Shitty picture, but it´s fitting for a shitty game.

FT: Rep. of Ireland  0 - 3 Australia

Yikes!  

Myles wrote:

FT: Rep. of Ireland  0 - 3 Australia Yikes!

CUMMON AUSSIESSS!!!! magnificent performance!!!! Superman wears Tim Cahill pajamas!!!!! LEGEND!!
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C'mon Lippi, where are pazzini and Cassano??

Very predictable August friendly for the Azzurri, but if Lippi thinks this is the squad that will lift the WC again, he's smokin' da ganja

palombo?  Camo?-he's always hurt?

Wake up Newman!

Under-21: Wales 2-1 Italy
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Sigh, how many games does it take for Mr Lippi to realize that Pepe, Palombo, Legrottaglie and Zambro are not good enough for La Nazionale? Everyone know the pool of talents has dried up but Pepe sucks... and Palombo has absolutely nothing to offer beyond the halfway line.

Three games without a goal, the Azzurri desperately need a creative spark, and I mean Cassano.

Georgia - Italy

Wouldn't have minded seeing Grosso start, he may lack a little match sharpness for Juve as I don't believe he's had much time on the pitch with Lyon.
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"melo-momo and the crazy little trio behind amauri are amazing" - Gurjio 28-10-09

Half-Time" Georgia 0-0 Italy
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2 own goals from Kaladze so far!? Crazy. Has that happened before?
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nino

Poor old Kaladze.  After those own goals he then had the crowd whistling him for the rest of the game.

Also, why does Lippi call Marchionni up?  He's poor at best.  Surely someone like Foggia would offer a better option.
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Forza Juve!!!

Didn't watch the game, expected Italy to be as poor as the write up suggests.

Agree with you Liam, I don't understand many of Lippi's choices and can't help but think this is the weakest Italy team for some time. There's no magic in the side once provided by Totti or Del Piero, little creativity in the middle of the park (Pirlo is well past his best) and 4 Juventus defenders and a keeper aside, the whole team is pretty average.

I'll be shocked if Italy get out of the group stages, in fact seeing as Ireland have grabbed what looks like a late winner, it wouldn't surprise me if they failed to get there at all.
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"melo-momo and the crazy little trio behind amauri are amazing" - Gurjio 28-10-09

Lippi: "We earned own goals"
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Micky I'd say Italy were worth the win, but I do also believe there's a generation gap of Italian players.  The promising young players of 5 years ago such as Cassano, Gilardino, D'Agostino and Bonera to name 4 should be leaders in the side by now, but they're not for various reasons.  That has meant that Italy face the 2010 World Cup with too many players who seem past their prime such as Zambrotta and Gattuso, and too many younger inexperienced players like Santon.

The solution to the creativity issue in attack is obviously Cassano.  Lippi needs to swallow his pride and call him up like Donadoni did.
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Forza Juve!!!

Liam wrote:

Micky I'd say Italy were worth the win, but I do also believe there's a generation gap of Italian players.  The promising young players of 5 years ago such as Cassano, Gilardino, D'Agostino and Bonera to name 4 should be leaders in the side by now, but they're not for various reasons.  That has meant that Italy face the 2010 World Cup with too many players who seem past their prime such as Zambrotta and Gattuso, and too many younger inexperienced players like Santon. The solution to the creativity issue in attack is obviously Cassano.  Lippi needs to swallow his pride and call him up like Donadoni did.

Yes, a disapointing win nonetheless, a draw would be a fairer result considering the hearts and efforts of a lesser Georgia side.

Gli Azzurri were MIA in attack. The strikers hadn't tested the Georgian goal all night, well, Quaglierella did better after coming on from bench. Pirlo was lethargic as usual, should have let D'Agostino try his hand instead. Palombo got lucky with the long range effort but he could have been easily invisible. Zambro was literally invisible on the offensive front for most part of the game. Both Camo and Marchionni were rather ineffective and failed to attack the flanks. It bothered me that none could put in a decent cross... Rossi couldn't seem to find a way to link with his fellow countrymen as he speaks Spanish more nowadays. Iaquinta worked hard but he made me miss Vieri and his slip outnumbered his shot on goal (Of course, the condition of the pitch was horrible).

What the hell is going on with Lippi and his ego... (at least, he starts to realize Pepe doesn't merit a spot).

About what I expected.  Iaquinta has a horrible goal ratio for Italia.  Quagliarella and D'Agostino looked very good when they came in.  Rossi seems to do better off the bench.  Italy really need Cassano and Pazzini.

Positives- glad to see Santon and Criscito play.  Canna and Chiellini and Buffon looked solid.

From an irish perspective i hope the game ends in a draw tonight, thereby giving us a shot at topping the group while at the same time keeping Bulgaria at bay.

Italy - Bulgaria

Veetle - English commentary (requires installation of their software, which only takes about 20 seconds and the picture quality is very good)

Italia - Bulgaria

Half-Time: Italy 2-0 Bulgaria
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