagliarella told Rai television.

Lithuania, who drew 1-1 in Italy in September, had matched the world champions in the early stages but lost their way after going behind.

'Since the other match (against Lithuania), the team has grown a lot and last time we were not in the right condition,' said Italy coach Roberto Donadoni.

He made several changes from Saturday's laboured 2-1 win in the Faroe Islands and his side looked more dangerous throughout, although it took Quagliarella to really liven them up.

Donadoni stuck with three up front when attacking and five in midfield when defending but brought in Quagliarella and Antonio Di Natale as the wide forwards in place of Alessandro Del Piero and Lazio striker Tommaso Rocchi.

Filippo Inzaghi, who scored both goals in the Faroes, continued as the lone striker while the midfield included Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta instead of Gennaro Gattuso and Aimo Diana.

At first the system was again ineffective with the wide forwards looking unaccustomed to their positions but eventually Italy asserted themselves after resisting some good pressure from the home side.

Marius Stankevicius was the pick of the Lithuania side, hitting a freekick just over before almost pushing Gianluigi Buffon back into his goal with another fearsome effort which the Italy goalkeeper did well to get behind.

The Italians came closest to scoring more goals, however, with Udinese's Di Natale losing his composure and missing two clear-cut chances either side of the break.

Inzaghi almost continued his excellent scoring form when he lifted the ball over advancing Lithuania keeper Paulius Grybauskas only to see it dribble past the post.


http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=197368&cc=4716

Match Highlights from last nites game

http://footballocks.net/index.php/233/lith...aly-highlights/