Italy vs Brazil Open Thread
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.
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Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 39 comments.
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By chris | February 10th, 2009 at 12:44 pm 
By Jonathan | February 10th, 2009 at 12:47 pm 
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
Posted from 
United Kingdom
By patron | February 10th, 2009 at 12:47 pm carlos…
thanks
By RomaShield27 | February 10th, 2009 at 12:50 pm 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…
Posted from 
Ireland
By ricci | February 10th, 2009 at 1:04 pm just threw up.
Posted from 
United States
By ricci | February 10th, 2009 at 1:12 pm Pepe is just utter shit.
Posted from United States
By ricci | February 10th, 2009 at 1:17 pm someone has gotta tell Lippi that it isn’t 2006 anymore. fucking embarassing.
Posted from United States
By Julian | February 10th, 2009 at 1:17 pm I’m thoroughly embarassed.
Posted from United States
By Daryl | February 10th, 2009 at 1:19 pm Wow, what was Pirlo doing?
By tito | February 10th, 2009 at 1:31 pm I had forgotten how physically painful it is to watch this team sucking…
Posted from United States
By Francesco | February 10th, 2009 at 1:39 pm 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.
By Julian | February 10th, 2009 at 1:42 pm 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?
Posted from United States
By ricci | February 10th, 2009 at 1:42 pm Someone laughed at me when I said Pirlo was done. They still laughing?
Posted from United States
By Acton_yid | February 10th, 2009 at 1:46 pm 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…
By tito | February 10th, 2009 at 2:13 pm oh man
Posted from United States
By michele | February 10th, 2009 at 2:17 pm anyone got a stream?
at work no downloads
Posted from 
Spain
By Matt | February 10th, 2009 at 2:17 pm Nice Larry Fitzgerald impression by Toni. TOUCHDOWN!
By tito | February 10th, 2009 at 2:23 pm These brazilians are fouling Rossi as a matter of policy
Posted from United States
By tito | February 10th, 2009 at 2:24 pm If they were playing american football, that would have been defensive pass interference as the brazilian was hanging off Toni
Posted from United States
By Acton_yid | February 10th, 2009 at 2:51 pm 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..
By MoMONEY | February 10th, 2009 at 5:04 pm 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
Posted from United States
By Jose | February 10th, 2009 at 6:32 pm 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.
Posted from United States
By Foreverzidane | February 10th, 2009 at 8:14 pm 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.
By alexa | February 10th, 2009 at 9:14 pm 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.
Posted from United States
By Max | February 12th, 2009 at 9:49 pm 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.
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