Post by Taxigirl on Jan 10, 2006 10:12:02 GMT
www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jan9f.html
Marcello Lippi has said that the door is still open for Cristiano Lucarelli and Marco Marchionni to win a place in his World Cup squad. “They have five months to convince me,” he said today.
Lucarelli has been in devastating form so far this term, notching ten goals for Livorno to add to the 24 he scored last season, while Marchionni’s brace at the San Siro last night showed why several leading clubs – including Juventus, Inter and Fiorentina - have been interested in signing him.
Italian Coaches of the past have traditionally been spoilt for choice when it comes to striking options, but this season the number of in-form attacking players getting regular football are comparatively few and far between.
Luca Toni, Alberto Gilardino and Francesco Totti are almost certain to occupy three of the six forward berths available in Lippi’s 23-man squad this summer, barring injury or a sudden loss of form
The remaining places would nominally go to three from Alessandro Del Piero, Christian Vieri, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Antonio Cassano – none of whom are enjoying regular football at present.
Despite his lack of regular football for Juventus, Del Piero is expected to make the grade - given his consistency in the Azzurri shirt - which leaves Lucarelli and Marchionni seemingly fighting it out with the injured Iaquinta, the unpredictable and currently overweight Cassano and the almost certainly Monaco-bound Vieri.
Lippi, though, insists that everyone is still in with a chance and that it is not too late for anyone – provided that they are getting regular football.
“I am following both Marchionni and Lucarelli and, like the others, they have five months to convince me,” said Lippi. “I will only say that to go to the World Cup you don’t necessarily need to be first choice but you do need to be playing with a level of consistency.”
Marcello Lippi has said that the door is still open for Cristiano Lucarelli and Marco Marchionni to win a place in his World Cup squad. “They have five months to convince me,” he said today.
Lucarelli has been in devastating form so far this term, notching ten goals for Livorno to add to the 24 he scored last season, while Marchionni’s brace at the San Siro last night showed why several leading clubs – including Juventus, Inter and Fiorentina - have been interested in signing him.
Italian Coaches of the past have traditionally been spoilt for choice when it comes to striking options, but this season the number of in-form attacking players getting regular football are comparatively few and far between.
Luca Toni, Alberto Gilardino and Francesco Totti are almost certain to occupy three of the six forward berths available in Lippi’s 23-man squad this summer, barring injury or a sudden loss of form
The remaining places would nominally go to three from Alessandro Del Piero, Christian Vieri, Vincenzo Iaquinta and Antonio Cassano – none of whom are enjoying regular football at present.
Despite his lack of regular football for Juventus, Del Piero is expected to make the grade - given his consistency in the Azzurri shirt - which leaves Lucarelli and Marchionni seemingly fighting it out with the injured Iaquinta, the unpredictable and currently overweight Cassano and the almost certainly Monaco-bound Vieri.
Lippi, though, insists that everyone is still in with a chance and that it is not too late for anyone – provided that they are getting regular football.
“I am following both Marchionni and Lucarelli and, like the others, they have five months to convince me,” said Lippi. “I will only say that to go to the World Cup you don’t necessarily need to be first choice but you do need to be playing with a level of consistency.”