Gli Azzurri Napoletani

By: Joe | July 3rd, 2007

I’m running against a giant fan I can’t remember the last time an active Napoli player appeared for the Azzurri. Gianfranco Zola made his Azzurri debut on November 1991 while he was still wearing a Napoli shirt. My research efforts (an hour spent querying various search engines) weren’t able to come up with any other names. So it was nice to hear Roberto Donadoni talking positively about Napoli.

Donadoni admits he’s looking at Napoli to potentially blood some new players for the friendly against Hungary on August 22. The likelyhood is that defenders would most likely get the call as Fabio Cannavaro will not likely be around too much longer with the national team, Nesta looks like he’s retired for good from the Azzurri and Grosso hasn’t earned and received consistent play at Inter. Donadoni admitted he’s interested in Paolo Cannavaro and Maurizio Domizzi and may look to get them their first caps in the Hungary friendly. Calaiò and Iezzo have also been mentioned as possibilities, but given the depth at striker and keeper in Italy, I’d put them both as extreme longshots to get a run out. The Azzurri have two crucial matches upcoming in their Euro 2008 qualifying campaign (September 8 against France and September 12 against Ukraine). It’s almost a certainty no one but the most experienced Azzurri players would suit up for either of those matches but simply having the national team coach talk about our players shows how far the squad has come.

* Marco Capparella’s agent confirmed he’s going to stay with the squad and I ask…why? Capparella made eight appearances last year, all off the bench, he’s going to turn 33 in March. He’s a lifelong Serie C1/C2 player who’s only played in Serie B for three of his fifteen professional years. Isn’t it going to be Montervino’s job to fetch drinks for Reja and Marino and organize the team picnic?

* Gargano is rumoured to have given up a chance to play for Valencia (and presumably more money) in order to wear the Napoli shirt. That’s awesome, Walter. Now freaking sign already and get yourself a European work permit so you’ll be ready when training starts in July. And it’d be really nice if you could play more than garbage time in the Copa America because I’d like to see you play instead of muddling through Spanish language sites to figure out what you can do. Gargano has been compared to Gattuso (no doubt by his agent) for his ball winning skills. Bring it on, Walter.

* Edy Reja has still not signed his contract with Napoli. Far be it for me to speculate as to why but…

Marcello Lippi I looked so much younger before I took that gig with Palermo