Balotelli scores on Azzurrini debut

After the delusion that was the Olympic games, the Azzurrini returned to the pitch to continue qualifying for the UEFA 2009 U21 Championships. The big story was the debut of Mario Balotelli, who after receiving Italian citizenship a few weeks ago was finally eligible to be called up. The Azzurrini needed a win to guarantee first place in the qualifying group, but anything less meant they would have to conquer qualification on Tuesday in Croatia. With the injury to Roberto Acquafresca, Balotelli started up front with Sebastian Giovinco and Pablo Osvaldo supporting him. Balotelli now holds the record for the youngest player ever to debut for the U21 squad at 18 years and 24 days (and he is now the youngest scorer ever), beating out Antonio Cassano, who debuted at 18 years and 35 days.

Casiraghi put out the following formation- Consigli; Motta, Andreolli, Bocchetti, Criscito; Dessena, Cigarini, Marchisio; Giovinco, Osvaldo; Balotelli

Of note, Marco Andreolli returned to the U21 side for the first time in over a year. Last year the promising defender went through so much injury trouble and it was good to see him back on the pitch. I don’t understand why Casiraghi keeps insisting on Salvatore Bocchetti in center defense. He’s decent but very mistake prone, and a talented player like Paolo De Ceglie was left on the bench.

The U21 side started out well, dominating possession and creating chances. Balotelli had a quick chance on a cross from Criscito but he put it wide. Marchisio made an excellent pass over the defense to captain Marco Motta, but his shot was weak. A defensive lapse almost gave Greece the lead, but winger Marinos put the ball wide. And then it happened, what we all expected, Mario Balotelli gave Italy the lead.

A cross was played in by Osvaldo, and it was deflected up into the air by a Greek defender. The ball fell to Balotelli, who took it on the volley and unleashed a precise rocket into the roof of the net. It was a beautiful goal, perfect coordination, accuracy, and power. He couldn’t have hit it any better. The whole team celebrated his goal.

Italy then controlled, with Giovinco trying from distance but it went wide. The Juventus fantasista had an unusually off night, he appeared tired and he wasn’t the usual player we are used to seeing. Marchisio had a shot from a Balotelli assist but the goalkeeper saved it.

After the break Italy appeared to be tired and Greece started to take over. In the 55th minute, Christodoulopoulos took the ball from about 30 yards out and unleashed a shot which sailed past Consigli and into the net. It looked like Consigli’s vision may have been blocked from Andreolli.

Italy tried to regroup, but Giovinco and Osvaldo started to become more egoistic and passed the ball less. Balotelli didn’t see the ball much, but almost scored a fantastic goal from a bicycle kick. Balotelli hit it sweetly, but it skimmed the post and went wide. What a goal it would’ve been.

The game looked like it would be a draw. Marchisio was hit in the box in stoppage time, but he had lost the ball already and the referee waved play on.

The game finished 1-1 and now Italy go to Croatia on Tuesday needing a draw or win to secure first place.

Dessena and Balotelli were the best players on the pitch in my mind. Dessena was excellent and all over the field and really put in 100%. Balotelli was excellent on his debut and showed that he truly is a future superstar.

Balotelli’s goal

Italy 1-1 Greece

Scorers: Balotelli 33 (I), Christodoulopoulos 55 (G)

Italy: Consigli; Motta, Andreolli, Bocchetti, Criscito; Dessena, Cigarini (Morosini 69), Marchisio (De Ceglie 92); Giovinco, Osvaldo (Lanzafame 77); Balotelli

Greece: Kasmeridis; Maniatis, Siontis, Tripotseris, Ioannidis; Balafas, Dimoutsos (Papadopoulos 75), Rika; Marinos, Petropoulos (Mitroglu 64), Christodoulopoulos (Pavlis 82)

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Massimo Oddo starting anew in Germany

One of the Italians to move abroad this summer was World Cup winning fullback (and team barber) Massimo Oddo. The 32 year old right back had a nightmare season last year. He wasn’t himself at all, he played poorly, all his crosses ended up in Row Z, and he found himself left out of the national team set-up, missing Euro 2008. Oddo needed a fresh start, and with players like Gianluca Zambrotta and Daniele Bonera ahead of him in the pecking order, he decided to make a move.

He states his reasoning was he didn’t feel like an important player for Milan anymore, and it was a decision made by both him and the Milan management. But why Bayern? At first it seemed Lyon were all set to sign him. Oddo even admits that Fabio Grosso, Lyon manager Claude Puel, and president Jean-Michel Aulas were constantly calling him and telling him to move to France. He said he knew Bayern were interested because Luca Toni told him, and then one day Karl-Heinz Rummenige and Jurgen Klinsmann called him up and convinced him to move to Bavaria. He said the importance of a club like Bayern factored in.

Oddo made his first appearance for the German champions in Oliver Kahn’s farewell match and was praised by manager Klinsmann and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger. Klinsmann said, “Oddo played an excellent match. He is adapated to our way of playing and knows how to pass and read the play”. Schweinsteiger said, “I already know how he plays from playing vs him with Milan and the national team and he is very good. Bayern added a lot of quality by signing Oddo.”

So with a new club and a new adventure, Oddo may finally get his career back on track and once began become one of the top Italian fullbacks.

