Here's the probable lineup for Euro 2000
Formation:3-4-1-2

----------Buffon------------
---Maldini---Canavaro---Nesta---
--Di Francesco--Baggio--Albertini--Zamb/Fuser
--------------Totti----------------
-------Del Piero----Vieri/Inzaghi------

Like i said this is the probable lineup ,but Zoff has to decide between Fuser and Zambrotta on the right midfield .If Vieri isnt healthy ,they will probably put Inzaghi .What do you think of this lineup?What do u think should be the right lineup for Italy or even formation.

I think 4-3-1-2 will be good:

Buffon/Toldo

Panucci/Ferrar Cannavaro Nesta Maldini


Tacchinardi Albertini Ambrosini

Fiore/Totti


Vieri Inzaghi/Del Piero

Are you nuts??????? What probable line-up are you talking about? Zoff will NEVER play Totti and del Piero together - never never never. And Albertini-Baggio??? No way! Albertini maybe but Dino Baggio will likely not even be called...
I strongly suggest you go read some "primary literature" (i.e. interviews with Zoff) and find out who are his key players: Buffon, Cannavaro, Nesta, Fiore and Vieri.

I bet the formation will likely be:
3-5-2
Buffon - Maldini - Nesta - Cannavaro - Pessotto - Albertini (di Biagio) - Fiore - Conte - Zambrotta (Fuser) - Vieri - Inzaghi

wheras it should be
3-5-2
GK Buffon
LB Maldini
CB Nesta
RB Cannavaro
LW Brocchi
DM di Biagio
CM Fiore
DM Ambrosini
RW Zambrotta
LF Totti
CF Vieri

Bench: Toldo; Iuliano, Ferrara, Negro; Pessotto, Albertini, Gattuso, Fuser; Montella, del Piero, Inzaghi

Hey Paolo: Capello used di Francesco this year mainly as a "centrale-sinistro", this player is good but I am perfectly sure he will not start any game.
No left midfielders? What about Zambrotta, Brocchi (Verona) or Pessotto.
Zambrotta if Fuser plays left.
Pessotto to give some emphasis on D when Zambrotta plays right wing.
Brocchi because he is a fantastic player, the perfect partner for Zambrotta on the right.
No to Taccinardi because after a great half of the season his game declined and declined.
No to del Piero because he can't score.
Yes to di Biagio because he brings order to the midfield and his long passes are terrific.
Yes to Ambrosini because he is Italy's best defensive midfielder, and as seen lately, has a decent scoring touch, together with good vision and good ball-skills.
Buffon has nerves made of steel, he excels in difficult games. O.k., he was not great vs. Denmark, but remember his debut? 19 years old, in for an injured Pagliuca, in front of 100,000 russian fans - stupendous.
By the way: he is a great penalty-killer, and I am sure we'll se at least 2 against Italy in the 3 1st round games...

...I meant if Fuser plays right...

Still the best formations are :


------------Buffon/Toldo-------------------

Panucci---Cannavaro---Nesta----Maldini
RB CD/SW CD/SW LB/LWB


Fuser --- Albertini --- Fiore --- Zambrotta
RM/RW CM/DM CM/AM LM/LW


-------------Vieri ----- Del Piero ---------

ST ST/CF


Or can be this way :


------------Buffon/Toldo-------------------

-------Cannavaro---Nesta----Maldini--------
CD/SW CD/SW CD

-------------- Ambrosini ------------------
ANC/DM

Fuser --- Albertini --- Fiore --- Zambrotta
RM/RW CM/DM CM/AM LM/LW


-------------Vieri ----- Del Piero ---------

ST ST/CF

Subs are :
Ferrara (RB/CD)
Panucci (RB/RWB)
Juliano (LB/CD)
Totti (AM/CF)
Montella (ST)
Di Biaggio (CM/DM)
Pesotto (LB/LWB/LM)
Peruzzi (GK)
Dino Baggio (DM/ANC)
F, Inzaghi (ST)

Cheers

Icabola



[This message has been edited by Icabola (edited 05-06-2000).]

Zoff uses Di Francesco as a left wing,but your right ,I forgot about Pessotto ,he is also a left midfielder .Zambrotta is a right midfielder ,Zoff said that he must decide to put either Fuser or Zambrotta on the right wing .As for Brocchi,I dont think Zoff will put him on .Also ,Buffon has won 1 in his 4 last matches and Toldo was just superb versus Portugal.

Italy:
Toldo
panucci--nesta--cannavaro--maldini
albertini
fiore-------totti
Delpiero
vieri--inzaghi

How the f*ck does this answer who shoud be keeper?

I never said it was 100percent sure,by the way ,Del piero will be a starter for sure and Zoff said so .The only question is if Vieri will be healthy enough .If not,it will be Inzaghi for sure .In midfield ,Albertini will be with Italy but i dont know if hes going to be a starter or not .Here is the lineup i would wish they would use.

----------Toldo-------------
----Maldini---Cannavaro----Nesta
--Di Francesco--Tacchinardi-Fiore--Zambrotta
----------------Totti---------------
---------Del Piero---Vieri----------

The reason why i put Di Francesco in the starting lineup is cause theres no other left midfielders for Italy other than Serena ,but he hasnt been in the national for a long time .The reason why i want Toldo instead of Buffon,is cause Toldo is older and more mature than Buffon.dont get me wrong Buffon is a good goalkeeper ,but he is still young and he will have a lot of pressure in euro2000 than Toldo .I dont know if Buffon can handle it.

Here is an unbiased opinion on the Italian national team. They seem to insist on sticking Maldini in the back 3 or 4. They have many talented defenders who could gain valuable experiance for the world cup by playing in Euro 2000. Zambrotta is a good player but it is not his time yet, Fuser is a better option. Buffon is a good keeper Toldo is a great keeper. Toldo is the type of goalie who can steal a victory. When and if Vieri returns they should put him in for Del Piero rather then Inzaghi. Del Piero doesn't score enough goals for Italy, he plays much better for Juvi. As much as I hate Inzaghi he does get the job done when he isn't taking dives. The only problem is that Zoff will most likely have Buffon, Maldini and Del Piero in the starting line-up. I don't see them winning with these three in. They are not bad players, but Italy has better options.

Of couse Italy has a better option that Del Piero. But Maldini? Which left back is better? Sorry, this player does not only start because of his name and past - he still is fast, a great tackler and has loads of experience.
And for the goalie issue: You have to think about this: Zoff is Italy's best goalie of all time. If he knows 1 thing it is how to won as a goalie and what makes a goalie special. So here comes 58 old Dino Zoff and makes a 20 year old punk his starter - over Peruzzi, Toldo and Pagliuca. I guess this is because he realized what a tremendous keeper Buffon is. Now at 22 years he already is great - with the proper experience imagine this player at 28. And it was a Buffon save, that won Italy the group, namely on a Chapuisat shot which I thought would be 100% in against Switzerland last June...

And speaking for Zambrotta: the 1st half of the season he played left wing for Juve, he can play both sides nearly equally well - just a bit better on the right.

Yeah, I forgot a player this time: Angelo di Livio - Zoff should have never disposed of him, because nobody else has such a winning and team spirit as this guy.

I would prefer if Zoff plays Toldo (but that's probably because I am biased). He's a great goalie and Fiorentina would be nowhere without him this season (and BatiGOL!!! of course http://www.soccergaming.com/ubb/smile.gif). Also the fact that Buffon is sooo young means he has his whole career ahead of him whereas Toldo is older and more experienced and should play. (btw Peruzzi is still a top class goalie).