If Italy win the coming match this Sunday, they'll win WC four times cumulatively, one more WC victory than Germany (who won three times so far).  Is this going to mean that Italy are the greatest in Europe?

Man am I shocked!! :o Never would've expected Italy to hire Donadoni of all people to replace someone of Lippi's credentials! But then again, a good history in club football doesn't necessarily mean you're gonna shine in the international scene (as we all saw with Ol Man Trap)!

He was an awesome player for both club and country during his day, and perhaps he can use that experience to bring Italy out of the Dark Ages!!! Also, the fact that he is quite young (only 43 years old) may be advantageous because he'll probably show more familiarity with the modern game and its players.

He may also be willing to give more notice to the younger generation of players, which is something that guys like Lippi, Trap, and Zoff were somewhat hesistant to do in the past.

And he'll bring a more offensive style since his Livorno was a pretty attacking side despite him being a former defender!! :lol:

I'm just glad that Zaccheroni or that other piece of slime Gentile didn't get the post!!

He will have his 1st test vs Croatia on Aug 16!!! Run the venture with free slots games -instant play

Hmm, maybe Brazil will be a tougher test for him as Croatia's somewhat of a bogey team for the Azzurri.

Arm,

Stop teasing me!!! :lol: It's going on 10 LONG YEARS since Brazil played Italy!!

Hi,guys we did it 4 stars after all these years. ITALIA #1

Oma whats up! be back sunday i'am still celebrating maybe Basil will be ready in  2010 because Italy will get bettter & better see u later.

Totti,

Enjoy your WC while it last buddy...cause I dont think you'll win a title again until another 24 years!!!

Talk about a shocker!! :O

Here is the list of Donadoni's new Azzurri!!

Goalies: Marco Amelia (Livorno), Flavio Roma (Monaco)

Defenders: Daniele Bonera (Milan), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Giulio Falcone (Sampdoria), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina), Christian Terlizzi (Sampdoria), Luciano Zauri (Lazio), Cristian Zenoni (Sampdoria).

Midfielders: Massimo Ambrosini (Milan), Gennaro Delvecchio (Sampdoria), Massimo Gobbi (Fiorentina), Fabio Liverani (Fiorentina), Stefano Morrone (Livorno), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Franco Semioli (Chievo).

Strikers: Andrea Caracciolo (Palermo), David Di Michele (Palermo), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Mauro Esposito (Cagliari), Cristiano Lucarelli (Livorno), Tommaso Rocchi (Lazio). Best toronto e s c o r t s from agency offering the best service and high quality.

Another continuing hoodoo as the world champs are downed 0-2 :/

Strikers Alessandro Del Piero and Luca Toni were recalled to world champion Italy's squad on Sunday for European Championship qualifiers against Ukraine and Georgia.

Del Piero and Toni haven't appeared for the Azzurri since their triumph in Berlin.
AC Milan's Alberto Gilardino and Real Madrid's Antonio Cassano made way for the pair.

Also recalled by coach Roberto Donadoni were World Cup winners Vincenzo Iaquinta, Mauro Camoranesi, Alessandro Nesta and Marco Materazzi.

Defender Materazzi made the 25 after serving a two-game ban for verbally provoking Zinedine Zidane in July's World Cup final.

Francesco Totti did not feature in the squad after saying last month that he would not be available for the Azzurri until 2007. The playmaker wants a break from the national team to allow his left leg to properly heal following an operation.

Italy hosts Andriy Shevchenko's Ukraine at Rome's Stadio Olimpico next Saturday, then visits Georgia the following Wednesday.

Italy struggled in its opening two Euro 2008 qualifiers - a 1-1 draw with Lithuania and 3-1 loss to France - and has only one point in Group B. Scotland and France lead the group with six points each, followed by Ukraine and Georgia with three points apiece.

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Goalkeepers: Christian Abbiati (Torino), Marco Amelia (Livorno), Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus).

Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Fabio Grosso (Inter Milan), Marco Materazzi (Inter Milan), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan), Massimo Oddo (Lazio), Manuel Pasqual (Fiorentina), Cristian Zaccardo (Palermo), Gianluca Zambrotta (FC Barcelona).

Midfielders: Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Gennaro Delvecchio (Sampdoria), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Gennaro Gattuso (AC Milan), Stefano Mauri (Lazio), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), Andrea Pirlo (Milan).

Forwards: Alessandro Del Piero (Juventus), David Di Michele (Palermo), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Udinese), Filippo Inzaghi (AC Milan), Luca Toni (Fiorentina).

Materazzi's gonna release a joke book containing 249 phrases he might have said to provoke Zidane, his "sister" jibe included.

Materasswipe needs to be more concerned that the Georgian strikers dont make him and Italy look like fools tomorrow!!

Good wins for Donadoni's Italy!!

But I think they gravely underestimated the strength of Georgia (except for some), and expected a Farore Islands kind of team. Despite winning 3-1 they found Georgia to be a tough nut to crack. Even France didn't do that much better than they did!!

Ukraine struggled severely against Georgia. They were behind, and only a late surge of goals spared them from defeat. Georgia deserves some respect, they were difficult, just as Donadoni had predicted. Lippi himself also struggled with apparent "weak teams", winning 4-3 against Belarus the first time around, and only managing a 1-0 victory against Moldova.

Thinking about it, I don't think Italy had a single game where they had more than a two-goal lead by the last whistle (except for one game against Belarus, where they won 4-1), during the WC qualifiers.

Despite it having most of the same players, this is not the same Italy that won the World Cup. I would go so far to say that Italy is in a period of reconstruction, where it becomes difficult to perform to standards until some momentum is gained. I think they're beginning to do that after our two successive wins. The players are regaining form and confidence. They'll be playing like a team against soon. I think Donadoni is a good figure for them, and will help the team unite again.

The fact is, Donadoni went with his own plans and style -I understand there are still some reservations against him, but Italy need to begin to have a little more faith. 3-1 is not a bad score, at all. Remember that a lot of Georgia's players play in leagues in Europe, so they are not incompetent.

Still, hats off to Georgia, they played a good game, and really made Italy play hard for their victory!!

And I'm STILL WAITING for a friendly vs my Brazil!!!  (IT'S BEEN 10 LONG YEARS!! )

Our two successive wins, oma? I thought you hate Italy

I do too.
Mostly cuase they knocked Australia out, and we all know thats not a penalty.

Yeah, despite me being an Azzurri fan, no matter how you look at it, that's definitely a dive by Grosso.