ADP and ADPB Holiday Time
By: Marco P. |
14 Comments
Euro 2008 was not to be. After an exceptional 2007-08 season with Juve, Alessandro Del Piero’s Euro campaign finished (once again, alas) with lack of luster. Pinturicchio’s really been unlucky with the Azzurri shirt during his career: ever so much a protagonist at Juve, but never really taking the reins of the Italian national team as he should have. This Euro, his performance record includes two appearances as a substitute (vs. Netherlands and vs. Spain), one match as a starter vs. Romania, and not much else.
At 33 years of age (soon 34), this very well may have been Del Piero’s last important tournament with the Italian national team. Sure there’s the Confederations Cup next year and sure, Marcello Lippi is now back at the helm (he always liked ADP, so who knows… fingers crossed), but odds are that Italian 36 year-old strikers will have to watch World Cup 2010 in front of their TV sets.
Grazie Ragazzi…
By: Marco P. | 3 Comments
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Category: Alessandro Del PieroAzzurri Tee Time – Alessandro Del Piero Practices His Swing…
By: Marco P. | Add Comments
.
After a pretty rough week of group stage games (resolved in extremis only on the last matchday), the Italian team was given a day of rest today. Time for Roberto Donadoni, Alessandro Del Piero, and Mauro Camoranesi to practice their swings. :]
Donadoni played in a threesome with goalkeeping coach Ivano Bordon and team physician Andrea Ferretti, while Alessandro Del Piero and Mauro Camoranesi played in another group at Fontana Golf Club, site of the recent Austria Open and just down the road from Italy’s hotel.
.
Euro 2008: Italy 1-1 Romania – Capitan Del Piero Trumped by Capitan Buffon…
By: Marco P. | Add Comments
.
Cue another disappointing performance by Italy. Cue more doubts being cast on the Azzurri’s Euro 2008 chances. Cue waiting one more day to finally see Alessandro Del Piero take the reins of this team and put in the ball in the net (”alla Del Piero” hopefully).
The Juve forward was (confirming expectations from the match’s eve) selected as the Azzurri’s “man with the armband” on Friday, a recognition for ADP’s true leadership qualities and international experience (with Fabio Cannavaro out injured, Del Piero is currently the player with most caps on Italy’s roster). All that was not enough however, as Italy struggled to get their first points at Euro 2008 and could only muster a draw against a tough Romanian side.
Italy vs. Romania Preview: Capitan Del Piero!!!
By: Marco P. | 3 Comments
.
ZURICH (Switzerland), 12 June 2008 – Alessandro Del Piero will go to sleep tonight relaxed and pumped up. Tomorrow he’ll be on the pitch as part of the starting eleven AND he’ll wearing the team captain’s armband! Woo hoo!
It has really been a while since the Juventus forward had any kind of certainty with the Azzurri national team shirt, but Roberto Donadoni revealed it on Thursday. The Don’s words surprised everyone a little, especially after months of speculation, hints and line-up requests from the press that have almost always gone unanswered. However, the coach went all out Thursday afternoon and even added other names.
“I will make three or four changes in regards to the line-up I chose against Netherlands. Ale and Giorgio [Chiellini] will be on the pitch,” said Donadoni. “I have to give those who played the most a break”, especially because Friday will be about facing a motivated team with an optimal line-up. “[Romania are] a technical and strong team that defends very well,” added Donadoni, looking to be ready to tackle the world. His eyes made his willingness to win tomorrow fairly evident, perhaps in order to dedicate the win to his critics. Unlike in Bern it will be critical to remain calm and to think straight. “We have ninety minutes to score. We must be patient, dominate the opponent and pace ourselves because a lot of running will be involved.”
