Eight new players called for friendly Italy-North IrelandRoma 28/05/2009
Twenty-one players have been called by head coach Marcello Lippi for the friendly match that Italy will play against North Ireland in Pisa on Saturday, June 6th (8:50 pm). Eight new faces: the Cagliari goalkeeper, Marchetti, the Lecce defender Esposito, the Palermo defender Cassani and the Inter defender Santon, the midfielders Biagianti (Catania), Galloppa (Siena), the forwards Mascara (Catania) and Pellissier (Chievo).
The head coach also communicated the names of the 13 of the 23 players that will take part in the Confederations Cup: the final list will be completed within Thursday, June 4th. Italy will play its last friendly matches before the Confederations Cup with North Ireland and New Zealand.
The players will meet on Tuesday, June 2nd, at the Coverciano center and as far as the Confederations Cup is concerned, the team will meet in Coverciano on June 6th
. Here is the list of players called for the match in Pisa. Goalkeepers: De Sanctis (Galatasaray), Marchetti (Cagliari); Defenders: Cassani (Palermo), Dossena (Liverpool), Gamberini (Fiorentina), Grosso (Olympique Lione), Esposito (Lecce), Legrottaglie (Juventus), Santon (Inter); Midfielders: Biagianti (Catania), Brighi (Roma), D'Agostino (Udinese), Galloppa (Siena), Gattuso (Milan), Montolivo (Fiorentina), Palombo (Sampdoria); Forwards: Foggia (Lazio), Mascara (Catania), Pazzini (Sampdoria), Pellissier (Chievo), Rossi Giuseppe (Villarreal).
Here are the 13 players already called for the Confederations Cup: Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), Amelia (Palermo); Defenders: Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Chiellini (Juventus), Zambrotta (Milan); Midfielders: Camoranesi (Juventus), De Rossi (Roma), Pepe (Udinese), Pirlo (Milan); Forwards: Gilardino (Fiorentina), Iaquinta (Juventus), Quagliarella (Udinese), Toni (Bayern Monaco).
Here is the program: Thursday 28 May 2009 List of players called released in the evening: Tuesday 2 June 2009 h. 24.00 Players meet in Coverciano: Wednesday 3 June 2009 h. 10.30 Training (open to the press) h. 13.30 ca Press conference (Head Coach + players): presentation of PUMA jersey for Confederations Cup: h. 16.00 Training (closed doors): Thursday 4 June 2009 h. 10.30 Training (open to the press) h. 13.30 ca Press conference (players) h. 16.00 Training (closed doors): Friday 5 June 2009 h. 10.30 Training (open to the press) h. 13.30 ca Press conference (Head Coach + players): Sabato 6 June 2009 h. 20.50 Friendly match ITALY-NORTH IRELAND in Pisa: Press conference and return to Coverciano: Domenica 7 June 2009 h. 10.30 Training (open to the press) h. 13.30 ca Press conference (players) h. 17.00 Training (closed doors): h. 23.50 Charter flight from Pisa to Johannesburg: Monday 8 June 2009 h. 10.00 Flight arrives in Johannesburg and transfer to Pretoria: h. 15.30 Training at Southdowns College Irene/Centurion (open to the press): Press conference follows (Head coach): Tuesday 9 June 2009 h. 10.30 Training at Southdowns College – Irene – Centurion (closed doors): h. 17.30 Training at Super Stadium di Pretoria (open to the press): Press conference (Head Coach + players): Wednesday10 June 2009 h. 20.50 Friendly match ITALY-NEW ZEALAND at Super Stadium in Pretoria: Press conference and transfer to Hotel: Thursday11 June 2009 h. 10.30 Training at Southdowns College Irene/Centurion (open to the press): Al termine Press conference (players) Friday 12 June 2009 h. 10.30 Training at Southdowns College Irene/Centurion (open to the press): Press conference (players) Sabato 13 June 2009 h. 10.30 Training at Southdowns College Irene/Centurion (closed doors): h. 15.30 Training at Super Stadium in Pretoria (open to the press): Press conference with players: Sunday 14 June 2009 h. 10.30 Training at Southdowns College Irene/Centurion (closed doors): h. 18.00 Training at Loftus Verfeld stadium in Tshwane/Pretoria (open to the press): Press conference (Head Coach + players): Monday 15 June 2009 h. 20.30 Match USA-ITALY at the Loftus Verfeld stadium in Tshwane/Pretoria: Press conference and transfer to Hotel Press conference follows and transfer to Hotel
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All Whites depart with “quiet confidence"AUCKLAND – All Whites captain Tim Brown sees no reason why New Zealand can’t make waves at the Confederations Cup in South Africa in a few weeks time.
New Zealand has not returned from its previous two Confederation Cup campaigns with so much as a point but as the locally-based players departed for their third appearance, Brown – restored to the captaincy following Ryan Nelsen’s injury enforced absence – believes breaking that duck is a real possibility.
The All Whites are likely to be at very long odds for an opening match against world number one Spain on June 14, but their skipper still believes a pair of results against South Africa and Iraq that might even see the New Zealand into the second round is not out of the question.
“Why not aim high?” Brown said.
“Spain sets the tone for the remaining group games. We’ll go into it with three warm up games under our belt and if we do well it will flow through to the remaining two group games.
“No-one is expecting us to win, draw or even get close to the Spanish and sometimes that’s a not a bad position to be in. After that we can focus on South Africa and Iraq, which I’ve got to say we are a chance of getting something from.”
Brown’s positive mood may have had something to do with the group of CanTeen kids he and his teammates shared their afternoon, and their French Fries with.
The special guests from the charity for teenagers living with cancer were treated to a limousine ride to Auckland airport and lunch with the players at McDonald’s, before receiving team-signed shirts and footballs from All Whites defender Ben Sigmund.
“I think it’s been quite humbling to mix with some quite inspirational kids,” Brown said.
“It brings into focus how lucky you are in terms of your own personal situation and personal health, let alone going off to represent your country on the world stage.”
Often billed as the ‘mini World Cup,’ the FIFA Confederations Cup brings together the champions of FIFA’s six confederations as well as World Champions Italy and hosts South Africa.
After friendlies against Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on June 3 and Botswana in Gaborone on June 6, a final warm up against Italy on June 10 will let the All Whites know exactly where they stand four days out from their date with the European champions Spain.
“It’s a massive few weeks ahead, playing against the number one ranked team in the world and the world champions.
“The Confederations Cup has got to be one of the top sporting events in the world, it’s a massive stage and we have to perform.
“But there’s a quiet confidence in the team. A number of guys have been involved with New Zealand a long time and have been through highs and lows together.
“The players are coming from really professional environments and the absence or Ryan [Nelsen] aside, I think it’s the best squad we’ve ever assembled and that’s really exciting.”
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