Striking Problem: Is Amauri The Solution?
By: chris | March 18th, 2008
Author: Marco
Team: Livorno (& occasionally Roma)
This was floating over at the Italy World Cup blog, but it needs a bigger audience. And voila, here it is.
The reigning World Champions are looking forward to their Swissaustrian stay this summer. This is one of the deepest teams on the Travelling National Carnival. Marco Amelia’s performance for Livorno and his solid play against an aggressive Portuguese squad has demonstrated that he’s an excellent keeper. Not Gigi good but honestly, who is? Even without Nesta, the Defensive backline posses 2 world class players per position. The midfield is probably the most complete of any national team.
Versatile players like Perrotta, Camoranesi and Aquilani, give Italy a lot of different tactical options. And I’m sure you’ve heard the names Pirlo and Gattuso before. What I’m trying to say is that if Daniele ”DDR” De Rossi is considered a substitute, that means you have a hell of a midfield. However on offence we have…uh…Luca Toni. Toni e Fulmini might have bloomed late but what a yield of goals he managed to produce. If he was 25, he’d be worth around 420 M $!
Nonetheless, Coach Donadoni is posed with a striking problem. What happens if Luca Toni dies unexpectedly?
Gilardino isn’t looking like the player he was at Parma, Cristiano Lucarelli isn’t cutting it, Iaquinta’s not exactly a prototypical Centre Forward, Stefano Okaka Chuka isn’t ready yet, Borriello’s nothing more than flash in a pan and and Bobo Vieri is in constant need of geriatric care.
This is exactly why the; Should Amauri play for Italy? Debate has started. Just like he did in Palermo, Amauri, technically speaking of course, would be an ideal Luca Toni replacement. The 27 year old Brazilian will be receiving his Italian citizenship shortly and for some odd reason he has never been called up to the Brazil NT.
Amauri has never hidden the fact that unhappy at being shunned by Dunga and his Brazillian Mennonites. He has also stated that:
“I hope to obtain an Italian passport shortly and maybe I will go to the European Championships.”
Amauri has been on the International football map since his arrival in Palermo, the capital city of the beautiful/marvellous underestimated Gem that I like to call Sicily ( NO it isn’t dangerous and I don’t care that you don’t believe me because you rented(downloaded for all you U25’s here) The Godfather and I Cento Passi )
So I believe that Steven from the Palermo page is better suited to give you an opinion on the Brazilian Born Big Boy :
I’m probably not unbiased enough to be writing an objective article on Amauri. Ever since his transfer from Chievo, he has been a delight to Palermo-fans and football-fans thoughout Italy. It’s a miracle that the Brazilian is still playing in Sicily: without last year’s injury, he would be showing off his talent in the Champions League. It’s just a matter of time before he can. I don’t believe there’s one single Rosanero-fan who believes that we will see Nappy in the pink shirt again next year. The price has been set at an incredible 25 million euros, but Amauri’s all worth it. He can act as a goal machine when you put that decisive wingman next to him, but he can also be that wingman. Just go to YouTube and find his marvellous assist for Miccoli in the game against Fiorentina.
Is Amauri good enough for Milan? He is. Sometimes in your life, you have to accept that some players are just too good to spend the rest of their carreer at your club. It’s difficult, seen as most of those players are what keeps the team together. I’ve seen it with Grosso, Toni, Santana and now it’s gonna happen to Amauri as well. It’ll hurt to see him wearing something else than Pink, but he has given the team so much that he deserves it. Tulio De Melo has some massive boots to fill, but he’ll pretty much have to.
Another question is if we should involve Amauri in the Italy-squad. I say we should. The nationality-discussion is bullshit: the guy has been playing here for years, speaks the language better than most Napolitani and Camoranesi and Sivori also did it. Is he good enough? Yes. With Toni, we have a perfect goal machine. But what if Toni gets injured? Quagliarella did well but hasn’t been able to keep his form, Di Natale isn’t an Italy-goalmachine, Pippo’s too old, Gila’s going downhill and Cassano’s just a loose canon. Why not give Amauri a chance? If it doesn’t work out, no harm done. If it does…hello European Championship!
I love Amauri’s skill and play I’m all for ”dropping the flags” and our globalized world is bringing humans closer every minute, but this has nothing to do with; What defines/qualifies someone as Italian? How about Giuseppe Rossi ? He was also born outside the Boot.
Steven’s right, the nationality-discussion is bullshit,but please let me disagree with Amauri’s inclusion ; Italy are World Champions and you don’t see Brazil doing it.
Italy doesn’t need to use the same tactics as Qatar, or to a certain extent, Portugal. Seeing how a portion of the Italian fans have always poked fun at France for ”adding naturalized foreigners*” to their squad, this would make no sense.
* (I’m in no way implying whatsoever about the French NT. But let’s be honest, we’ve heard it before. An African friend of mine mentioned after the 2006 final: I’m not sad because Italy beat France, I’m sad because they beat Africa.)
