joe__the__man Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Diamanti is in the Italian squad? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robokid87 Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Tbf Diamanti shone every time I saw him for Bologna this season, plus offers something a bit different. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astafjevs Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 He should be nowhere near the squad. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
av3ry Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Surprised Stefano Mauri was never in the Italian squad to be honest, unless hes Argentinian.... He'll never make it now obviously after his arrest for the matchfixing probe. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaceCrusher Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Italian squad seems to lack a bit of creativity... is Giovinco a starter? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georginho_juventusygr Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 4-3-1-2, I think. Giovinco or the massively overrated guy from Fiorentina behind Super Mario and Cassano. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaceCrusher Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Yeah, Giovinco - Balotelli - Cassano would create enough chances I guess. With "the guy from Fiorentina" they would lack a bit of flair and Cassano would have to do all the work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astafjevs Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Surprised Stefano Mauri was never in the Italian squad to be honest, unless hes Argentinian.... He'll never make it now obviously after his arrest for the matchfixing probe. He was at the start of the Prandelli reign, played early qualifiers against Northern Ireland e.t.c. He was abysmal. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Apparently 17 out of the 23 Portuguese players have connections with agent Jorge Mendes. That's even worse than Mano Menezes and Brazil's national team players connections to Carlos Leite. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaceCrusher Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Apparently 17 out of the 23 Portuguese players have connections with agent Jorge Mendes. That's even worse than Mano Menezes and Brazil's national team players connections to Carlos Leite. He is the Cristiano Ronaldo of football agents, so that's normal most players want to sign with him. They always end up at big clubs. Falcao also has him as his agent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SI Staff Jeroen Thijssen Posted May 28, 2012 SI Staff Share Posted May 28, 2012 What happened to Elia? Does he not get a game for the national team anymore or is he injured? He doesn't really feature. Generally manager Bert van Marwijk only picks players that play a lot. An in form Elia is definitely an asset (he was crucial in the win over Denmark at WC 2010) he has made an exception for Afellay who is an exceptionally gifted player for BvM. He's received a lot of criticism for picking surprising players, like eg. Bouma and Vlaar. Also Willems and a few other players - but you have to think of the alternatives that really aren't there. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SI Staff Jeroen Thijssen Posted May 28, 2012 SI Staff Share Posted May 28, 2012 rumoured final Polish squad:goalkeepers: Grzegorz Sandomierski (Jagiellonia Białystok), Wojciech Szczęsny (Arsenal Londyn), Przemysław Tytoń (PSV Eidhoven). defenders: Sebastian Boenisch (Werder Brema), Marcin Kamiński (Lech Poznań), Damien Perquis (Sochaux), Łukasz Piszczek (Borussia Dortmund), Marcin Wasilewski (Anderlecht Bruksela), Jakub Wawrzyniak (Legia Warszawa), Grzegorz Wojtkowiak (Lech Poznań). midfielders: Jakub Błaszczykowski (Borussia Dortmund), Dariusz Dudka (Auxerre), Kamil Grosicki (Sivasspor), Adam Matuszczyk (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Adrian Mierzejewski (Trabzonspor), Rafał Murawski (Lech Poznań), Ludovic Obraniak (Bordeaux), Eugen Polanski (FSV Mainz), Maciej Rybus (Terek Grozny), Rafał Wolski (Legia Warszawa). strikers: Paweł Brożek (Celtic Glasgow), Robert Lewandowski (Borussia Dortmund), Artur Sobiech (Hannover 96). I really don't know why Brożek and Sobiech are there, I'd rather we took someone from our league who plays and scores regularly, not Brożek who has been poor for the last 2 years, or Sobiech who can't get a game at Hannover. Will you play with just 1 striker? Then it's obviously Lewandowski. But apart from that I struggle to think of really good forwards? Was Jelen close to a call-up? He was pretty good before this season... Ebi Smolarek played for my team and he considered he could perhaps work his way into the team if he played well. He wasn't too bad, but if he'd get called up - you'd seriously have a problem Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 He is the Cristiano Ronaldo of football agents, so that's normal most players want to sign with him. They always end up at big clubs.Falcao also has him as his agent. Yes, but 17 out of 23 is way too many. I certainly wouldn't like Brazil's national team to have so many players working with a single agent if they all deserved to be in the national team. You can't give an agent all this power to influence things. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
