World Champions Ruined!!

With one win in 4 matches no team can hope to continue running in the European championships. It was no different for Italy. "we did lose to Spain but with heads held high" was what Donadoni had to say after Italy crashed out of the Euro losing 4-2 on penalties. To me the Italians didn't do anything for keeping their heads in the sky. No forward could score in any of the 4 matches. In all we scored 3 goals of which one was a header by the veteran defender Panucci, one a spot kick and the other a lucky deflection on a De-Rossi free kick.The biggest disappointment for the Azzuri was the much hyped Luca Toni. It was not as if the midfield was not creative enough or they didn't create enough chances. Toni just failed to convert them into goals. He wasted all the potentially goal scoring balls and i guess concentrated more on diving. Cassano did run well but enough chances didn't come his way. The Italian defense did pretty well barring the first game against the Orange. Cheillini stood out from the rest of the back line. Saint Buffon was miserly as usual. Pirlo was magical. I must say the rest of the team looked a bit tired and out of sorts. Donadoni??.. well, just the fact that he changed the team and his formations in every match baffled me. If the coach cant find the right team combination before a match in a big tournament like this then you don't have much time to try them out on the feild , do you?? He wasn't sure in his mind and that showed. We need Lippi back. Donadoni needs some time before he can make out the right tactics. Let the time be given. He's a creep and freaks me out with his plans. Though i may be violating the ethics of the blogosphere but this is one disappointed Azzuri fan. Italy's next match is a friendly against Austria in Nice, France, on August 20. Hope to see Sandro,Totti,Pippo and sir Lippi!!.. Cheers

Zambo is ours!!

After a whole lotta speculation, the deal is through. Barca full back Gianluca Zambrotta finaly belongs to Milan. Dare I say we desperately needed a fast and strong right back, more so , after the dissapointing season of Oddo. Reinforcements have finally arrived. But at the same time I cant evade this thought- why does Ancelotti get what he wants 2 years late. Be it emerson n now Zambro. He should have been there but perhaps Oddo didn't let the need felt. With this signing and that of Empoli left back Luca Antonini, the Rossoneri have more or less sealed the full back positions. But I hope we are not satisfied with this. Although Maldini has resigned on the golden paper he will more or less be a mentor for the central defence and we still need a word class center back to accompany Sandro Nesta. On the attack?? I feel with Borriello and Pato we have 2 good support strikers but here also we still need a world class goal scorer. A good playmaker, someone like a Pirlo will, though needed, be a great luxury and seems unlikely going by the previous transfer windows. It seems Milan are not paying attention to the crucial Goalie spot either. Milan should not be satisfied and go on to sign atleast 3 more if not 4, thats if we are going to settle for Dida this season, which we should not be. Dream on!!