Not unlike Mauro Camoranesi, Amauri has said in the past that he would only accept an Azzurri call up if he felt he had no chance whatsoever at breaking the Brazilian roster.
This ”Oriundi” situation isn’t the 1st ever. We all know about Mauro Camoranesi and Post War legends Omar Sivori , Jose Altafini and Angelo Sormani.
Nonetheless, Why should a footballing power like Italia accept being a foreign born player’s plan B? We‘re as Sexy as that Brazilian girl (Does Brazil officially have the monopoly on Sexiest Citizens? If not we should start a poll and make it official)
Anyways, having already gone through the extremely pleasant joys of Italian Bureaucracy ; There’s no way in Hell Amauri will get his passport in time to fly the friendly Swiss Airs.
It truly a shame that International Football fans don’t get the chance to see players like Amauri on the biggest stages. But Tell that to Ryan Giggs…
Category: Azzurri
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Comments
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“Cassano’s just a loose canon. Why not give Amauri a chance?” Cassano is one of the most naturally talented players in the WORLD PERIOD!! Take the chance with the LOOSE canon and WIN EURO 2008. Heck even the world’s greatest defensive league (i.e. Serie A) has noted that he is one of the BEST Strikers. If TONI goes down I would LOVE TO SEE CASSANo. . . that is unless TOTTI is not willing to make a COME BACK :)!!!!!
Posted from
United States
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Ouch-we had to go with Toni dieing, we couldn’t just “what if” an injury?
Posted from
Canada -
Frank – have you not been watching Cassano this year? His brilliance has only been outperformed by his utterly embarassing freak-outs. You can’t have a kid on a team who is psychologically unstable (seriously) and needs to be watched at all times. The kid could erupt at any second and throw the whole team out of sync. Why do you think the Azzurri won the World Cup? They were so in-tune with each other, so united that they played as one. Cassano has still not proven that he’s capable of behaving like a sane adult on the pitch.
I think he’s an amazing player…but his behavior at times is an absolute embarassment to all those around him. We can’t have that.
FORZA AZZURRI!
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United States -
I think in the end, all comes down to this: Roberto Donadoni and his stubborn use of the 1-MAN STRIKER formation.
Truth is, the Don just won’t let go of his especially-tailored-for-Luca-Toni 4-3-2-1 line-up. Players like Di Natale and Camoranesi are just there to provide support (left and right respectively) to our tall Italian goal-machine. Should Toni get injured/suspended/hit by a bus, Donadoni will just replace him with someone else, and what he most certainly WILL NOT DO is shift to a 4-4-2 formation, not even if his life depended on it. Evidence of this fact? Only the past two years of friendlies and Euro 2008 qualifying matches, as well as the call-ups of players like Borriello and Lucarelli…
In the Don’s eyes, Lucarelli was (until last summer) the ideal vice-Doni replacement, possessing the same kind of playing style albeit with less talent. This year, we saw the appearance of Borriello in that role, and frankly if he maintains his current form, I’m all for taking the Genoa striker to Swissaustria this summer. With that said, I agree that Amauri would be an even better role-for-role backup for Toni, so should the opportunity present itself to make him Italian, I enthusiastically say go for it. I really don’t care about the whole “does Amauri really feel Italian?” crap: if I did, I wouldn’t have wanted Camoranesi on the team either (someone who I welcomed with open arms at the time, because Italy had no one like him in that role).
As for Cassano, I gotta agree with Lorenzo. The guy’s talent goes beyond imaginable limits, but he’s too much of a loose cannon/ticking timebomb to be brought along. As far as I’m concerned, after the shirt-throw-at-the-ref freak-out the kid blew his chances with the Azzurri national team for good.
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United States -
As for the Amauri position, I’d be for letting him play with the Azzurri. People use the argument that because he’s not good enough for the Brasilians then he isn’t good enough for the Italians…
You know, how about we stop comparing ourselves to Brasil? We’re ITALIA – WC Champs…just because Amauri isn’t being called up by the Brasilian N.T. doesn’t mean it’s because he’s not good enough…it’s because Dunga is as stubborn and dumb as Palermo’s coach Guidolin. That’s all.
Don’t think for a second that Amauri would not give it his all for the Azzurri or that he’d take his role on the team lightly or feel second-rate. He’s a bonafide Italian in my book and good enough to play for either us OR Brasil…
FORZA AZZURRI!
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United States -
The only issue I’ve ever had with situations like this is that the Azzurri should never ever be a “Plan B”, which is what this is for Amauri, if you take him at face value.
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United States -
Cassona if fit should be a must. Borriello is a good back up for Toni should he’s a novice at international level. Leave Amauri to be Brazilian.
I agree that Dunga is nitwit for not calling him up yet.
