Italy vs Brazil Open Thread

February 10th, 2009 | by: Daryl |

The big World Cup qualifier this week might be tomorrow’s CONCACAF Clasico between USA and Mexico. But the big friendly is today.

It’s Brazil vs Italy (or Italy vs Brazil) in what the World Cup holders are calling the Derby della Mondo (Derby of the World).

Why is it called that? Because it’s a game between the two teams with the most World Cup wins. Brazil has five, Italy has four. And they face each other this evening at 7:45pm GMT.

Where are they playing? Milan? Rome? São Paulo? Nope, at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in London. Because that thing won’t just pay for itself.

I was about to write up a tiresome tirade about the commercialization of international football, but thought better of it. Friendlies are boring enough, so instead let’s juss enjoy this clash of the titans for what it is: a potentially excellent game of football.

Julian has posted the Italy squad on Italy WCB, and it looks like Lippi has called up the strongest 23 possible.

We’re still looking for a Brazil WCB writer (email daryl[at]theoffside[dot]com if interested), but Dunga has picked a strong squad too. Including Ronaldinho’s return to international football.

Previews:
Marco has a match preview on over at mCalcio
While Francesco has a video trip down memory lane over at Italy Offside.

We’re going leave this post up as an open thread for anyone who’s interested to discuss the game in the comments.

International Football News – World Cup Blog RSS Feed

http://italy.worldcupblog.org/ Julian

You spelled my name wrong :(. But thanks for the extra coverage Daryl. Should be a cracker
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Sorry Julian, been corrected.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Any word on starting lineups yet?
http://italy.worldcupblog.org/ Julian

Both goal.com and channel 4 think it’ll be Buffon – Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Legrottaglie, Grosso – Camoranesi, Pirlo, De Rossi, Perrotta – Rossi, Toni.

But they don’t agree on the lineup. That above is goal.com’s, which is predicting a 4-4-2, while Channel 4 thinks it’ll be the same players in a 4-3-3 (with Camo moved up to the frontline). Based off of Lippi’s history, I think it’ll be a 4-3-3
http://italy.theoffside.com Francesco

Official XI’s:

BRASILE (4-3-3) Julio Cesar, Maicon, Juan, Lucio, Marcelo; Gilberto Silva, Elano, Felipe Melo; Ronaldinho, Robinho, Adriano.

Bench: Doni, Thiago Silva, Daniel Alves, Luisao, Josuè, Julio Baptista, Pato. All Dunga

ITALIA (4-3-3) Buffon, Zambrotta, Legrottaglie, Cannavaro, Grosso; Montolivo, Pirlo, De Rossi; Pepe, Gilardino, Di Natale.

Bench: De Sanctis, Amelia, Bonera, Gamberini, Dossena, Camoranesi, Perrotta, Aquilani, Quagliarella, Toni, G. Rossi, Iaquinta. All Lippi
http://italy.worldcupblog.org/ Julian

Sorry, meant to say that they don’t agree on the formation. They do agree on which players are going to play- the discrepancy is whether it’ll be in a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3
http://italy.worldcupblog.org/ Julian

Where’s that from, Francesco?
http://italy.theoffside.com Francesco

Lippi surprises everyone and goes with the two Udinese men Di Natale and Pepe (I still cringe reading his name on the national team roster) in support of Gilardino. So the Camoranesi-Toni-Rossi trio starts from the bench. I really wanted to see Giuseppe Rossi from the start. Damn.
http://italy.theoffside.com Francesco

Gazzetta dello Sport just announced it Julian.
http://italy.worldcupblog.org/ Julian

Dammit he benched Rossi for Pepe?

Well this should be interesting to say the least. Thanks
http://www.worldcupblog.org chris

“Ronaldinho, Robinho, Adriano.”

Lippi should just hang a disco ball on the corner flag with a cooler of beer underneath and let ten men push forward.
patron

at what time? i’m in miami and what channel…. thanks
http://www.worldcupblog.org chris

And Dani Alves on the bench takes away half the allure of this game. Who cares if Maicon plays in Italy.
Carlos

Patron.
I am in CA FoxSportsEspanol is brodcasting now.
http://www.worldcupblog.org chris

Stream:

http://www.veetle.com/viewChannel.php?cid=48cb03bd8ab18
http://www.just-football.com/ Jonathan

Article on why many Brazilians don’t care about this game or their national team.

http://www.just-football.com/2009/02/brazil-vs-italy-why-many-brazilians-do.html
patron

carlos…
thanks
http://www.serieaforums.com RomaShield27

Chris, Dunga prefers Maicon over Dani Alves most of the time, so I don’t think its just ‘cos he plays in Italy.

Seems like mostly Italians in the crowd, game under way…
ricci

just threw up.
ricci

Pepe is just utter shit.
ricci

someone has gotta tell Lippi that it isn’t 2006 anymore. fucking embarassing.
http://italy.worldcupblog.org/ Julian

I’m thoroughly embarassed.
http://www.worldcupblog.org Daryl

Wow, what was Pirlo doing?
tito

I had forgotten how physically painful it is to watch this team sucking…
http://italy.theoffside.com Francesco

Terribly poor first half from the Azzurri. Lippi 2.0 still hasn’t proven to be any better than what Roberto Donadoni could’ve done.
http://italy.worldcupblog.org/ Julian

Francesco- 100% agreed. We’re still playing like we’re under Donadumbass. Who keeps telling these guys that a 4-3-3 with Italy is a good idea?
ricci

Someone laughed at me when I said Pirlo was done. They still laughing?
Acton_yid

Italy 1-0 Grosso goal COMPLETELY REGULAR…f***ing linesman offside against the attacking side…but NO…cos it’s Italy the prick linesman HAS TO raise his flag even though Maicon walking up the defence playing the onside….shit offside from a crap Emirates PR game…
tito

oh man
michele

anyone got a stream?
at work no downloads
http://panama.worldcupblog.org/1/uncaf-champions.html Matt

Nice Larry Fitzgerald impression by Toni. TOUCHDOWN!
tito

These brazilians are fouling Rossi as a matter of policy
tito

If they were playing american football, that would have been defensive pass interference as the brazilian was hanging off Toni
Acton_yid

WOW ! NEVER seen a more biased referee than Howard Webb…100% of 50-50 challenges ALWAYS go Brazil way never for Italy…No team can win against 12 men…shite referring from Webb…well paid PR stunt from the Scumirates…to be fair Italy played BADLY but still…no help from ref..
MoMONEY

Rossi needs to start. As for Brazil I still feel like Adriano and Ronaldinho should not be starting. Replace with Kaka and Pato and thats a team to be reckoned with… Looked good today tho
Jose

Disclosure: I’ve only seen extended highlights.

Wow, this game did not look like a game between the World Champions and the Pentacampeones. It was hard to watch… there seemed to be something just odd about the match.
Foreverzidane

It was a great match, what artistry from Ronaldinho and his magical passes.
The only thing that was odd was the non-existence of the Italian defense.
alexa

idk, i liked pato > adriano … but that’s just me.
Too bad for 1) buffon & 2) lippi’s 32 successive international undefeated slate. Brasil was definitely the better team, the esquadrão de Ouro, in the end.

By the way, it was quite nice to see Dunga dressed suitably today.
Max

I hope the world finally wakes up to see what South Africa under majority black rule is come Summer 2010.

They should cancel the damn thing.

God protect the fans AND players.