I've been bashed for saying that I dont like Italy. This is totally misguided, some players like Pirlo and Vieri are my very favorite. I hate how these poor guys gotta play the same rigid system. I remember in 98 how all the commentators would say imagine if France had Davor Suker or Christian Vieri. Finally a striker they could use.

Here is my 2002 line up for ALL GAMES QF SF FINAL and group.

Cassano Vieri

Brocchi Pirlo Ambrosini Zambrotta

Maldini? Nesta Caravanno Panucci

Buffon

And please for the love of god don't pussy out and play only one of Vieri or Cassano or Pirlo. Use all Italy has some great weapons, but as long as you wanna not change victory will elude you.

Remember France in 1990, 1992 and 1994?? They didnt wanna change. Then they made up their mind we will change and win the world cup. Out went guys like Ba, Cantona, Ginola in came the new guys Zidane, Thuram, and now Henry/Anelka.

In the last 50 years except for France in 98 the attacking side has always won.

Juninhio,

Firts of all, I would like to say that I really agree with much of your recent posting regarding attacking football, anti-catenaccio, etc.

Secondly, I absolutely share your feelings on the Azurri. I am a fan of many national styles, and my closet is probably littered with more Serie A shirts than any other league (even England!) Strangely enough, out of favour players like Del Piero, and my favorite "raging carpenter" Mo Torricelli are among my personal faves. Personal taste asside, Italian players have class, technique, talent, and above all a soul for the game. My absolute dreading of Azurri this tournament was over their tactics, their philosophy, their result-oriented ideology if you like. I feared a championship won on these wonderfully executed yet cynically negative game-plans would set the game back 15-10 years. (We had the most successful, wide open major tourny since perhaps 1970.) Anyway, I agree with you J. - let the Azurri play a discipline yet beautiful game (we all saw the touches they were capable of when the came out of their "testudo.")

Finally, just a little nit-picky note on Ibrahim Ba. You listed him as part of the early ninety guard which Les Bleus needed to change. That couldn't be farther from the truth. Ibou exploded on the French international scene in a friendly against Portugal after Euro '96 (A match in which he scored a goal of Owen dynamism.) He was a shining flame, a winger's winger! Sadly, he flickered out almost as quickly as he ignited. His transfer to Milan seemed to be the beginning of the end. Expected to star, he played well but not spectacularly in the Tournoi four nation tournament. After that, his form and confidence waned and waned as he struggled with a struggling Milan side. I would watch this formerly explosive footballer week in and week out now almost afraid to trap a ball in Serie A.

I am not sure what Ibou's status is this season (following his loan to Perugia.) Just a quick footnote on a player whose star for France was very very brief.

Italy for the qualifiying stages and later:

Toldo-Iuliano-Nesta-Cannavaro-Maldini-Baronio-Gattuso-Zambrotta-Totti-Vieri-Delvecchio

subs: Buffon, Zanchi, Pessotto, Brocchi, di Biagio, Pirlo, Montella