While the millions of Italian and Scottish football fans eagerly anticipate Saturday’s ame, today at the Azzurri training ground in Coverciano the Italian national team worked on tactical set-ups. Manager Donadoni alternated his troops many times during the practice, but according to the Italian press seems to be favoring a 4-1-4-1 starting formation, which can be readily transformed into a 4-3-3 when the Azzurri have possession.

The starting line-up should be Buffon – Oddo, Barzagli, Cannavaro, Zambrotta – Gattuso, Pirlo, Ambrosini – Camoranesi, Toni, Di Natale, pretty much what I predicted at the time the international call-ups were made.

In the last half hour of the day, Donadoni oversaw a game between ranks with two different tactical systems, one a 4-4-2 and the other a 4-3-3. Ambrosini and Curci did not take part in the match, but only because of overcrowding.

Yellow pinnies: Buffon – Panucci, Bonera, Chiellini, Zambrotta – Quagliarella, Perrotta, Pirlo, Palladino – Toni, Gilardino
Blue pinnies: Amelia – Oddo, F.Cannavaro, Barzagli, Grosso – Camoranesi, Gattuso, De Rossi – Iaquinta, Lucarelli, Di Natale

The Blue team won the match 4-3 thanks to doubles by Vincenzo Iaquinta and Gennaro Gattuso. Yellow scored through Luca Toni (2) and Alberto Gilardino.

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To finish this special report from the Azzurri training ground, here are some pictures of the day, courtesy of Kataweb Sport:

Italy manager Roberto Donadoni preparing the group for Scotland-Italy

Defense & Offense, some good insurance for Italy: Bayern Munich striker Luca Toni (current topscorer of the Bundesliga), and Juventus keeper Gianluigi Buffon

A golden midfield: De Rossi, Gattuso, Pirlo, and Ambrosini

Rino Gattuso, heart and lungs of the national team, points towards the common goal: “Qualfication for Euro is there, right there…”

Juve’s Raffaele Palladino joins the Azzurri family on the eve of a very important match

Some smiles: Rossoneri players Gilardino and Ambrosini look like they’re having fun just like little kids. It’s been a while at AC Milan…

A photomontage showing Toni vs… Toni

An Italian soccer classic: the coach’s solitude

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