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And the first manager sacked is…

Who had their bets on Stefano Colantuono? The Roman manager has been sacked only after one game by Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini. Colantuono was sacked this season and replaced by Francesco Guidolin and then was brought back when Guidolin was let go and then confirmed as manager for the coming season. However Colantuono didn’t convince Zamparini, as Palermo lost to a Serie C2 side in a preseason friendly and then lost to Serie C1 side Ravenna in the Coppa Italia. The opening day loss to Udinese was the last straw and Colantuono held a meeting with Zamparini. Zamparini said he wasn’t convinced with what Colantuono had to say and he said this decision was all his. He also said his director of sport and chief executive weren’t too happy when hearing the news this morning.

So who is going to replace Colantuono? Davide Ballardini has been chosen to be the newest member of the Maurizio Zamparini circus (Thank God it wasn’t Francesco Guidolin again!). Ballardini led Cagliari to a miracle salvation last season and was curiously let go by the Sardinians this summer. Ballardini will take over the Sicilians and try to work his magic yet again. He could succeed and he could fail, but with Zamparini in charge you never know what’s going to happen.

By the way, with Colantuono’s sacking that makes it 27 managers sacked for Zamparini, a record. 17 were sacked when Zamparini was the chief of Venezia, and now 8 have been sacked at Palermo.

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Lippi’s list of 50

So it seems to be a FIFA rule that each national team manager must submit a mega-list of 50 players that will be available for selection for World Cup qualifying games. I’m unsure about the rules of this list and if/when players can be changed or added (and info about these lists are hard to find, the list was unveiled by a Fiorentina website) but it does show you the players that the national team manager has in consideration. Lippi’s list has a mix of recognizable names and U21 stars, as well as some surprises. Here’s the list of 50:

GOALKEEPERS

Gianluigi Buffon, Marco Amelia, Gianluca Curci, Morgan De Sanctis, Christian Abbiati, Matteo Sereni

No surprises here, as those 6 goalkeepers are probably the best we have in circulation right now.

DEFENDERS

Gianluca Zambrotta, Daniele Bonera, Andrea Barzagli, Fabio Grosso, Marco Cassetti, Nicola Legrottaglie, Andrea Dossena, Giorgio Chiellini, Fabio Cannavaro, Alessandro Gamberini, Marco Materazzi, Paolo De Ceglie, Lorenzo De Silvestri, Domenico Criscito, Fabiano Santacroce, Cristian Zaccardo, Emiliano Moretti, Aimo Diana

A mix of old faces and U21 standouts, like De Ceglie, De Silvestri, Criscito, and Santacroce. Zaccardo, who was launched by Lippi with the national team, seems to still be on his radar. Aimo Diana was also a Lippi favorite under his first tenure and most probably would’ve went to the World Cup instead of Simone Barone but he was injured. The surprising name is Emiliano Moretti, who seems to be forgotten by national team managers but has always been solid for Valencia.

MIDFIELDERS

Mauro Camoranesi, Simone Perrotta, Gennaro Gattuso, Andrea Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi, Alberto Aquilani, Angelo Palombo, Riccardo Montolivo, Antonio Nocerino, Massimo Ambrosini, Daniele Conti, Franco Semioli, Massimo Gobbi, Claudio Marchisio, Marco Donadel

Another place where there are usual names, like World Cup winners Camoranesi, Perrotta, Gattuso, Pirlo, and De Rossi. However there are young talents like Montolivo, Nocerino, and Marchisio, as well as some surprises like Daniele Conti, who has always been a solid player for Cagliari. Massimo Gobbi has been useful for Fiorentina and can play a variety of positions, while Marco Donadel is probably one of the best players in Italy never to wear the Azzurri shirt yet. Ambrosini doesn’t seem to be favored by Lippi but is still on the list, as well as Franco Semioli, whose stock is declining as the days pass. Angelo Palombo seems to be favored by Lippi and will most probably be a frequent call-up for the next 2 years.

FORWARDS

Vincenzo Iaquinta, Alberto Gilardino, Luca Toni, Alessandro Del Piero, Antonio Di Natale, Giuseppe Rossi, Antonio Cassano, Raffaele Palladino, Mario Balotelli, Sebastian Giovinco, Fabio Quagliarella

Up front there are the World Cup winners Iaquinta, Gilardino, Toni, and Del Piero. Di Natale is always going to be there if he keeps playing like he has. Antonio Cassano, snubbed by Lippi so far, is at least held in consideration. Fabio Quagliarella, who was a Donadoni favorite, hasn’t been called by Lippi yet but is on the list. There are also young talents like Giuseppe Rossi, Sebastian Giovinco, Raffaele Palladino, and 18 year old Mario Balotelli.

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How am I doing?

So it’s been roughly 4 months since I took over the reigns of the Italy Offside. I just wanted to see what the general consensus was about how am I doing. And who best to ask than the loyal people who actually enjoy (or maybe don’t enjoy) reading my musings about calcio. What am I doing right? What am I doing wrong? What can I improve on? Should I resign? etc. Feel free to suggest ideas for posts and such as well. Leave all your comments in the comment section and I look forward to hearing from you.
-Francesco

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