Italy v England friendly

[Juventino]

The best part of this match will be the one-off shirts Italy will wear, as a tribute to the 1982 World Cup winning team.



Looks quality, might have to purchase it. It will be on sale, but only 1982 have been made available.

Anyway, an experimental squad for Prandelli. No Juve or Napoli players, so that accounts for nine and a half players from the Euro 2012 squad, while no Cassano, Montolivo or Di Natale, as well as Balotelli, who pulled out the other day. This means a lot of youngsters will get a glimpse of the international scene as Prandelli looks ahead to 2014.

Goalkeepers: Andrea Consigli (Atalanta), Mattia Perin (Pescara), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint Germain)

Defenders: Ignazio Abate (Milan), Francesco Acerbi (Milan), Davide Astori (Cagliari), Federico Balzaretti (Roma), Mattia De Sciglio (Milan), Daniele Gastaldello (Sampdoria), Angelo Obinze Ogbonna (Torino), Federico Peluso (Atalanta)

Midfielders: Alberto Aquilani (Fiorentina), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Diamanti (Bologna), Antonio Nocerino (Milan), Andrea Poli (Sampdoria), Ezequiel Schelotto (Atalanta), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint Germain)

Attackers: Diego Fabbrini (Udinese), Mattia Destro (Roma), Stephan El Sharawy (Milan), Manolo Gabbiadini (Atalanta).

Prandelli has confirmed the starting XI: Sirigu; Abate, Ogbonna, Astori, Balzaretti; De Rossi, Nocerino, Aquilani; Diamanti; Destro, El Shaarawy



Hodgson also has an understrength squad, with Walcott, Hart, Sturridge and Oxlade-Chamberlain missing.

Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Birmingham City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City).

Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Jake Livermore (Tottenham Hotspur), James Milner (Manchester City), Jack Rodwell (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Manchester United).

Forwards: Andy Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur).

[bapa]

is it goin to be on Rai? or another station

[ozzie owl]

is it goin to be on Rai? or another station

ESPN.

[Juventino]

Rai's guide says it's on, but you never know with them.

[bapa]

is it goin to be on Rai? or another station

ESPN.

u sure?

[bapa]

Rai's guide says it's on, but you never know with them.

true..

[born slippy]

is it goin to be on Rai? or another station

ESPN.

u sure?

definitely on ESPN, they have been advertising it...

[getborn]

What a shirt!

[El Pibe D'Oro]

LC where can we get it?

[Juventino]

LC where can we get it?

Not sure where, just read that it will be made available to buy.

[Old Master]

I'm looking forward to this game to set right what I consider an injustice by FIFA in putting England ahead of Italy in the world rankings.

Much as I acknowledge England's recent improvement under Hodgson, they have a long way to go before I'd consider them to be better than the Italians on a bad day.

And I am from England (but I was pasteurised 35 years ago).

[Juventino]

I wouldn't expect much from Italy. It's a very inexperienced and experimental squad (only four players have played matches in double digits) and it's an August friendly. Italy have a terrible record in those, actually the win over Spain last year was the first in a while. Will be interesting to see how the youngsters go but as for setting straight some sort of issue with the rankings, this match won't do that.

[God is an Englishman]

friendly! meh!

[ozzie owl]

Good chance to see some of the young talent on both sides.

[Juventino]

friendly! meh!

Yeah, the Italy shirt was the main reason I made the topic Figured it could be a match thread then.

[sephiroth]

that's the weakest English squad in a long, long time.

[Željko Jurin]

I cant believe 'he' hasnt posted yet .......

[God is an Englishman]

I cant believe 'he' hasnt posted yet .......

I assume this is for me.

Beating Italy in a meaningless friendly, not that big a deal. Hardly repays the penalty shoot out loss does it.

[Željko Jurin]

I cant believe 'he' hasnt posted yet .......

I assume this is for me.

Beating Italy in a meaningless friendly, not that big a deal. Hardly repays the penalty shoot out loss does it.

True, but still worth a play I rekon ....

[Derek]

Thats why we are third in FIFA rankings

[God is an Englishman]

I cant believe 'he' hasnt posted yet .......

I assume this is for me.

Beating Italy in a meaningless friendly, not that big a deal. Hardly repays the penalty shoot out loss does it.

True, but still worth a play I rekon ....

Like a true Englishman I am a man of my word. I have always stated that friendlies are irrelevant. You prefer to win than lose but I'm sure both sides were trialling different things etc..

[ozzie owl]

It was good to see young players from both countries have a run out.

Good to see England not play a rigid 442 and play the ball through the middle of the park.

Surely Adam Johnson has to look for another club,sitting getting splinters at Man City is what he will get this season.

[Juventino]

Woke up for the game but couldn't drag myself out of bed. Just finished watching the first half, some good signs from the Italian youngsters.

[SPURS18]

Defoe scored a cracker

[ozzie owl]

Be interesting to see how many of the England squad are regular starters this season in the EPL.

[Fact Hunt]

It was good to see young players from both countries have a run out.

Good to see England not play a rigid 442 and play the ball through the middle of the park.

Surely Adam Johnson has to look for another club,sitting getting splinters at Man City is what he will get this season.

I saw that jack rodwell has also retired from first team football by moving to man city

[ozzie owl]

It was good to see young players from both countries have a run out.

Good to see England not play a rigid 442 and play the ball through the middle of the park.

Surely Adam Johnson has to look for another club,sitting getting splinters at Man City is what he will get this season.

I saw that jack rodwell has also retired from first team football by moving to man city

Might not even make the bench, just sit and watch from the stands.