I’m not a big fan of friendly matches, so waiting until after a 2-2 draw for the Azzurri against Austria today to comment on the call-ups is just as good as writing it yesterday. Alberto Gilardino scored to bring Italy back after being down 2-0 and were lucky to score on an own goal by the Austrian keeper, but a draw is a draw is a draw. Lippi has been forced to field a defence without Fabio Cannavaro, Marco Materazzi, Giorgio Chiellini and Alessandro Gamberini so some of these are not permanent fixtures.
Goalkeepers: Juve’s Gigi Buffon, backed up by Marco Amelia from Palermo. Gigi is starting to show cracks in his indestructible facade, but he is still Italy’s undesputed #1, #2 and probably #3.
Defenders: Bonera, Grosso, Chiellini, Cassetti, Barzagli, Zambrotta, Dossena. The Italian defence is still graying, the two holdovers from the World Cup squad are well over 30 and Barzagli, a backup on that squad is at his prime right now and yet decided to ply his trade in Germany, away from the microscope in Serie A. Is this a watershed year for Italian defenders? Most people say that the young Italian keepers are on the wane, but what of pride of the Italian game; the fullbacks and centerbacks?
Midfielders: DeRossi, Gattuso, Palombo, Camoranesi, Perrotta, Pirlo, and Aquilani. Have we gotten stuck in a timewarp? I realize this is roughly the same squad that Lippi brought up two years ago, but I’m sory but that’s a problem. I understand DeRossi, Aquilani to a certain extent despite his injury problems, but Perrotta, Camoranesi and Gattuso? All three are on the other side of their International careers. Pirlo is still a force, especially on the set-piece, but I’d like to have seen some new faces in the mix.
Forwards: Del Piero, Gilardino, Di Natale, Iaquinta. Gilardino is back in the squad and proved Lippi right with a goal today despite being out of favor with the previous regime. Iaquinta is again second choice up front, Luca Toni is hurt and a wonder about the omission of Il Bambino
Overall a conservative bunch of choices, but Lippi had better start venting some of those Azzurrini, because they are the one’s who will be the backbone of the next World Cup.
