With this kind of formation and tactic from Marcelo Lippi, I can't see 'Azzurri' failing in this WC like in the previous one that was host in Korea/Japan. Great defense with Fabio Cannavaro and Alessandro Nesta dictating in the middle of it. Very solid midfield with a running machinge Gennaro Gattuso and the maestro with the ball Andrea Pirlo.\nThen there are those great attacker: Totti, Gilardino, Toni, Del Piero...
199325
I hope they go all the way, but Brazil is a powerhouse. Forza Azzuri! Speriamo che vinceranno!!!
622251
the game will ended draw probably and will get on penalties....both teams had a great coaches ( hiddink and lippi ) and both are pro on making strategies. if hiddink didn't repeat his mistake not to put mark schwarzer on the goalpost like when played against croatia.....aussies had a chance to stun the azzurris...( hoping australia got the game )
535459
to the ppl who said France can u explain then why did they loose to Scotland.\n\nFrance is the best when :\n1- they play against the 2ND team , as when they played against the 2nd team of Italy in Sept.also the Italians werent ready cuz of the scandal the calcio didnt start so the players werent at their best shape. Barzagli, Semioli  Di Michele , Cassano , they r not the real italian squad,\n2- when they dive and get penalties as against Portugal and Italy\n3- When they play teams that no one hears of .
472403
hi speed demon , whats u p?/\n\nher's the answer\n\n\nbrazil - dont let them dominate you , play 4-4-2 or 5-3-1 but your defence should be top quality . switzerland lacked in the defence lats night and thats y they lost . and u should have young talent in ur forward.\n\nportugal - u should have an attacking gamrplan for the mand speciall for cron and deco , goalies should be great and ur midfield should be right on target.\n\nfrance - just play good in all 4 departments and they will be pressurized and take the pressure as an advantage and win the matcgh 1!!\n\nitaly - bribe the refrees !!! lol . you have to be perfect in ur forward , great forward line is essential . dont let the italians take the game away from you , you have to be mentaly snrtorng as well as physically.\n\ngermany - defence is the key against them . they have a great forward line . you shouldnt give them lot of chances to their strikers . fast gameplay .\n\nargentina - they lack in midfield but their defence and forward line is extremely great . you have to take advanatage of the midfield and play good soccer all 90 minutes\n\nspain - just play nicely in the departments ,do your job nicely ,assing should be great against them AND DONTLET THEIR MIDFIELD TO GIVE EASY SHOTS TO RAUL OR TORRES .\n\nengland - play good soccer , try to pressurize the mand dominate them .\n\nthe main key to win is to play great soccer ,it doesn matter which team u r playing . nut ur gampelay shoul d be good.\n\nthanks
565403
If you could elaborate, is that four strict strikers across the top? What do you see as the right combination of players using anyone in today's game? It seems your 2 in the middle would have to be tireless jackrabbit types.\n\nI get it, sort of like a forward diamond instead of Sven's midfield diamond. I could see Chelsea doing this. I hate them, but they have the best players.\nAnd they did sort of do this last year with Drogba forward, Robben and Duff on each side, but Gudjonsen didn't really play like a defensive forward I think how you envision, but he could, with Lampard attacking and Makalele holding.\n Maybe next year they could look like this...\n\n\n                     Drogba\n\n\nShevchenko              Ballack        Lampard    Essien                             back four\n\n\n                    Robben
573532
Ghana did not play "very well": they are a good Team, but they are missing tactic and technique. Their attack is very inefficient and their defense is very vulnerable. The best players (appiah, Eissen, Muntari) they have are middle fielders.\nItaly's game was very tactical: strong defense and powerful attack. In addition, Totti and Pirlo did a great job sending fast balls to the forwards (Toni, Gilardino and then Iaquinta)\nEach game has its own story: Italy was far more consistent and confident than Ghana and made less mistakes.\nGhana needs to gain more International experience.
602375
I am so proud of the team especially for making it out of a group whom everyone thought was the group of death. The US coach wrote them off. It shows how you should not underestimate anyone in football. Their game with the US was not as strong as what they showed against the Czechs but that could be because they were aware of the importance of the game and were probably tense. I hope they bring that game back against the Brazilians. And they can make an impression. If they can hold the Brazilians, that will be wonderful, and if they are amazing enough to beat the Brazilians......
597414
In many ways your selection is good, but I forsee 1 problem; both Maradona and Eusebio were playmakers. \n\nRather than complement each other, they will both be trying to open up defences and there is a chance, it will confuse the strikers. Both players having different styles, in delivering the telling pass. \nBut like your question, this analysis of mine is hypothetical. Your choice could always work as well.\n\nFor my choice: Definitely both Pele and Maradona would be in. Maradona as the deliverer and Pele, someone who can play anywhere in an attacking formation.\n\nStriker: Well there are plenty, but as a poacher in the box, you've got to consider Gerd Mueller, a player who is forever, 'in the right place, at the right time'.\nThe other player in my 4 would be Enzo Francescoli, a player idolised by Zidane. He can create but also can be very 'tigerish' in midfield, by holding up play and disrupting the opponents play/flow in midfield.\n\nSo it goes like this: Maradona the playmaker, with Francescoli complementing him. Mueller as the out and out striker, with Pele having a free reign in the attacking 3rd, playing as an attacking forward if necessary, drifting around in the 'hole' or dragging play to the inner wing area.\n\nBut there is no perfect answer, any combination, given the quality of players gone by, would or could have the same devastating effect.
619328
todays game was fantastic italy was fenomenal i hope they will do a good job with brazil\n\n\nforza italia
635133
yes..i'm also an italy fan since young..but too bad, Materazzi will miss the next match.but no worries,coz italy's defence still have nesta and cannavaro..and they have the world's most expensive keeper,buffon around..but what i'm worried is that will they win it big or win it dirty??
495085
Materazzi is a world class defender, so great players and good inter.FORZA!!
188267
The best players are in Brazil team. But for them it is almost impossible to win in Europe. Hence, the best chances in my opinion have Germany as a host and Italy which has very good and ambitious squad.
626553
The US played really good against Italy, they need to win and Italy needs to win for them to advance.  I think in this group, Italy and US will advance.
583760
Not if they want to win it all.Ballack is right they need to address their defence!!!It's ok to score but if you let too many in you still don't win and in the case of a points tie goals come into play...you can't concede!The better teams later in the contest like Brazil,Argentina,Holland,England and France will have a great time scoring like Italy did in their warm-up game.I like Klinnsman too but it is not always about how many goals you score...their are two sides to a coin!
572922
We were pretty good, but there were things where we have to improve. We should have scored more considering the fact that the Czechs had 10 men. Our defence was superb, even Matearzzi played good. Buffon proved why he's one of the best in the world. Next time Lippi should put in De Piero. Totti's getting better, but he should practice more.
306915
I have not heard a lot about the Australian squad, but there going to have a tough round robin run with Croatia, Brazil, and Japan all wanting to get to that second round. If they are going to have any chance of getting through, they will have to beat both Croatia and Japan, seeing as Brazil will probably win all of their games. So, I predict that Australia will either barely be in second, or they will sit in the third spot and go home early.
640493
Nice choice with italy. I've always had a soft spot for them and would want them to do well. I'm for brazil and am pretty satisfied with them as well. That is a good question though, I'm interested to see the answers