Lippi wants two wins: “It would be a big step towards the World Cup”

[Wednesday, September 02, 2009 | 0 komentar ]

“If we play well and are lucky enough to win the next two matches, we will have taken a big step towards the World Cup”: Marcello Lippi realizes that a lot is at stake in the next two matches against Georgia and Bulgaria. With another six points, the national team that at present is only one point ahead of Ireland coached by Giovanni Trapattoni, would come very close to the 2010 World Cup.

First day of training in Coverciano for the Azzurri and there were a lot of issues to handle. “There are eight Juventus players on the team – said the head coach as he answered a specific question – because the Juventus team this year has decided to count on Italian players. There are other clubs that have rightly decided to count on foreign players. It is logical that, if I go to watch a match, I will not go to see one with many foreign players, I am interested in Italian players. The positive start of the season for Juventus gives me hope for a good outcome of these two matches and the national team”. Another issue in Coverciano is the “absence” of Antonio Cassano.
The Sampdoria forward, protagonist o fan excellent season start, is not part of the plans of the head coach. “I have nothing against Cassano. He is a professional and a nice boy – said Lippi. I respect the public opinion, but I would like the public to respect mine. But this situation does not bother me at all. It is something that happened to other head coaches before me and will happen to those who come after me”.
As far as the Italy-Bulgaria match of Wednesday, September 9th, in Turin is concerned, FIFA has announced the referees: referee Florian Meyer (Germany), assistants Volker Wezel (Germany) and Thorsten Schiffner (Germany), fourth man Michael Weiner (Germany).

List of players called

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli), Marchetti (Cagliari)
Defenders: Cannavaro (Juventus), Chiellini (Juventus), Criscito (Genoa), Grosso (Ol.Lyonnais), Legrottaglia (Juventus), Santon (Inter), Zambrotta (Milan).
Midfielders: Camoranesi (Juventus), D’Agostino (Udinese), De Rossi (Roma), Marchionni (Fiorentina), Marchisio (Juventus), Palombo (Sampdoria), Pepe (Udinese), Pirlo (Milan)
Forwards: Di Natale (Udinese), Giardino (Fiorentina), Iaquinta (Juventus), Quagliarella (Napoli), G.Rossi (Villarreal)
[figc.it]