The Azzurri are in Group 5 along with Slovenia, Scotland, Norway, Belarus and Moldova. Their fixtures are as follows:

4th Sept 2004: Italy vs Norway
8th Sept 2004: Moldova vs Italy
9th Oct 2004: Slovenia vs Italy
13th Oct 2004: Italy vs Belarus
26th Mar 2005: Italy vs Scotland
4th June 2005: Norway vs Italy
3rd Sept 2005: Scotland vs Italy
7th Sept 2005: Belarus vs Italy
8th Oct 2005: Italy vs Slovenia
12th Oct 2005: Italy vs Moldova


An interesting group. Should really finish top. Have the potential to win all 10 games but we know that won't happen A nice start with a home match against Norway and then a match against the last seeded Moldova. Also nice finish with 2 home games out of the last 3, and 2 of them will be against the minnows.

What would you like to see Lippi do during this qualifying campaign?

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Holly Valance hottest thing alive

Leave behind the defensive times, there is lots of Italian offensive talent in the serie A. A team with a good balance of youth and experience. De Rossi, Gilardino, Cassano....

No disrespect to the other teams, but is it possible to get an easier group than that???

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FORCA PORTUGAL!!!
AND USA!!!!

DENMARK SUCKS

Right on, Rez.

The good thing is that Lippi is very willing to experiment with young talent, which can only mean progress for the Azzurri, I hope. So I think we'll definitely see more of Cassano, for one. I thought he equipped himself well at Euro 2004, despite Italy going out at the group stages. And with Gilardino, Miccoli (hopefully!) and the others coming in, hopefully things will get better.

As for the games... we've always had a problem with Belarus, Scotland has improved somewhat and the so-called minnows can always spring surprises.

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Love is a self-inflicted pain -- Il Mare

Hope you are right because I can see another disaster in 2006 if he doesn't

Its already rumoured that Lippi will call up a few of the Azzurrini squad who won the Under 21 European Championships for the 5th time out of 7 earlier in the month in Germany. Gilardino must be a definate, and also Marchionni, Pinzi, De Rossi and Bovo might be given chances in the first friendly against Iceland on August 18.

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Holly Valance hottest thing alive

That's good news. I think it's about time the youngsters are promoted to the national squad. Of course, we can't expect miracles, but it's good news that we'll see more new faces instead of the tired ones that we saw during Euro 2004. Lippi has never been afraid to experiment, at least not with Juve. I hope that will carry over when he takes over the Azzurri. I'm not saying we should all get overconfident now that Lippi is taking over, but I think, after Trap, there is cause for some optimism.

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Love is a self-inflicted pain -- Il Mare

I like Lippi's initiative and enthusiasm!

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Lippi builds enthusiasm

Tuesday 27 July, 2004

New Italy Coach Marcello Lippi is continuing his tour of all Italian clubs today, visiting the San Siro and Roberto Mancini’s Inter.

Lippi believes that it is important at this stage to go round and visit all the protagonists of Italian football.

“During the summer it’s possible to go and see all the preseason games and chat with a few of my colleagues and the footballers in a more relaxed environment,” insists Lippi. “Especially for those players who have struggled recently and need to feel some support and enthusiasm.

“However, I am talking to all the Italian footballers and not just those who have played for Italy in recent games,” continued the tactician. “It is important to talk and keep alive the dream that these boys have of playing for Italy. A dream that could still be realized.”

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Lippi reveals Azzurri plans

Monday 26 July, 2004

New Italy boss Marcello Lippi will turn to youth in a bid to qualify for the 2006 World Cup Finals.

"Four or five of the Under-21 side that are off to the Olympics next month will be integrated," he told ‘Radio Radio’.

Although Lippi didn’t mention any names, the likes of Alberto Gilardino and Daniele Bonera are likely to be promoted to the Azzurri set-up.

Lippi, who replaced Giovanni Trapattoni after the Euro 2004 disaster, will begin his international career against Iceland in an August friendly.

"Who will play? It is too early to say as I’ve only just begun the job," he added. "I’ll decide over the next few weeks."

The tactician also reassured the Valencia trio of Bernardo Corradi, Stefano Fiore and Marco Di Vaio that they would not be forgotten.

