Camoranesi: “This is a strong a Italy squad”

Mauro Camoranesi feels Italy have “a very strong squad for the World

Italy's Camoranesi

Cup and nobody wants to take us on.”

The Juventus winger has had a poor campaign, but remains in Marcello Lippi’s 30-man preliminary list.

“This is a very strong Italy squad for the World Cup and if I look at our opponents, nobody wants to take us on,” said the 2006 winner.

“The other teams know they’d be facing a side that has lifting the trophy as its sole objective.”

The Azzurri are the reigning holders with many of the same players who were in Berlin four years ago.

“We feel in good shape and now need to work ourselves very hard indeed over the next two weeks,” continued Camoranesi.

“History tells us the favourites for the World Cup are always the same, basically: Germany, Brazil, Argentina, and France.

“On top of them Spain have proved they are very strong by winning Euro 2008 and will fight to the end.

“With Fabio Capello’s arrival, England have improved a great deal.”

No Fantasista!

The Azzurri looking forward to their World Cup ambitions may lack the punch they need in attack. Up-front there are real concerns. In Alberto Gilardino, Vincenzo Iaquinta, Antonio Di Natale, Marco Borriello and

Training begins

Giampaolo Pazzini, Italy have five forwards of similar nature. Aside from Iaquinta, they are in form and fit, yet all possess the same skillset and weak points. Giuseppe Rossi was rumoured to have been omitted from the final 30 only to finally be included, and despite the seemingly decided nature of his place in the squad as back-up, he at least represents a touch of the unknown. Fabio Quagliarella completes the forward selection and offers pace, the odd tendency to score fantastic goals, and an ability to play up-front or on the wings but very little else, and along with Iaquinta, represents Lippi’s over-reliance on flexible players to compensate for his in-game tinkering with the formation.

There is no place for the experience of Daniele Bonera or Luca Toni, whilst Francesco Totti is also left out despite making himself available for a return. Without a recognised fantasista in the side, Totti was seen as the answer to many fans’ hopes of seeing a more fluid Italian attack. However, he remains at home and focus now switches to the 30 who have been selected, and their chances of going to South Africa.

Rossi’s World Cup Cool

Giuseppe Rossi is “very happy without losing his usual composed demeanour” at being in the preliminary World Cup squad.

Rossi Chosen by Lippi

The Villarreal talent is one of the 30 players Marcello Lippi has put on alert for the summer in South Africa.

“We are very happy and hope to find this name in the final list of 23 as well,” explained agent Andrea Pastorello.

“I spoke to Giuseppe as soon as I heard the news. He was very happy, but without losing his usual composed demeanour.

“If I’m not mistaken, he should be the youngest of the players called up along with Leonardo Bonucci. That in itself is a great achievement.”

Both Rossi and the Bari defender were born in 1987 and played in the Under-21 side before their step up to senior level.

being in the preliminary World Cup squad.

Salvatore’s Hopes

Genoa defender Salvatore Bocchetti was delighted to be named in Marcello Lippi’s provisional 30-man Italy squad and has said he is keeping his fingers crossed that he will make the final cut.

Salvatore Bocchetti

“I am very happy with the call-up, it is always pleasing to be brought in by Lippi,” he told Sky Sport Italia.

“Now I’ll try to do my best to end up in the final squad of 23 and I am keeping my fingers crossed,” he added. “I have no idea what my odds are, but it’s very exciting and I will do my best.”

The 23-year-old centre-back, who can also fill in at full-back, has played a pivotal role for the Rossoblu this season, appearing in 25 of their 37 Serie A fixtures and is hoping to cap a successful season with a trip to South Africa in the summer.

“For any player, going to the World Cup is the absolute highlight of a career. It only happens every four years and it is not easy to get there,” concluded the defender.

Legrottaglie’s disappointment

Juventus defender Nicola Legrottaglie admits that it came as a blow to hear that he isn’t in Italy’s preliminary World Cup squad.

The 33-year-old centre-back trained with the Azzurri at a training camp held in Rome only last week.

Speaking to ANSA, Legrottaglie said: “Lippi called me, and I thanked him again for the last two years.

“He explained to me why and I replied that he shouldn’t have to give his reasons.

“I am certain that he has done it in good faith. It’s not my habit to think differently.

“My friends have been calling me in the last few minutes. It is a blow. But I am taking it as a chance to grow personally. It’s in these moments that you measure the authenticity of your faith, and I would like to once again thank God. I will try to grow as a man after this disappointment.”

Lippi names 30. No Del Piero, Totti

Italy coach Marcello Lippi has rewarded the players who helped the Azzurri qualify for the finals with a place in his provisional squad, meaning Francesco Totti has missed out on selection.

There is no place for Totti, despite his impressive recent form for title-chasing Roma and speculation he would be given the chance to represent Italy four years after he helped his country to World Cup success in Germany.

Also missing form the squad are Roma forward Luca Toni and Juventus veteran Alessandro Del Piero.

The 30 are:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Federico Marchetti (Cagliari), Salvatore Sirigu (Palermo)

Defenders: Gianluca Zambrotta (AC Milan), Fabio Cannavaro (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Leonardo Bonucci (Bari), Fabio Grosso (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Mattia Cassani (Palermo), Salvatore Bocchetti (Genoa)

Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Gennaro Gattuso (Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Riccardo Montolivo (Fiorentina), Mauro Camoranesi (Juventus), Angelo Palombo (Sampdoria), Antonio Candreva (Juventus), Andrea Cossu (Cagliari), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Simone Pepe (Udinese)

Forwards: Fabio Quagliarella (Napoli), Giuseppe Rossi (Villarreal), Vincenzo Iaquinta (Juventus), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Marco Borriello (Milan), Alberto Gilardino (Fiorentina), Giampaolo Pazzini (Sampdoria).

This squad will be cut to 23 for the World Cup.

Greetings to All Italia Fans!

Welcome to my Azzurri Fan Page for World Cup 2010 in South Africa. I will closely follow news and happenings of the Italian squad as they get ready to defend their World Cup crown, and win the World Cup trophy for a record-tying fifth time.

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