endtime Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Will you play with just 1 striker? Then it's obviously Lewandowski. But apart from that I struggle to think of really good forwards?Was Jelen close to a call-up? He was pretty good before this season... Ebi Smolarek played for my team and he considered he could perhaps work his way into the team if he played well. He wasn't too bad, but if he'd get called up - you'd seriously have a problem We'll probably play with Lewandowski up top, supported by Obraniak and Błaszczykowski on the wings. The truth is we don't have any decent strikers (or centre backs and central midfielders) apart from Lewandowski. Jeleń just completely disappeared after moving to Lille, not sure what happened to him. Ebi Smolarek had his big moments when Leo Beenhakker was coach of Polish NT (best coach ever by the way <3) but has since faded away big time. I think the problem is in his mind, because the ability is clearly there. At 31 it's all downhill for him now, though. What I'm saying though is that instead of calling up washed up players like Brożek it's better to try someone unproven, young and hungry, like Kucharczyk, Jankowski or Piech. I used to be a big fan of our current NT coach, but he's turned into a really hard-headed moron somewhere in the past few years. Watch us crash out of the tournament in group stage. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldy Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Willems for the dutch i think will impress, definately a future star in the making, in the second half he really powered on and had a great game (vs Bulgaria) before being subbed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SI Staff Jeroen Thijssen Posted May 28, 2012 SI Staff Share Posted May 28, 2012 We'll probably play with Lewandowski up top, supported by Obraniak and Błaszczykowski on the wings. The truth is we don't have any decent strikers (or centre backs and central midfielders) apart from Lewandowski.Jeleń just completely disappeared after moving to Lille, not sure what happened to him. Ebi Smolarek had his big moments when Leo Beenhakker was coach of Polish NT (best coach ever by the way <3) but has since faded away big time. I think the problem is in his mind, because the ability is clearly there. At 31 it's all downhill for him now, though. What I'm saying though is that instead of calling up washed up players like Brożek it's better to try someone unproven, young and hungry, like Kucharczyk, Jankowski or Piech. I used to be a big fan of our current NT coach, but he's turned into a really hard-headed moron somewhere in the past few years. Watch us crash out of the tournament in group stage. I'm not overly impressed with your squad but you have home court advantage, which might see you clinch 2nd place. You have a good goalkeeper (both Szczesny and Tyton) and I would say you have competent players in Pisczszek, Blasz, Dudka, Grosicki, Obraniak, Lewandowski and maybe Polanski too. The Greek and Czech sides are probably not too fantastic either but I do expect Russia to do well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SI Staff Jeroen Thijssen Posted May 28, 2012 SI Staff Share Posted May 28, 2012 Willems for the dutch i think will impress, definately a future star in the making, in the second half he really powered on and had a great game (vs Bulgaria) before being subbed. Probably the biggest question mark. Has shown signs of becoming a great player at such an early age - but has been completely overrun by smart pacy wingers in the Eredivisie. The Bulgarian side isn't exactly a proper challenge either - yes, they did win - but you can't say Willems got properly tested. I thought he did OK, but nothing special. The Germans and Portuguese will probably have a field day though! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Gonzo Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 The Germans and Portuguese will probably have a field day though! And you will have the chance to exploit the German left back (probably Boateng or Schmelzer) but everyone is better than Edson Braafheid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMLF Posted May 28, 2012 Share Posted May 28, 2012 Interesting decision: Serbia Bans Player for Refusing to Sing Anthem18:00 28/05/2012 BELGRADE, May 28 (RIA Novosti) Serbia midfielder Adem Ljajic has been suspended from the national team for refusing to sing the national anthem before his country's friendly against Spain on Saturday, the Serbian Football Federation announced Monday. The Fiorentina midfielder, 20, received the ban after explaining to coach Sinisa Mihajlovic that he would not sing the anthem out of principle and did not plan on changing his position, the federation said. The federation insisted this contravened a "point of agreement" that Ljajic had signed in order to make him eligible for selection for the national team. The door to the team is not closed, however, and Ljajic will be invited back should he promise to join in with the singing in the future, the federation said. Ljajic, a former Manchester United target, made his Serbia debut in 2010 and has seven caps. The team failed to qualify for Euro 2012, finishing third in Group C behind Italy and Estonia. Ljajic was mired in controversy earlier this month when his sarcastic handclap at being substituted in a Serie A game led Fiorentina coach Delio Rossi to lose his patience and punch the winger in the dugout. http://en.ria.ru/sports/20120528/173718871.