As a good Bergamese, the Don plays his cards close to his heart: if an emotion explosion is to take place, he will do it at the right moment. For now, he just confirmed that three or four changes would take place: “I will make my final choice tomorrow morning,” he added, proceeding to explain that the 3-0 still hurts and because of this, the team is eager to win. According to La Repubblica, the formation “hinted” by the Don’s distribution of blue/yellow pinnies on Thursday, is the following:
.
Buffon
Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso
Camoranesi, Pirlo, De Rossi, Perrotta
Toni, Del Piero
.
Going back to our opponents however, Romania is not just pace & fitness: the Don is also afraid of the team’s technical ability and this is the reason behind his strategy redesign. Starting from Del Piero: “I see Ale much farther back from the front and more to the middle. What do I expect from Ale? Tomorrow everyone will have to give his best.” In other words, ADP will have to provide the passing, ideas and creativity, players like Luca Toni will have to put the ball into the net.
“We have to focus and show optimism against Romania,” said Del Piero. “We need to think about playing like we know how to so that we can give a response to ourselves and everyone else. It’s crucial that we take that will to win onto the pitch.”
Del Piero will take the captain’s armband from goalkeeper Gigi Buffon, who led the team against Holland. “There was the chance that I wouldn’t play and instead I am starting as captain, but I’m not thinking about proving a point,” the Juve star continued. “I am keeping a clear mind and I will try and play as I did in the League. I want to be in the right place at the right time to do the right thing. You always feel responsibility, even when you aren’t playing. It doesn’t scare me that I will be wearing the captain’s armband.”
Donadoni concluded that tomorrow, Italy must play with the will to show the rest of the world we are still the champions, even if the fear is setting in. Fear that, as per Donadoni’s words, is no reason to be ashamed. “Fear” he says, “is not always negative. Being afraid is human, otherwise we would all be robots. No one can be absolutely fearless in certain situations, but some of these feelings must be exploited to the best. A “healthy” fear is okay, but we must avoid the kind of fear that puts you in a slump or slaps cuffs on your wrists”.
However, Donadoni doesn’t charge ahead but doesn’t hang back either, showing a side of him never seen before. “My feeling? I see a vibrant, eager and energetic team. But let’s make one thing clear: this is not an absolute guarantee that we will get the 3 points, because I had the same feeling on the eve of the match against the Netherlands. There’s no mathematical certainty.” The only certainty the Azzurri have for tomorrow, is that a loss will mean it’s time to go gome and a draw will force them to starting packing their bags.
.
FORZA AZZURRI and FORZA ALE!!!!
.
Read my full preview of Italy vs. Romania here:
Euro 2008 – Italy vs. Romania Preview: Time for the Azzurri to Bounce Back
.
.
Category: Alessandro Del PieroNetherlands 3-0 Italy: ADP’s Euro 2008 Adventure Didn’t Start in the Best of Ways…
By: Marco P. | 2 Comments
.
Boy, that was a rough Monday for everyone huh? Well… not everyone… not anyone wearing orange certainly. For the people wearing blue though… ouch!
.
.
ADP came on in minute 64, replacing Antonio Di Natale at a time during which Italy were 2-0 down, with their morale and play down the gutter. He immediately got into the match and re-invigorated the Azzurri’s spirit with his technique & dribbling skills, getting a good shot on target (saved by van der Sar) and hitting a curling shot narrowly wide of the right post. However, it wasn’t enough and Italy suffered yet another goal to lose the game 3-0.
.
Final statistics for ADP: 1 shot on target, 1 shot wide, 2 fouls suffered, 2 offsides.
.
.
.
Here’s what Del Piero had to say after the match (from alessandrodelpiero.com):
ADP’s Latest Uliveto Commercial(s)
By: Marco P. | 2 Comments
As many of you know, Del Piero’s got a huge sponsorship deal with Italian mineral water Uliveto (which also sponsors Italy’s national team). In fact, many people in the old boot made fun of him because he used to talk to… a sparrow in those commercials a few years back. Since then, he traded the little bird with 2004 Miss Italia Cristina Chiabotto and.. well, it’s kinda hard to make fun of him after that.