"I will keep a close eye on the Italians abroad," he confirmed. "There is no difference in getting on a plane in Valencia than in Turin."

The former Juventus boss is also confident that the side’s struggles in Portugal this summer wouldn’t affect their World Cup qualification campaign.

"I really don’t think that the Italian players feel inferior to anybody and they will be hungry to pick themselves up," he explained.

Many in the peninsula believe that the new Italy is set to be inspired by Francesco Totti and Antonio Cassano.

"The national team belongs to everybody and not just these two Roma players," he concluded.

Source: www.channel4.com

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Love is a self-inflicted pain -- Il Mare

to me wining these games is possable but if we play with 2 striker
and stop depending on defence player because in euro we depend
tottaly in df that put purser on them and going to game thinking only
in wining not to make it tell last game

Forza Italia!

Yay for Lippi making overtures toward being brave. It is what is needed. Trap just lost his nerve in the end, kept calling up his 'stalwarts' even when he knew they were unfit and out of form. He wasn't brave enough to try anything new, and paid the price.

I want to see Lippi being adventurous and taking chances. Fingers crossed it will pay off. I'm not sure I could take another tournament like the last couple.

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We have a friendly against Iceland this coming Wednesday, and Lippi's called up three new faces. Hopefully we'll get a good result.

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Lippi calls three new faces

Saturday 14 August, 2004

There are three new faces in Marcello Lippi’s first Italy squad – Manuele Blasi, Luca Toni and Francesco Flachi – but Alex Del Piero is dropped.

There were already clues that Palermo hitman Toni would be given his first call-up for Wednesday’s friendly against Iceland, as Christian Vieri is out injured.

Flachi also pushes his way into the squad following an impressive campaign with Sampdoria, while Blasi is reaping the rewards for his summer switch to Juventus.

Many of the top Azzurri stars are out of action, including Antonio Cassano, Francesco Totti, Vieri, Mauro Camoranesi, Massimo Ambrosini, Cristiano Zanetti, Bernardo Corradi, Pippo Inzaghi and Fabio Cannavaro.

However, Lippi assured this week that Del Piero is most definitely part of his plans for this new era of the Italian national squad.

“Alex is an important player,” noted the former Juve boss. “A very important player, for his history with the Azzurri, the team in which he plays, the results he has earned and how he deals with public opinion. I am certain he will find his form again.”

This is the squad that will travel to Iceland for Wednesday’s game:
Gk: Abbiati (Milan), Buffon (Juventus)
D: Birindelli (Juventus), Diana (Sampdoria), Favalli (Inter), Legrottaglie (Juventus), Materazzi (Inter), Nesta (Milan), Oddo (Lazio), Zambrotta (Juventus)
M: Barone (Palermo), Blasi (Juventus), Fiore (Valencia), Gattuso (Milan), Perrotta (Roma), Volpi (Sampdoria)
F: Bazzani (Sampdoria), Di Vaio (Valencia), Flachi (Sampdoria), Miccoli (Juventus), Toni (Palermo)

Source: www.channel4.com

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Love is a self-inflicted pain -- Il Mare

And Lippi starts the WC qualifying campaign with a win

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Italy 2 - 1 Norway
Carew 1 (N), De Rossi 4 (I), Toni 79 (I)
Palermo

New boys Daniele De Rossi and Luca Toni recovered from a disastrous start to give Italy a confident opening win in the World Cup qualifiers.

Marcello Lippi's era began in earnest with this World Cup qualifier against Norway. The Coach was forced to do without the suspended Francesco Totti, while Antonio Cassano, Christian Vieri, Alessandro Del Piero and Fabio Cannavaro are injured.

This gave Olympics heroes Alberto Gilardino and Daniele De Rossi their senior international debuts and both were in the starting eleven. Fabrizio Miccoli replaced his former Juve teammate Del Piero upfront, while Gianluca Zambrotta was pushed forward on to the left flank.

The Sicilian crowd at the Stadio Renzo Barbera gave a passionate welcome to the team, singing so loudly to the national anthem that they drowned out the band. There was also a minute's silence for the victims of the terrorist acts in Russia.

It was an appalling start, as within 45 seconds of the starting whistle former Roma striker John Carew opened the scoring for Norway. The ball was lost in midfield and Marco Materazzi was too slow in closing down the giant Norwegian, allowing him to place an angled drive past Gianluigi Buffon.

