Harry Parsons wrote:

QUOTE:
Rogin the Armchair Fan wrote:

QUOTE:
I'd not thought of the Italians as divers, to be honest, but some of the clips on the links are horrendous. This one, in particular, seems somewhat familiar - where I have seen Materazzi do this before?

[urlhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBGP3QueQ5s&feature=related]Materazzi and Toni bump together, and fall dramatically to the floor clutching completely untouched parts of their bodies[/url]

If it's a dive involving Materazzi, you've probably "seen it before" from Torres.

Hahaha, you're obsessed with Torres. Get a room.

Well, there's no way Italy are going to win it if they keep having their training interrupted likethis.

Disgraceful.

One of them first came to public attention by giving unsolicited "lap dances" in the Milan metro.

Italy eh? Who'd want to live there?

Breaking news from Austria. Cannavaro has injured his ankle in a clash with Chiellini in training and may be out of the Euros. Final decision in 24-48 hours, but the early word out of the Azzurri camp is not very promising.

Bloody hell.

I was just writing to a friend that the only 3 players I consider irreplaceable for the azzurri are:

Buffon (I am worried about his back, and balls whipped into the near post and six yard box in general, as it has hampered him in this regard in recent weeks, too)
Pirlo
Toni

Possibly Cannavaro, though not on his last 2 season's form.

Though this news was received like a big big blow to the guts.

sixmartletsandaseagull wrote:

QUOTE:
Buffon (I am worried about his back, and balls whipped into the near post...

Crucial comma there.

I too was wondering if this will be a huge loss for the team, but I haven't seen any of Italy's games since 2006, and I don't know if he could be as mediocre for them as he was for Real.

The loss will be very very big, psychologically, I think anyway. I am increasingly spooked by the minute now!

He hadn't played that well for Juve before the 2006 WC, but he put together a series of performances that was extraordinary. Big time big player. At least he has been.

Though he is two years on,by no means young and I don't follow Spanish football closely, though from what I have seen and read he isn't the colossus he was in June/July 2006.

No pithy comments from me on this thread, just wanted to say, totally agree with its title.
Please, anyone but Italy.

And for those who don't feel that way . . .

Cannavaro's form with the Azzurri has been very different from his club form with Real Madrid. There was a post-World Cup hangover in the early qualifiers, but when the chips were down, he was extremely important. Though as sixmartlets notes, he may be even more important psychologically.

So what's the central defense pairing? Materazzi and Barzagli? Or will Chiellini play in the center?

A very good question. No one is really willing to go there right now, but my money would be on Materazzi and Barzagli, with Gamberini being the last minute call-up if Cannavaro is out for the entire tournament. Buffon would get the armband.

Merda.

It didn't take 24 hours, Cannavaro is going home for a possible operation on his ankle and Gamberini is on a plane to Austria.

Bloody hell!

I am very sad for Cannavaro, he really comes across as a lovely man too.

Donadoni will go for Materazzi/Barzagli if he is consistent in his selection. I hope Chiellini is not too demoralised by the whole incident and aftermath!

Going for a lie down.

La Gazzetta just posted a video.

You can't see the contact, but it looks like clumsiness from Chiellini more than anything else. He has to feel absolutely awful about it.

No doubt Domenech will have an astrological explanation for this calamity.

That footage is pretty rare. You hardly ever see azzuris grabbing their legs in pain while actually being injured.

It's also remarkable the speed at which concerned players and staff ambled over to him and administered healing pats on the shoulder as he writh