Anyways, Uliveto released their latest TV commercials featuring ADP a few weeks ago, and here’s where their marketing genius came in. You see, at the time of filming Italy manager Roberto Donadoni had not made his final Euro 2008 call-up list yet, so there was still a (small) chance that ADP wasn’t going to be part of the SwissAustria Azzurri adventure. Hence, the marketing department of the mineral water company decided to make… TWO separate TV commercials: one in case ADP went to Euro 2008, and one in case he did not.
Here they are: :]
.
.
Translation:
Version 1
Nun: Scudetto?
ADP: Check
Nun: World Cup?
ADP: Check.
Nun: Euro?
ADP: Eh well we’ll see.
Nun: Drink Uliveto and live healthy.
Announcer: The World Cup champions drink Uliveto.
Version 2
Nun: Scudetto?
ADP: Check
Nun: World Cup?
ADP: Check.
Nun: Euro?
ADP: (sad) I’ll watch it on TV.
Nun: Here, drink Uliveto. It helps your digestion.
Announcer: The World Cup champions drink Uliveto.
.
I just love the part where it “helps your digestion”. Undoubtedly ADP’s non-convocation would have been a very hard thing to swallow, both for ADP and Uliveto’s marketing heads. ;D
.
Category: Alessandro Del PieroAlessandro Del Piero’s 2007-08 Season in Numbers
By: Marco P. | 4 Comments
So ADP won the Capocannoniere title, and he’s real happy about it (and so are we). But aren’t you wondering just how he achieved it? In numbers I mean…
Well I was, so I did some research and thanks to Gazzetta dello Sport was able to produce this. Enjoy. :]
Oh, and if someone can point me to a website with even more thorough statistics (like season total shots on goal, offsides, etc. etc.) that we would absolutely awesome.
Edit: Here’s some additional statistics, courtesy of Sports.it. Special thanks to HU from soccerstatistics.blogspot.com for the tip. :] I should point out the data’s been updated only until matchday 37 it seems (as the “Goal Total: 19″ row testifies). Still some useful numbers to look at…
| Games played | 36 | Goal Kicks / Successful | 3 / 2 |
| Minutes played | 2667 | Interceptions (attempted) | 100 |
| Serie A Goals | 19* | Interceptions (successful) | 45 |
| Goalscorers ranking | 1st | Tackles (attempted) | 27 |
|
|
Tackles (successful) | 23 | |
| Total Shots | 117 | Balls stolen | 9 |
| Shots wide | 77 | Balls stolen ranking | 318th |
| Shots on target | 40 |
|
|
| Shots saved | 24 | Offsides | 37 |
|
|
Offsides ranking | 10th | |
| Key passes | 55 |
|
|
| Crosses | 194 | Fouls committed | 71 |
| Passes (attempted) | 741 | Fouls committed ranking | 24th |
| Passes (attempted) ranking | 137th | Fouls conceded | 111 |
| Passes (successful) | 557 | Fouls conceded ranking | 7th |
| Passes (successful) ranking | 141th | Yellow cards | 2 |
| Passes in off. half | 822 | Yellow cards ranking | 283th |
| Passes in off. half ranking | 53rd | Red cards | / |
Going to SwissAustria!!!!
By: Marco P. | 5 Comments
Tuesday morning in a press conference in Rome, the Azzurri coach announced his pre-selection for Euro 2008: 24 players (4 less than what everyone anticipated, and 1 to be trimmed down before May 28) which will be representing Italy in this Summer’s great European tournament:
“I Am The Leading Goal Scorer“…
By: Marco P. | 1 Comment
.
Fresh of earning the Serie A 2007-08 ”Capocannoniere” title, Alessandro Del Piero tells us just how it feels to be league topscorer two seasons in a row.
Straight from alessandrodelpiero.com, here goes:
Read the rest of this entry »
Home 
