To Bupbe_buon & Juvenis
Lippi rules out Roma veteran Panucci
tribalfootball.com - October 3, 2005
Italy coach Marcello Lippi says he won't consider an Azzurri recall for AS Roma veteran Christian Panucci.
"I won't bring in Panucci, as I am giving my faith to two young defenders - Christian Zaccardo and Aimo Diana - and want to stick with them," said Lippi, who had a slanging match with Panucci through the press last month.
Recent Azzurri performances have shown a clear weakness in defence, where Palermo right-back Zaccardo's errors proved costly against Scotland and the Republic of Ireland. Many have called for experienced Roma veteran Panucci to be recalled, but those appeals are set to be ignored.
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Udinese will sell Iaquinta for £8M
tribalfootball.com - October 3, 2005
Udinese are still ready to sell striker Vincenzo Iaquinta in January.
The Italy international signed a new deal through to 2010, but it's understood the compromise was reached after Udinese chiefs agreed they would not block a move away should an offer of at least £8 million arrive in January.
Patron Giampaolo Pozzo came in for criticism after freezing Iaquinta out of the squad in what the Players' Association dubbed "an illegal tactic."
"We have clarified the situation between ourselves and that is the important thing," insisted the forward.
Udinese director general Pietro Leonardi also added: "The club really appreciated the common sense and approach of Iaquinta's father in creating the understanding atmosphere we all hoped for."
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Perez won't accept Real Madrid blast from Inter Milan's Figo
tribalfootball.com - October 3, 2005
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has waved away stinging criticism from Inter Milan winger Luis Figo.
Portugal international Figo declared last week: "At Real Madrid, the objective is not to win but to promote the name of Madrid."
Asked about Figo's comments, Perez said: "I know Figo and I do not believe he would say such a thing."
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Galliani: Winning will stop AC Milan critics
tribalfootball.com - October 3, 2005
AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani admits criticism of the club's inconsistent start to the season has stung.
Before last night's game against Reggina, Galliani said: "The criticism is over the top. If we were another club, it wouldn't be half as bad as it is.
"It all comes as exasperated and magnified. But we have one way in order to silence all this: to win.
"We cannot allow ourselves to lose like the others, we must win and play well so that the critics stop."
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Azzurri: Lippi recalls Blasi Sunday 2 October, 2005
Marcello Lippi has recalled Daniele Bonera and Manuele Blasi for next week’s World Cup qualifiers against Slovenia and Moldova.
Parma defender Bonera makes his comeback after injury problems, while Blasi could be used as a full-back in the same position he has been adopting at Juventus over the last month.
As expected, Roma duo Antonio Cassano and Christian Panucci will not play a part in these international tests, but Vincenzo Iaquinta is called after the end of his contract dispute with Udinese.
Compared to the recent call-ups, Palermo’s injured defender Andrea Barzagli and Reggina man Giandomenico Mesto are dropped.
Italy will welcome Slovenia to Palermo’s Stadio Barbera on Saturday evening, while Moldova visit Lecce’s Stadio Via del Mare on Wednesday October 12.
Italy squad:
Gk: De Sanctis (Udinese), Peruzzi (Lazio)
D: Bonera (Parma), F Cannavaro (Juventus), Grosso (Palermo), Materazzi (Inter), Nesta (Milan), Zaccardo (Palermo), Zambrotta (Juventus)
M: Barone (Palermo), Blasi (Juventus), Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Diana (Sampdoria), Gattuso (Milan), Pirlo (Milan)
F: Del Piero (Juventus), Gilardino (Milan), Iaquinta (Udinese), Toni (Fiorentina), Totti (Roma), Vieri (Milan)
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Lazio skipper Di Canio blasts "attitude" away from home
tribalfootball.com - October 3, 2005
Lazio captain Paolo Di Canio has questioned his team's mental toughness away from home after Saturday's defeat at Udinese.
Di Canio lamented: "We suffer from an attitude problem. The sorrow is this, because if we had carried the game onto the end at 0-0, we even could have scored very late and won.
"The problem is that if we're away from home and concede a goal we give up, and this is not good enough. At home we react, also due to the aid of the fans, but away we have a poor attitude and we must work on this.
"However this is a beautiful group, we suffer all together when things do not go well."
Lazio coach Delio Rossi backs Di Canio's comments: "Paolo is right. We must improve our mentality, because the differences in performance between us at home and away cannot be explained.
"We must work very hard on this aspect."