Italy Announces ‘Controversial’ Provisional Euro 2008 Squad

May 26, 2008

Roberto Donadoni surprised a few with his recent provisional choices for Euro 2008.

While many faces will be returning from the 2006 World Cup winning team, there are several notable exclusions and inclusions, the most controversial of which being the return of the “Raging Bull” Antonio Cassano.

After a strong Serie A season with Sampdoria, Cassano returns to the national squad for the first time since the leave of Giovanni Trappatoni following Italy’s dismal Euro 2004 performance. Donadoni has since backed his decision to include Cassano, and has voiced his support and belief that the creative forward can act mature and contribute to the Azzurri’s efforts.

“Antonio’s inclusion was thoroughly thought through and happened after a meeting with my staff… He is only a 26-year-old lad, but I think that after that heavy suspension in the league he has understood how to be in a group.” Donadoni also added, “I want proper behaviour not only on the pitch but also off it, also in the training sessions, for the good of the squad and the group.”
While Cassano was included, three notable players from the World Cup squad were not given the call: Filippo Inzaghi, Massimo Oddo, and Vincenzo Iaquinta.

Although Massimo Oddo has recently had surgery for an injury, he expressed he believes that Donadoni has ruled him out unfairly. “It burns me up inside because I honestly did not expect it.”

“I believe that within two weeks of the tournament I would have been able to get myself into satisfactory shape… Or the least I would have hoped for would have been to have had my condition tested closer to the time and to have been excluded then.”

“Because of all this I would have preferred to have been given a different reason for my exclusion, a more direct one, because I certainly wouldn’t have objected if I had been left out as a technical choice.”

Along with Oddo, ever-passionate “Superpippo” was also strongly displeased with his exclusion. Despite 18 goals in AC Milan’s somewhat soft performance in the 2007-08 season, Inzaghi was not chosen nor called by manager Donadoni to be told of his exclusion directly.

“Obviously it has taken just my injury during the season for me to not even merit a phone call; to cancel what I thought was a mature, adult relationship. I am sorry that I got it wrong and pass on my sincere wishes to the Azzurri for the coming European Championships”

Roberto Donadoni was unapologetic in a recent interview. “Pippo is like a little boy such is his enthusiasm with which he lives for football - and this is to his merit. But what we said to each other remains between us and the subject is closed”

As Inzaghi is already 35, this could be his unceremonious ending to a long and impressive national team career. Vincenzo Iaquinta has been quiet on the issue, as he was unlikely to be fit regardless following a recent injury.

Other notable names in the provisional team include Alessandro Del Piero, who fought his way back onto the team with a Capocannoniere performance with Juventus, and Marco Borriello, who had an extremely strong season for Genoa CFC. The 24 man provisional squad will have to be finalized and cut down to 23 men before Euro 2008 begins in June.

Euro 2008 Provisional Squad - Italy

Keeper: Buffon, Amelia, de Sanctis

Defense: Cannavaro, Barzagli, Zambrotta, Panucci, Grosso, Materazzi, Chiellini

Midfield: Pirlo, Gattuso, De Rossi, Ambrosini, Camoranesi, Perotta, Aquilani, Montolivo

Attack: Toni, Di Natale, Del Piero, Quagliarella, Boriello, Cassano

by Justin Barrie

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