World Football Commentaries by Steve Amoia: Mister Donadoni's Selections for the Friendly with Portugal

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Sunday, February 3, 2008

Mister Donadoni's Selections for the Friendly with Portugal

Image courtesy of the FIGC.

Tonight, Roberto Donadoni announced his squad for the Wednesday friendly against Portugal. The game will take place in Zurich, Switzerland. There were a few notable omissions from his team; namely, Antonio Cassano and Alessandro Del Piero. Both of whom have been in excellent form for Sampdoria and Juventus, respectively.

Marco Borriello of Genoa (he is on loan from AC Milan) receives his first call-up to the senior team. Gigi Buffon and Rino Gattuso, respectively, are injured.

In another rarity, only one Juventus player was selected for this team (Palladino).

This will be Mr. Donadoni's 15th game on the Azzurri bench. His record is 8 wins, 3 draws, and 3 losses. His winning percentage is 57%.

The Team

Keepers

Marco Amelia (Livorno) and Morgan De Sanctis (Sevilla).

Defenders

Andrea Barzagli (Palermo), Fabio Cannavaro (Real Madrid), Marco Cassetti (Roma), Fabio Grosso (Lyon), Marco Materazzi (Internazionale), Massimo Oddo (AC Milan), and Gianluca Zambrotta (Barcelona).

Allesandro Gamberini of Fiorentina has been called into the team as a replacement for Marco Materazzi.

Midfielders

Max Ambrosini (AC Milan), Alberto Aquilani (AS Roma), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma), Simone Perrotta (AS Roma), and Andrea Pirlo (AC Milan). (Franco Semioli of Fiorentina was selected but is now injured).

Strikers

Marco Borriello (Genoa), Antonio Di Natale (Udinese), Raffaele Palladino (Juventus), Fabio Quagliarella (Udinese), and Luca Toni (Bayern Munich).

Notes

Felipe "Big Phil" Scolari has never beaten Italy as the Portuguese manager.

Portugal's last victory over the Azzurri was in 1976.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal has scored 27 goals in 27 games this season.

Look for Italy to lineup in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Most likely, the Milanese duo of Pirlo and Ambrosini in front of the defensive line.

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