<div style="float: left"><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/entertainment/lippi-world-cup-squad/image/8985420?term=Italian+national+team" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/8985420/lippi-world-cup-squad/lippi-world-cup-squad.jpg?size=380&amp;imageId=8985420" border="0" alt="Jun. 02, 2010 - Sestriere, Italy - epa02183880 Italian national football team coach Marcello Lippi answers media questions during a press conference 2nd June 2010 in Sestriere where he announced his final 23 man party for the World Cup in South Africa." width="380" height="208"></figure></div></a></div>
An <a href="http://soccernet.espn.go.com/world-cup/story/_/id/5270967/ce/us/italy-players-dark-starting-vs-paraguay?cc=5901&amp;ver=us" target="_blank">ESPN interview </a>with some of the Italian national team players shows that not even the squad seems to know who will be on the pitch on Sunday when they kick off versus Paraguay.&nbsp; Marcello Lippi has been tight-lipped about who will start and what formation the Azzurri will play, even noting that the formation could be fluid throughout the World Cup.&nbsp; A look at the starters in recent friendlies is a useless guide, as the last two have seen vastly different lineups.
However, if Marcello Lippi asked me who my starting 11 would be on June 14 (and I am checking my voicemail just in case), here would be my suggestion:
Formation:4-3-3.&nbsp; The strength of this squad is their defending,&nbsp;and this formation allows&nbsp;the Azzurri to play with their best four defenders.&nbsp; Since they are without Pirlo for the first two matches at least, this formation allows for players to move up for more offensive firepower if needed, such as moving Maggio up to the midfield.
Keeper:Gianluigi Buffon.&nbsp; I don’t think I need to explain why.
Backline: Leonardo Bonucci,&nbsp;Fabio Cannavaro, Giorgio Chiellini, Christian Maggio.&nbsp; Cannavaro and Chiellini are no-brainers and should be on the pitch from the opening kick.&nbsp; Maggio is arguably better placed as a winger but starting him on the backline allows him to move around in the 4-3-3 as needed, either into the midfield or remaining back.&nbsp; Bonucci may be the most controversial inclusion, but the young defender has shown a knack for scoring off set pieces and could be a valuable option in the box on offense if the club needs to score.&nbsp; Plus, by starting the Bari defender, Lippi can play his more experienced players later in the match if experience is called for.&nbsp; Lippi can call on Zambrotta for experience but if he needs fresh legs, Bochetti would be available.
Midfield:Daniele De Rossi, Riccardo Montolivo, Gennaro Gattuso.&nbsp; Midfield is arguably the weakest part of the club right now with injuries to Pirlo and Camoranesi, so a&nbsp;three-player&nbsp;midfield with the option of moving up a defender or dropping a forward is ideal.&nbsp; DeRossi and Gattuso are veterans who have won a World Cup and can provide experience in managing a World Cup match from the middle.&nbsp; Pirlo’s injury means the Azzurri lack a playmaker whose passing skills can jump start an attack, so Fiorentina captain Montolivo and his passing skills are needed in the middle.
Forwards: Fabio Quagliarella, Alberto Gilardino, Vincenzo Iaquinta.&nbsp; My gut has me leaning toward these three being the starters up front, although it may be hard to keep Di Natale and Pazzini on the bench to start.&nbsp; Di Natale was the leading scorer in Serie A, so if Italy fails to threaten the goal in their first match you may see DiNatale starting the second.&nbsp; But this lineup allows for an experienced front to begin a match and, if Italy needs a quick strike or more offense, has some firepower coming off the bench.&nbsp;
We are about 48 hours away from the Azzurri taking the pitch – who’s your starting 11?

Who Are the Starting 11 for the Azzurri?

Who Are the Starting 11 for the Azzurri? - World Soccer Talk

It was an outstanding performance for Italian football in the first round of UEFA Cup action, as all four Serie A clubs registered first-leg victory.&nbsp;
AC Milan adjusting to a non-Champions League season are full steam ahead winning 3 – 1 over FC Zürich.&nbsp; This triumph couldn’t have come at a better time for Rossoneri manager Carlo Ancelotti as&nbsp;his&nbsp;squad are currently&nbsp;last&nbsp;in Serie A, with successive defeats from matchday 1 and 2 of the domestic league.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andriy_Shevchenko">Andriy Shevchenko</a> twice went close for the Rossoneri before playing a part in the opening goal a minute into extra time of the first half. Zürich goalkeeper Johnny Leoni saved his shot but <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marek_Jankulovski">Marek Jankulovski</a> was on hand to knock in the rebound.&nbsp;&nbsp; Second half goals would come from the&nbsp;striking force of youngster <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexandre_Pato">Alexandre Pato</a> and former Genoa frontman&nbsp;<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Borriello">Marco Borriello</a>, both new transfers during&nbsp;pre-season.&nbsp; FC Zurich would finish the first meeting with a consolation goal, scored in the 78th minute by Djuric.
In other Italian club action,&nbsp;Sampdoria and Napoli both played a goal feast of their own with each spectacle registering five goals. Emiliano Bonazzoli and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_Cassano">Antonio Cassano</a> both scored twice as Sampdoria put one foot in the group stage with a crushing 5 – 0 victory against the Lithuanian champions FBK Kaunas. Napoli prevailed in their five-goal thriller at the Stadio San Paolo after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Maggio">Christian Maggio</a> (a pre-season Sampdorian import) netted the winning goal in the 55th minute against opponents Benfica. 
The Portuguese visitors&nbsp;opened scoring in the 16th minute with a goal from&nbsp;on-loan Inter striker <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Suazo">David Suazo</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;but this was quickly equalized by Vitale for Napoli two minutes later.&nbsp; Final-score Napoli 3 – 2 Benfica.
In the final&nbsp;and only away match for an Italian side, the Udine Ubermensch (supermen) maintained a clean sheet winning 2 – 0&nbsp;over Bundesliga opponents Borussia Dortmund.&nbsp; First-half goals from Antonio Floro Flores and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%B6khan_Inler">Gökhan Inler</a> placed Udinese in the driving seat at the Westfalenstadion as the Italian side made the most of&nbsp;sloppy Dortmund defending to take control.&nbsp;
Things could have got worse during the second half for the home side as the visiting Ubermen kept on pressing, fortunately the boys in white and black didn’t humiliate their hosts further.
<h4>Fulltime Results</h4>
AC Milan 3-1 FC Zürich 
UC Sampdoria 5-0 FBK Kaunas 
SSC Napoli 3-2 SL Benfica 
BV Borussia Dortmund 0-2 Udinese Calcio
<h4>Goal Highlights</h4>
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Club Italia Offers Clean Sweep In UEFA Cup !

Club Italia Offers Clean Sweep In UEFA Cup ! - World Soccer Talk

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Who Are the Starting 11 for the Azzurri?

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Club Italia Offers Clean Sweep In UEFA Cup !