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SI Staff Jeroen Thijssen Posted May 29, 2012 SI Staff Share Posted May 29, 2012 Fernando Santos has announced his Greek squad Kostas Chalkias Goalkeeper PAOK Michalis Sifakis Goalkeeper Aris Alexandros Tzorvas Goalkeeper Palermo Vassilis Torosidis Defender Olympiakos Kyriakos Papadopoulos Defender Schalke Avraam Papadopoulos Defender Olympiakos Sokratis Papastathopoulos Defender Werder José Holebas Defender Olympiakos Giorgos Tzavellas Defender Monaco Stelios Malezas Defender PAOK Kostas Katsouranis Midfield Panathinaikos Giorgos Karagounis Midfield Panathinaikos Giannis Maniatis Midfield Olympiakos Giorgos Fotakis Midfield PAOK Grigoris Makos Midfield AEK Giannis Fetfatzidis Midfield Olympiakos Sotirios Ninis Midfield Panathinaikos Kostas Fortounis Midfield Kaiserslautern Dimitris Salpingidis Attack PAOK Giorgos Samaras Attack Celtic Fanis Gekas Attack Samsunspor Nikos Liberopoulos Attack AEK Kostas Mitroglou Attack Atromitos Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SI Staff Jeroen Thijssen Posted May 29, 2012 SI Staff Share Posted May 29, 2012 and I don't think zee Germans have been mentioned here yet: Manager Joachim Löw Manuel Neuer Goalkeeper FC Bayern Tim Wiese Goalkeeper Werder Ron-Robert Zieler Goalkeeper Hannover Holger Badstuber Defender FC Bayern Jérome Boateng Defender FC Bayern Benedikt Höwedes Defender FC Schalke Mats Hummels Defender Dortmund Marcel Schmeltzer Defender Dortmund Phillipp Lahm Defender FC Bayern Per Mertesacker Defender Arsenal Lars Bender Midfield Leverkusen Toni Kroos Midfield FC Bayern Thomas Müller Midfield FC Bayern Mesut Özil Midfield Real Madrid Sami Khedira Midfield Real Madrid Marco Reus Midfield Gladbach André Schürrle Midfield Leverkusen Bastian Schweinsteiger Midfield FC Bayern Mario Götze Midfield Dortmund Ílkay Gündogan Midfield Dortmund Miroslav Klose Attack Lazio Mario Gomez Attack FC Bayern Lukas Podolski Attack FC Köln Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georginho_juventusygr Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Samaras to top the scoring chart. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdyTaylor Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Is today the final day for announcing the 23-man squads? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smallen Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 I think the deadline might be tomorrow morning, but I'm not sure. Could be today. Anyway, French squad: Carrasso, Lloris, Mandanda Débuchy, Reveillere, Evra, Clichy, Koscielny, Mexes, Rami A. Diarra, M'Vila, Martin, Matuidi, Malouda, Cabaye, Nasri Giroud, Menez, Valbuena, Benzema, Ribery, Ben Arfa Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razzler Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 I am sure I heard 29th somewhere, which is today Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noob21 Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Should've dropped Malouda for an extra CB, but I guess with the injuries for Kaboul and Abidal they don't want anyone new Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SI Staff Jeroen Thijssen Posted May 29, 2012 SI Staff Share Posted May 29, 2012 Thomas Sørensen out for Denmark, Kasper Schmeichel replaces him. Joris Mathijsen is doubtful for match 1 and 2 for the Dutch side. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astafjevs Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Italy GK: Buffon, De Sanctis, Sirigu DF: Abate, Maggio, Barzagli, Chiellini, Bonucci, Ogbonna, Balzaretti MF: Montolivo, Pirlo, Thiago Motta, De Rossi, Giaccherini, Marchisio, Diamanti, Nocerino FW: Di Natale, Balotelli, Cassano, Giovinco, Borini Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpain16 Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Croatia final squad just announced Goalkeepers: Pletikosa, Subašić, Kelava Defence: Vida, Ćorluka, Šimunić, J. Buljat, Schildenfeld, Strinić, Pranjić Midfield: Srna, Dujmović, Vukojević, Rakitić, Modrić, Perišić, Kranjčar, Badelj, Iličević Attack: Olić, Jelavić, Mandžukić, Eduardo Bilić dropped Lovren (injury), Kalinić (enough strikers), Vrsaljko (enough right backs), Blažević (4th keeper) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
boots Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Italy squad numbers. 1. Buffon 2. Maggio 3. Chiellini 4. Ogbonna 5. Thiago Motta 6. Balzaretti 7. Abate 8. Marchisio 9. Balotelli 10. Cassano 11. Di Natale 12. Sirigu 13. Giaccherini 14. De Sanctis 15. Barzagli 16. De Rossi 17. Borini 18. Montolivo 19. Bonucci 20. Giovinco 21. Pirlo 22. Diamanti 23. Nocerino Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
el sid Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Would everyone be kind enough to post the most probable XIs of their teams please? Not the 11 they want, the 11 that will be on the pitch. Fantasy reasons Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astafjevs Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Buffon; Maggio, Barzagli, Chiellini, Balzaretti; Marchisio/Thiago Motta, Pirlo, De Rossi; Montolivo; Cassano, Balotelli Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpain16 Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Would everyone be kind enough to post the most probable XIs of their teams please? Not the 11 they want, the 11 that will be on the pitch. Fantasy reasons Croatia against Ireland very likely this: Pletikosa - Strinić, Schildenfeld, Šimunić, Vida - Perišić, Modrić, Dujmović, Srna - Mandžukić, Jelavić These are the players Bilić trusts the most but in recent friendlies Iličević and Badelj played rather well. Badelj won't start as we're packed on his position with Modrić and Rakitić, but Iličević is our only real offensive winger so in some combinations might even start. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razzler Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 El Sid beat me to it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razzler Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 BTW all you guys with an interest in squads get yourselves into the fantasy league thread Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy_T Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 casillas; arbeloa, ramos, piqué, jordi alba; busquets, alonso, xavi; iniesta, silva/pedrito, torres sadly Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McMaster#28 Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 He is the Cristiano Ronaldo of football agents, so that's normal most players want to sign with him. They always end up at big clubs. Some clubs require a player to swap agents (e.g. to Mendes' agency) before they sign him. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razzler Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Yeah, no doubt it's all very sinister. I find it telling that right off Fergie came out and totally distanced himself from that Bebe mess "it's the only player we have signed I have not personally watched" right there you know that's dodgy aside from him switching at the last minute and all that :/ Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
