Gazzetta editor’s 10 questions he demands Lippi answer

By: Francesco | November 18th, 2009

gazzetta_campioni_del_mondo

The Gazzetta dello Sport is arguably the most famous sports newspaper in Italy, selling more copies than rivals Corriere dello Sport and Tuttosport. It is world famous for it’s pink pages and has been printed in pink since 1899. The current head editor of the Gazzetta, Luigi Garlando, has always been a critic of Lippi since his return to the national team, has always been pro-Cassano, and doesn’t understand why Lippi hates to answer questions at press conferences. He feels Italians have a right to know the answers to questions about the team that represents them as a population. So in today’s Gazzetta, he laid out 10 questions that he wants Lippi to absolutely answer and that has been on the mind of Italy fans everywhere. Will Lippi answer these questions? Definitely not. But let’s see what they are after the jump.

1) Would Amauri, Italian passport in hand, be immediately called up?

2) Is having played at least one qualification game necessary to be a part of the group of 23 in South Africa?

3) If no, would you take into consideration Nesta if he changed his decision?

4) And what about Totti, who basically already stated he would return?

5) Del Piero has made himself a candidate: should he even waste his time hoping?

6) Does Legrottaglie, who plays very little, risk his place like Santon?

7) If Balotelli miraculously exploded, would he make it in time for the final 23?

8) What are these “technical and psychological” reasons that are impeding you from calling up Cassano?

9) Have you ever talked with Juve’s new ownership about a return to Torino in any capacity?

10) When will you tell us your decision to remain as national team manager or not?

Garlando continues to say that answering these questions would actually make the National Team camp’s atmosphere more serene, as Lippi wouldn’t be constantly asked questions anymore as the reasons would be out, and Lippi wouldn’t have to scold journalists at every press conference.

What are the chances of Lippi answering these questions? As much chance as seeing Cassano wear an Italy kit anytime soon.

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Listen up, Especially all you non-Americans, who don't understand that speed is now the most important thing in sports.

Italy can not compete without Balotelli, his speed opens up the field. Lippi is too old to realize this, the game has past him by.
Lippee-ki-yay

As skilled as Cassano is though, he isn't as good as younger versions of Totti or Del Piero, or obviously Roberto Baggio, the previous best "creative players" from Italy, and even more importantly he is just not anywhere near as good as several of the best creative players for several other countries. And it's not even close.
I think that Lippi correctly sees that it would be a huge mistake to try and compete in that area where other countries right now simply are superior and it would leave Italy no chance to win it all.

Perhaps it would lead to some prettier wins along the way to the inevitable exit against a better attacking team than an Italian build around a midtable Serie A star who has never ever performed at the highest level, but that's not really what a World Cup winner should be going for I think.

Having said that, even though this Cassano campaign is incredibly annoying and the lack of respect for Lippi is absurd, I wouldn't mind him in the squad as some kind of joker for desperate times, but with his history of being a negative influence on teams both when playing, for Sampdoria he still has performances bringing the whole team down along with him at times (atm of course completely ignored by the media) and definitely when not playing, I can easily see a case for that just not being worth the risk.

He is also a player if he were to start who really the whole team would need to be build around and I just don't see him worth that.
Especially when the result would be a team who stylewise would match up very bad with the main favorites. Mainly Spain. The team likely to beat.

And Cassano can only play one position. Behind one striker. The flexible 3 forward line would be dead and buried, which would lead to some kind of 4 man midfield where for an example I have a hard time seeing Pirlo function centrally so he would likely have to go.

Pirlo who while having lost a step still holds the key to how "not bad" the team's chances of winning the whole thing will be.
It's through him an effective "risk free attack", like in the last World Cup, can still be build, one that once again would make Italy a very difficult matchup for anyone. And would leave Italy the most likely team to score in most games.
Bari Mike

That said, I will still support Lippi 100%, even if I dont totally agree with his choices. But last time I checked, he has a World Cup under his belt and I dont.

I think our squad will suprise in South Africa, though the stars would really have to allign to repeat. 2012-2016 is when I feel Squadra Azzurro will soar to incredible heights
Bari Mike

Paolo,

Excellent analysis, you summed it all up nicely.

Gro,

Cassano a "chronic underachiever who has failed to improve". Wow, thats harsh, and I couldnt disagree more.

