Now that's more like it damnit!   Although Iaquinta should have had a hatrick if he could hit the broadside of a barn

Lippi: 'We're nearly there now'
_________________
Up to the minute news, match reports and comment on http://www.football-italia.net/

For anyone in Dublin who wants to go photo seeking of the Italian players...

Friday
Alitalia flight from Pisa arrives Dublin Airport at 6:35pm (the last time they came through arrivals 15 minutes after landing!)
Straight to Croke Park for a walk around the pitch.
Back to Clontarf Castle hotel.

Saturday
Training in UCD in the morning.
Back to hotel.
Leave hotel at 6:30pm to go to stadium.

Best times to meet them is in the airport or when they are leaving the hotel at 6:30 on Saturday.

COME ON IRELAND!  

Cannavaro fails drugs test

I hope the person responsible gets fined their wages for incompetency.

Apparently he's back home  Juve + drugs sounds familiar.

*joking*

Myles wrote:

COME ON IRELAND!

Myles, were you aware that the play-offs for the World Cup will be seeded, with Ireland most likely to be in the second pot (providing they qualify)! I was only recently made aware of this after reading Marcotti’s recent article.

Yeah FIFA moved the goalposts about a week ago, it was an open draw up until that as they didn't think France would need to be in the playoffs, so FIFA decided to make it easier for them when they realised that France might not qualify if they had to play a decend team.

Now we couldn't have a World Cup without France, could we!

I dunno, 94 was alright.
_________________
nino

Half-Time: Ireland 1-1 Italy
_________________
Up to the minute news, match reports and comment on http://www.football-italia.net/

Forza Italia!

Ireland were pretty naive to leave so many up the field after taking the lead with minutes to go. I'm happy that Italy are there though and that Gila got the goal.

Half-Time: Italy 0-1 Cyprus


_________________
Up to the minute news, match reports and comment on http://www.football-italia.net/

Lippi: "Italy fans are a disgrace!"
_________________
Up to the minute news, match reports and comment on http://www.football-italia.net/

Though I'm not the booing type, should the fans put up with (at the time) a drubbing by a team like Cyprus? I'm afraid that the calling for Cassano will make Lippi dig his heels in harder which is awful seeing as he has no apparent point to not calling him right now.

As for this:

“This team, which let us not forget are world champions - I repeat, world champions - again qualified a round early."

is sooo stupid. That was 3 years ago Marcello! Why don't we just play the 82 team, after all, they are also World Champions. I'd love to trust Lippi again but he's making it very difficult for us.
_________________
nino

I'll give Italia and Lippi a break on this one.  Cyprus is a decent team nowadays, and we were clearly mailing it in.  

Lack of effort  was the main prob until subs and sense of urgency set in.

Forza Italia

This game was a disgrace. How can Lippi be surprised by the jeers? The team he fielded sucks. Pepe and Quagliarella are f**king useless, Di Natale is a shitty version of Del Piero, tries 20 stupid "classy" plays that never work, and Gattuso simply looks 40.

What else? Oh, Gamberini was terrible and I don't know what, if anything, D'Agostino brings to the team. Italy are going to be a disgrace in the world cup if they can't beat teams like Cyprus, or with all due respect, Ireland.

Duncan! wrote:

I'll give Italia and Lippi a break on this one.  Cyprus is a decent team nowadays, and we were clearly mailing it in.   Lack of effort  was the main prob until subs and sense of urgency set in. Forza Italia

Maybe a break would be deserved if his squad selection made a bit more sense. He'd rather put the shitty Udinese players on the field rather than someone with actual talent like Cassano.

That's a bit harsh. They over-celebrated a little, then he played a 2nd string in a meaningless game, I don't see any harm in that.

Does this now mean we'll see Gila the Serie A player in the Azzuri shirt?