The Azzurri fought back immediately and Miccoli's splendid half-volley brought a great save out of Johnsen.

But it was a debutante who drew level after just four minutes of play, as a Giuseppe Favalli low cross flew past everyone until Daniele De Rossi flicked it into the net with the outside of his right foot. The 21-year-old Roma midfielder almost retired from football in April after suffering from a recurring hernia problem, but marked his senior international debut with a well-taken strike.

Norweian midfielder Peter Rudi was booked after 12 minutes for a challenge from behind on the lively Miccoli. The new Fiorentina signing again tested goalkeeper Johnsen from close range, then his through ball found Stefano Fiore only for his shot to be blocked at the near post.

Italy were gradually increasing the pressure as the first half wore on and Fiore's long-range strike shook the side-netting. Moments later a series of disastrous defensive errors handed Giuseppe Favalli the ball on the six-yard box, but his cutback to Miccoli was intercepted.

The personal duel between Miccoli and Johnsen continued when the 'keeper flew to palm out his curling free kick with one hand, then Gennaro Gattuso's fierce drive from almost 20 metres was deflected on to the upright and Miccoli turned in the loose ball, but it was disallowed due to a correct offside decision.

Captain Alessandro Nesta performed a crucial challenge on Carew as he charged into the box, but Italy were dominating and at the other end a quiet Gilardino failed to make the most of a good opportunity as his first touch let him down. Zambrotta cut towards the centre and his low drive forced Johnsen into a tricky push round the post.

Norway were perhaps even more negative at the start of the second half, camping out entirely in their own half as the Azzurri passed the ball around in search of an opening.

On the hour mark Miccoli caught on to a fine Fiore pass and attempted to flick it over the goalkeeper, but Johnsen was able to charge him down. Soon after Fiore went for goal himself and his powerful angled drive was parried by the busy Norwegian goalkeeper.

Bernardo Corradi replaced a very quiet Gilardino, while Sampdoria's Aimo Diana took over from Favalli. This pushed Zambrotta back into his right-back role, moving Fiore over to the other flank.

Norway's first shot since the first minute came after 70 and Buffon got down well to parry Rudi's effort from a corner kick at the near post.

The Stadio Barbera went wild when Luca Toni was given his competitive debut in place of the increasingly tired Miccoli.

The Palermo forward made an immediate impact and within moments of coming on he nodded Fiore's pass across to Aimo Diana, but the Sampdoria man was unable to get a clean header on it, perhaps due to a push from behind by defender Johnsen. The linesman raised his flag for an Italian foul and play resumed with a Norwegian free kick.

The Scandinavians were a little more confident towards the end and Buffon jumped on to the feet of Rusveld, but the referee waved away more penalty appeals after Zambrotta appeared to be pushed to the ground as he tried to dribble round a defender. Then Diana's half-volley landed on the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Italy were dominating and eventually took the lead 11 minutes from time with local hero Luca Toni. Zambrotta's low pass set the striker running and he delicately redirected it through the goalkeeper's legs. Toni is a hero in Palermo after his 30 goals in Serie B last season and soaked up the praise of the home fans.

There was real enthusiasm in the Azzurri squad and Diana combined with Toni for the winger's fierce drive that whistled past the upright, but that late goal was enough to ensure a deserved victory.

Italy: Buffon; Bonera, Nesta, Materazzi, Favalli (Diana 68); Fiore, Gattuso, De Rossi, Zambrotta; Miccoli (Toni 72), Gilardino (Corradi 58)

Norway: E Johnsen; Basma, Riseth, Lundekvam, Riise; Hoset (Solli 91), Andresen; Sorensen (Pedersen 86), F Johnsen, Rudi; Carew (Rusveld 72)

Ref: Sars (Fra)

Source: www.channel4.com

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Love is a self-inflicted pain -- Il Mare

We have two WC qualifying games coming up, against Slovenia (Oct 9) and Belarus (Oct 13). Here is the squad list that just came in:

Italy squad for World Cup qualifiers

ROME, Oct 3 (AFP) - Italy squad announced here Sunday for the World Cup 2006 qualifying matches away to Slovenia on October 9 and at home to Belarus on October 13:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Ivan Pelizzoli (Roma)