As far as the Italian press making a big deal about an excluded player every major tourney?? I dunno, I have followed Italy since Italia '90, and while there have been a few names that come to mind (Zola, Baggio in 2002) there has never been such a fuss made to even close to the magnitude of l'affair Cassano leading uop to South Africa. If there has been, I would love for you to come up with a situation
Paolo

Yeah fuck Cassano! But lets bring Amauri when he is eligible. Amauri is sooo much better than Cassano.

Cassano has a history, true. It's why he ended up at Sampdoria but he is not a player of mediocrity. His current play/from proves that theory to be false. There haven't even been any behavioural episodes. He is being denied an opportunity to help a team that has been playing like utter shit since the end of the 2006 World Cup. A team that has been appalling and pathetic. A team that desperately needs help to improve. In Serie A he is playing better than any attacking player that has been called up. He, at the very least, deserved the call to wear the shirt as he has earned it over the likes of some of the people who represent this team.

His past antics are neither here nor there. His current play and attitude warrant him to be called to the team. He has been the best creative/offensive player in Serie A since moving to Samp and there is absolutely no reason anyone can give that can prove that he did not deserve a fair shot to make this world cup team. He is one of the most inform Italian players and should be used.

If he was given his shot and failed then people could moan all they wanted to too. The fact that he was never given a chance is wrong.

If Amauri makes this team, I will not be able to watch them during the World Cup. He is a shit player. Aside from a 10-15 game run, he has been highly unimpressive since joining Juventus. Don't even get me started on Del Piero.

Lippi cannot answer those questions without making himself look like a complete asshole and revealing whatever hidden agenda he has. As I have said before, Lippi is extremely narrow minded and he is the Azzurri’s # 1 problem at the moment.
rosay

amen gro, fuck cassano
Nnahoj

Jorid, that's exactly what I'm doing. I'd take Paloschi over Balotelli anyday!
Jorid

Nnahoj: You better respect Paloschi! He's a fucking stud in my FM file 25 goals in 30 matches in Serie A. All at only 20 years old. =D
Gro

I'm so sick of hearing about Cassano. If he was one of the world's best players, a superstar, being an integral part of a successful team it would at least make sense, but this is a chronic underachiever who has never improved and failed to perform (always) at the highest level who we're talking and keep talking and talking and talking about.

Who plays for a midtable Serie A team. Who has a history of being a negative influence. Who this season the first time adversity hits threatens to quit and in matches at times obviously just doesn't "feel like it" and puts in the consistently most pathetic work rate on the field.

This is a player if he is going to start who the whole team needs to be build around. It means there can only be two strikers where he has to be one of them, and in the 4 man midfield Pirlo then can't play with the protection of only one more central midfielder. That won't work at the highest level more than Cassano would in a 3 forward line.

Of course most media or fans don't give these things any thought at all. That's understandable since they're not coaches but then to have the arrogance and mindset of complete removal from reality, to again and again suggest that they somehow would know tactics/players/coaching better than one of the smartest/brilliant/ most innovative/ most successful coaches of our time, is just pure ignorance.

The funny thing is that if Cassano had been included all along it would just be someone else the media would make a fuss over. It's happened many times before. It's basically a tradition. I just wish it was someone more deserving this time.
Like say younger, equally talented but already more complete (which is why they're playing for top clubs) players like Giovinco or Balotelli.

In fact a campaign for the 42 year old Roberto Baggio would be less annoying than this non stop Cassano. nonsense.
Nnahoj

"Balotelli and Cassano are the most talented italian players."

Surely you are not serious about Balotelli? I'd much quicker take Paloschi; at least I know he won't get sent off stupidly.
4-2-3-1

Balotelli and Cassano are the most talented italian players. I'd like to see one of the two called up.
ReleaseTheKrasic

Chances of Lippi answering those questions directly are an absolute zero. But his vague attempts at answering some of those questions in the future are plausible. It seems more and more likely as we edge closer to SA that Cassano wont be called up. This is such a mistake. As you correctly put in your post, Italians really do have the right to know some information about their national team, especially when it comes to cassano. When you see his level of play week in week out, it really is baffling why Lippi wont call him up. His tempered days are long gone.

I am also extremely curious about the Amauri nesta, totti Del P sitation. All could be valuable assets for the campaign.