Posts Tagged ‘World Cup Qualifiers’

Italy 2-1 Montenegro: Aquilani Double Gives Marcello Lippi 30-Game Unbeaten Streak (World Cup 2010 Qualifiers)

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Lippi isn’t the kind of guy concerned with critique or running after world records, and I’m sure most of us here would agree getting three points out of a match (such as Italy did today against Montenegro) is the most important thing. Yet, it must come as great satisfaction when someone tells you you’ve officially achieved 30 consecutive matches unbeaten at the Azzurri helm, which puts you right up there with a legend like Vittorio Pozzo (for those unfamiliar with pre-World War II history, he was the World Cup winning coach in 1934 and 1938).

As for today’s match, it was without question a Giallorossi’s affair. Starting with the shirt Montenegro was wearing (red & yellow), the home stadium (Lecce, which traditionally wears those colours), and above all Alberto Aquilani: the Roma midfielder had not played this well since the match vs. Real Madrid back in March, and highlighted his performance by two goals (including his first ever for the Azzurri). Sprinkle a little bit of Mirko Vucinic in between (yet another Roma player), and the picture is complete.

(more…)

Italy vs. Montenegro Preview (World Cup 2010 Qualifiers)

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Perched at the top of Group 8 World Cup Qualifiers (7 points in 3 matches), Italy is looking towards Wednesday’s match vs. Montenegro as a good way to wrap up the year 2008. With no more WC qualifying matches till March, you can be certain Marcello Lippi’s boys will step onto Stadio Via del Mare (Lecce) eager to end the year on a win, especially after Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Bulgaria.

Can Vucinic & friends prevent them from doing so?

(more…)

Azzurri News: Gattuso & De Rossi Recovering, Chiellini & Zambrotta Speak About Montenegro

Monday, October 13th, 2008

Two days away from the match against Montenegro, the composition of the Azzurri midfield still raises some questions: can De Rossi and Gattuso recuperate on time? Meanwhile, the vet (Zambrotta) and the rookie (Chiellini, although Euro 2008 pretty much catapulted him to 90%-vet status) share their views on the match to come.
.
(more…)

Azzurri News: Lippi Satisfied With His Squad, Quagliarella Replacing Toni for Wednesday

Sunday, October 12th, 2008

One day after Italy’s 0-0 draw against Bulgaria, Azzurri coach Marcello Lippi is satisfied with his boys. Not so much perhaps with the lack of three points obtained Saturday (even though, he says, “the match against Bulgaria was an exam that we passed, despite not creating many scoring chances“), but rather because the current Italy squad reminds him of another glorious one… circa 2006.

(more…)

Bulgaria 0-0 Italy: Azzurri With Determination… and Without Goals (World Cup 2010 Qualifiers)

Saturday, October 11th, 2008

No goals between Bulgaria and Italy in Sofia. Almost emulating the performance of their junior team, the Azzurri could not do better than a 0-0 draw for their Saturday away game, a draw which at the end of today’s 90 minutes seemed to satisfy players from both sides. Not surprising, since the teams spent more time neutralizing each other than actually trying to score goals.

(more…)