Defenders: Daniele Bonera (Parma), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), Giuseppe Pancaro (AC Milan), Massimo Oddo (Lazio), Christian Zaccardo (Palermo)

Midfielders: Manuel Blasi (Juventus), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (Juventus), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Simone Perrotta (Roma), Aimo Diana (Sampdoria), Stefano Fiore (Valencia/SPA), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan)

Forwards: Bernardo Corradi (Valencia/SPA), Marco Di Vaio (Valencia/SPA), Mauro Esposito (Cagliari), Alberto Gilardino (Parma), Luca Toni (Palermo), Francesco Totti (Roma)

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Love is a self-inflicted pain -- Il Mare

Well, we lost to Slovenia , but managed to scrape past Belarus 4-3, with Totti scoring twice. Here's hoping things can only get better.

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Totti's double puts shaky Italy back on top

PARMA, Italy, Oct 13 (AFP) - Francesco Totti silenced his critics by scoring twice as Italy reclaimed top spot in their World Cup qualifying group with a far from convincing 4-3 win over Belarus here on Wednesday.

Totti, much maligned after his poor performance in last Saturday's defeat at Slovenia, opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Roma team-mate Daniele de Rossi doubled the home side's advantage with a clinical low strike.

The visitors hit back through Maxim Romashchenko's stunning 40-yard shot shortly after half-time, only for Totti to restore Italy's two-goal cushion with an equally venomous free-kick.

Belarus refused to lie down and Vitaly Bulyga kept them in the hunt after cashing in on Gennaro Gattuso's error, before Alberto Gilardino struck with a close range header four minutes from time for his first senior international goal.

Romashchenko ensured a nail-biting finale by curling a free-kick in off the bar with a minute to go, but Italy held on to edge a seven-goal thriller at the Ennio Tardini stadium.

Belarus finished up with 10 men, Sergei Yaskovich getting his marching orders in stoppage time for a second yellow card

Italy looked very shaky at times, but their coach Marcello Lippi seemed unconcerned, saying all that mattered was getting the victory.

"The three points and going top of the group was the important thing," he told RAI television.

"We played well. They scored from two exceptional strikes from distance and no-one can blame the defence.

"I thought we were excellent in the first-half, but we played with too much fear in the second.

"We scored four times and could have had more, while in the first half they didn't have a shot on goal."

By beating Belarus for the first time in three attempts, Italy not only redeemed themselves for their loss in Slovenia, but they also regained first place in Group Five.

Their victory coupled with Slovenia's 3-0 defeat away to Norway earlier in the day enabled the Azzurri to recapture the summit and edged closer to a place in finals in Germany in 2006.

Italy have nine points from four matches, two more than Slovenia and Norway.

The hosts made all the early running with Giuseppe Pancaro heading over the bar and Totti drilling a free-kick past the post.

Belarus showed their attacking flair when Vitaly Kutuzov carved open the Italy defence only to drag his shot wide.

The visitors looked comfortable after an early spell of pressure until a moment of madness by Vladimir Korytko gifted Italy the lead in the 26th minute.

Massimo Oddo delivered a right-wing corner into the box and the Belarussia midfielder inexplicably raised his arm to prevent Pancaro making contact with the ball.

Spanish referee Carlos Devila Megia immediately pointed to the spot and flashed a yellow card in Korytko's face.

Totti tucked the penalty away only to be told to take it again because of an incroachment into the area, but the Roma captain kept his cool and made no mistake with his second attempt.

De Rossi then doubled Italy's lead seven minutes later, driving into the Belarus box after Totti had been blocked and firing an angled shot into the bottom corner.

Belarus hauled themselves back into contention when Romashchenko unleashed a fierce left-footed drive which struck the post on its way in, before Totti's sublime right-footed free-kick appeared to ease Italian nerves.

Bulyga then capitalised when Gattuso lost possession in the box in the 77th minute, punishing the AC Milan midfielder's error by ramming home from 10 yards.

Gilardino headed in after Gianluca Zambrotta's shot was parried by Vasili Khomutovsky to put Italy back in the driving seat, before Romashchenko grabbed his second of the night.

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Love is a self-inflicted pain -- Il Mare