New Look Italy for Euro 2008
In addition to unveiling a new star on their uniforms on Saturday, Italy will have a new compliment of players when they take on Lithuania in Euro 2008 qualifying. Italy Coach Roberto Donadoni has dropped nine players from the World Cup winning team ahead of the qualifier. Gone are goalkeeper Angelo Peruzzi, defender Alessandro Nesta, midfielders Mauro Camoranesi, Simone Barone and forwards Vincenzo Iaquinta, Francesco Totti and Luca Toni, as well as Marco Materazzi who is out serving his suspension for being an arsehole during the Zidane headbutt meltdown. After the Azzurri play Lithuania, they head to France for a Wednesday rematch of the World Cup final. That, my friends, might be a match worth watching.
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Comments
By Claude | August 28th, 2006 at 12:21 pm 
Well if Italy doesn’t do well in these two matches they have Juventus to thank. While the rest of Europe started league play almost a month ago Serie A is still waiting to start while Juventus fights their punishment in every court in Italy. I would imagine if in the September 1 hearing the Italian court overrules the sport courts and agrees with Juventus that the punishment was unjust you can expect FIFA to lower the hammer on the national team and UEFA to do the same for the teams in the Champions League and UEFA cup. If you are an Italy hater you got to love Juve.
Posted from 
United States
By john | August 29th, 2006 at 2:41 pm It’s all about those 4 golden stars baby. Let us all bow our heads and have a moment of silence in honour of the world champions.
Posted from 
Canada
By JohnB | August 29th, 2006 at 4:10 pm hey lazaro, don’t even think about posting here.
Posted from Canada
By france rules | August 29th, 2006 at 8:30 pm I want to be on record. Not only will Italy win the Euro but they will also win world cup 2010. To much talent at their disposal combined with discipline and history. You heard it here first.
France is my team of choice but I am a realist.
Posted from Canada
By Adam Rupolo | August 29th, 2006 at 11:34 pm Whoa… i am stunned by that line-up and totaly disappointed.. this coach has already ended a huge winning streak from Italy… and who would take 9 players out of a WORLD CUP WINNING team? It doesnt make much sense to me… he better know what he’s doing…
Firstly, he fought so hard to keep Totti on the team and now he’s not playing him? Perhaps the injury is still affecting him though…
And with Materazzi out, why in the world would he decide NOT to play Nesta?!
I really like Camoranesi’s heart when he plays too so it’ll be a shame to miss him although he was basically a sub anyways…
By BOB | August 30th, 2006 at 7:08 pm Mr Adam,
I think Nesta’s still hurt. I believe so is Gattuso. Most of these players will be back but in due time.
Posted from Canada
By itai`s | August 31st, 2006 at 3:11 pm italy is going to struggle in the euro man they are starting feel the end of their lucky streak…germany might stand a chance or portugal!!!
By Adam Rupolo | August 31st, 2006 at 9:24 pm Oh i almost forgot about Gatuso!
Nesta’s still hurt? What the hell? I mean they said he wouldnt even miss a game. Then they continuously said he’d be back for the next game and the next game and the one after that. The injury didnt LOOK serious. Oh wellz.
By Remo | September 2nd, 2006 at 7:14 am It must be incredibly difficult going from the high of the World cup, and all the trials and tribulations that haunted this team for 40 days, to Lithuania!! Everyone knows it’s important but….still hard to get up for it. i was hoping for some local coverage since i really wanted to see the 4-3-3 with Inzaghi at the helm and some great young support but i am hoping for at least some highlights somewhere. Let’s not overvalue the French game though–it probably means more to them than us.
By Wei | September 2nd, 2006 at 2:45 pm My friend, this latest result for Italy. 1-1.I dunt even noe one of the team member of Lithuania….Wat r they doin? Winning world cup just a matter of luck?
Posted from 
Malaysia
By GetYourFactsStraight | September 2nd, 2006 at 5:26 pm Wei,if you call only allowing ONE opponent goal, albeit a fucking easy unwarranted PK for Butthead to take, luck then you don’t know anything about football, so GTFO.
The players have been left out due to fitness, not because they were dropped. Donadoni is testing some new faces as well. What I hope to see is Giuseppe Rossi gets a call up because he is ready for the next thing. Cassano played really well today on a positive note.
Today was the result of a)A new coach, new tactics, b)new players, c)bad form, no matter who they played. And FRANCERULES guy, I sense sarcasm LOL.
Posted from United States
By TeddyBoi | September 3rd, 2006 at 11:31 am Very glad Lithuania drew Italy (im a Lithuanian). I think Italy should have studied Lithuanian game plan more. Those guys are physical and pacy. They very defensive (5-4-1). Plus they always play good against elite teams (drew with Germany, Spain, Italy couple years ago). Most of Lithuanian squad plays for Russian clubs and if u didnt know Russian league is very competetive now. These days everybody can play football man!
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By TOTY | September 3rd, 2006 at 9:42 pm damn i missed the game, but the draw had the same taste of a loss especialy against lit.
about the changes done…i would put back nesta and camoranesi. i would invite some new fresh young players like rossi (man U ), cassano shouldn’t have missed the worldcup.
btw guys can u give me a site to follow the changes donadoni is making to the team ?
Posted from 
Lebanon
By ken | September 5th, 2006 at 3:23 pm after the tie with lithuanian,where does this leave italy in qualifing for euro,2008
Posted from United States
By leicester boy | September 5th, 2006 at 5:24 pm you boys all talk s**t, England rule and you will find out in the next 4 years.
Posted from United States
By 1234 | September 5th, 2006 at 5:41 pm leicester boy,
been hearing that “next 4 years” from english fans since 1966. only to see crushing defeat after crushing defeat.
it’s time to move on and buy yourself an AZZURRI shirt.
Posted from Canada
By Wei | September 7th, 2006 at 11:43 pm France punish Italy and leads 5 point. Hope Italy will be disqualify! Of course I hope Scotland and Ukrain can do it for me!
Posted from Malaysia
By TOTY | September 8th, 2006 at 12:20 am well it was obvious that the italian team was outta fitness. but still donadoni is out of his mind…
could some1 tell me why di michele or di natali didn’t start in favor of perrota and semioli who proved to have no control over the ball… and why the hell micoli and rossi aren’t invited to play with the azzuri!!
or why di rossi dind’t start the game, by doing that he would gave pirlo and cassano more space to act…i don’t understand this donadoni !
Posted from Lebanon
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