el sid Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Buffon; Maggio, Barzagli, Chiellini, Balzaretti; Marchisio/Thiago Motta, Pirlo, De Rossi; Montolivo; Cassano, Balotelli Maggio and not Abate for RB? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
georginho_juventusygr Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Gonzo Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 but Iličević is our only real offensive winger so in some combinations might even start. Perisic is very attack minded that's why he hasn't played very much for Dortmund. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astafjevs Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Maggio and not Abate for RB?I'll be surprised if he starts Abate. He's shown a reluctance to even call him up to the squad for the past two years - to go from that to starting XI would be some turnaround.But the main reason is that Maggio has been played a fair bit in qualifying/friendlies. Prandelli seemed to be undecided between him and Cassani at times, but with Cassani left out, I would think Maggio will get the nod. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpain16 Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Perisic is very attack minded that's why he hasn't played very much for Dortmund. He is likely to play on the left but I see him more as a side striker. He's awful in defense and doesn't track back much. And the left back behind him is extremely limited Strinić who never does anything good even though he's constantly going forward. Left back is ridiculously bad position for us for the last 13-14 years. Last one we had was Jarni. All the others were and are English Championship level. All in all we could take a beating down that side, just as Walcott had his way on us few years ago. On the other hand Iličević is a real winger but I doubt he'll start (or play much) since Bilić likes to use Srna there because of his superior crossing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Gonzo Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 He is likely to play on the left but I see him more as a side striker. He's awful in defense and doesn't track back much. That's how he started in Dortmund but he has worked on his defensive abilites and his stamina. His second half of the season was much better. However Großkreutz is still in front of him because Großkreutz is great at tracking back and defending but is clearly inferior at attacking. I hope Perisic will improve further as he is very effective for Dortmund. And the left back behind him is extremely limited Strinić who never does anything good even though he's constantly going forward. Left back is ridiculously bad position for us for the last 13-14 years. Last one we had was Jarni. All the others were and are English Championship level. All in all we could take a beating down that side, just as Walcott had his way on us few years ago. Many teams have this problem. Germany and Holland are lacking quality left backs, too. Löw will probably move Lahm to the left side which isn't ideal but necessary. Schmelzer is the only real left back in the squad and he doesn't work well without the back-tracking Großkreutz. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaceCrusher Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Croatia do look good in the attack tough, at least on paper. More creativity than Italy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
football_master_94 Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 casillas; arbeloa, ramos, piqué, jordi alba; busquets, alonso, xavi; iniesta, silva/pedrito, torressadly Alváro is such a don Love the guy. Was Iraola considered for the squad/was he meant to be going was it not for the Bilbao medical staff saying it was better for him to miss out? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy_T Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 he is anything but a don. about iraola, I think so. shame because he's so much better than arbeloa and juanfran. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CPS Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Would everyone be kind enough to post the most probable XIs of their teams please? Not the 11 they want, the 11 that will be on the pitch. Fantasy reasons Republic: Given; O'Shea, Ward, Dunne, St. Ledger; Duff, McGeady, Whelan, Andrews; Doyle, Keane Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
football_master_94 Posted May 29, 2012 Share Posted May 29, 2012 Shame for Iraola. Haters gon' hate Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Razzler Posted May 30, 2012 Share Posted May 30, 2012 Republic: Given; O'Shea, Ward, Dunne, St. Ledger; Duff, McGeady, Whelan, Andrews; Doyle, Keane Good, we need to know who those bench players will be in our fantasy teams Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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