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United States -
Taking Cassano would be a huge gamble. “If fit”? Are we talking physically or mentally? Yes, he is on occasion brilliant. The problem is that he has on-field meltdowns on a semi-regular basis, and if he pulls one of those, it can a) distract the team, b) get him sent off, or c) both.
I wouldn’t mind Amauri playing for the Azzurri, Brazil’s loss would be our gain, but if he doesn’t have it yet, I’m not optimistic he’ll get that passport in time.
Posted from
Italy -
Too bad that it’s not ten years go and Mancini, Baggio, Casiraghi, Signori and Zola were in their primes! I think that DiNatale is of that ilk, and I wouldn’t discount him even though he plays for Udinese (my team!) The Italian passport situation is utterly hilarious, as I personally was able to take out an Irish passport with only a grandfather being born in Ireland, whereby I couldn’t have gotten an Italian passport despite my father being born there.
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United States -
I can not tell you how aggrivated I am by reading these comments. Cassano ? A loose cannon? A loose cannon that shoots in the exact right place at the right time every time maybe… now a headcase maybe, but who cares when he will win us the Euro alone. He is the best striker in Italy, and anybody that disagrees obvioussly has not watched him this year -
Posted from
United States -
Cassano should be included in the squad solely for singlehandedly almost pulling Totti’s nuts out of the fire four years ago.
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United States -
NiDi, how well he shoots isn’t the issue. The issue is that he IS a headcase, no maybe about it. He’s as likely as not to be sent off for having a temper tantrum most six year olds would be ashamed to throw in public. He might win us the Euro, but equally he might leave us a man down in a tense match. If he ever gets his act together, I’ll be happy to see him return to the Azzurri. But until he does, I don’t want to see him disrupting the squad with his antics.
Posted from
Italy -
Aggravated? Honestly, no National Team can afford to have a player on their team who will get sent off at any moment for any little thing. If he truly can win the Euro’s alone, Sampdoria should be a lock for a top 4 spot, right? Come on, let’s be serious, the kid is an amazing footballer…he just has ALOT of mental baggage that cannot be good for any team eyeing the trophy. Until Cassanata learns that he’s an adult and can behave like one AT ALL TIMES, he shouldn’t return to the Azzurri.
Remember, there’s a reason he’s not playing right now for Sampdoria…Please see FREAKOUT #12514643 for more on this.
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United States -
It’s funny that someone tries to tell us we haven’t been watching Cassano.
Posted from
Belgium -
Brazil doesn’t want Amauri because he’s a team player. He always seems he’s happy to play (just like Toni), and I personally would love to see Amauri and Toni upfront together.
Posted from
United States -
i guess we should get a Cassano in or out poll !
Posted from
United States -
no way would i bring cassano ….. the guy is a hot head and not good for the team
I think they should bring in young players like aquafresca …. G.Rossi …. Giovinco … Pazzini
These guys are future star players, and will be the ones leading italy in World Cup 2010 … so why not call them up now and give them some vital experience????
Posted from
Australia -
Look, I probably think that Cassano is crazier than anybody else here. He is completely out of his mind, a 100% lunatic with 5% self control at best and has the temperment of a 6 year old. Fine. No argument could be made any other way. However, in the 80th minute in the last game of the Euro to have him as a sub is enough reason to bring him, but I think (and pray) that if he does make the team he will keep it together for the good of Italy. Look at him 4 years ago, in tears that they didn’t make it through. I think he takes the Euro’s a lot more seriously than anything (and you may argue that gives him more of a chance to flip out, but I think he will keep it together)
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United States -
NiDi, in all due respect, the problem in that situation is that Cassano would freak out about being on the bench for the first 80 minutes and refuse to come on for the final 10…haha
Posted from
United States -
As I said over there.
NO, NO, and NO.
Rossi was born to an Italian family, and raised partially in Italy. Camoranesi is at least Italian. Amauri is not an orundio, as far as I know he has no Italian heritage. I was iffy when Camoranesi decided to play for the Azzurri..Amauri should definitely not. I agree with Zampa.
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United States -
Oh my god I can’t believe I just said I agree with Zampa.
Posted from
United States -
Di Natali, Toni/Borriello, Cassano is a fearsome forward line.
With Pirlo, Di Rossi and Aquilani (or Gattuso if Donadoni wants to wimp out but I would prefer the younger players because in this position) I like Italy’s chances.
Posted from
Australia -
i would have to say no to amauri for la nazionale for the simple reason, as chris puts it, the azzurri is his second choice.
i would not care if he were born and raised in roma, if you view the azzurri as the only way to play international footie, second to your native country, no way.
there is plenty of talent on the boot. amauri is great, but he just wants to put the maglia azzurra on because no one has asked him to wear the yellow and green. sorry buddy.
Posted from
United States -
My point exactly Gabriel…
It has nothing to do with the nationality debate. In no way should Italy be considered the fall back….
Posted from
Canada -
Amauri isn’t Italian and Cassano isn’t sane. Next!
Posted from
United States
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