Lippi's Provisional Azzurri Squad: Glaring Omissions But No Surprises

It was another dramatic weekend of football in Italy, both on and off the pitch.

On the pitch, Inter Milan maintained their spot on top of the table with a win over Lazio amongst some scandalous behaviour from the Lazio faithful. Knowing that a Bianocelesti win would help Roma in their attempt to win the title, Lazio fans cheered for Inter as Mourinho's side ran out winners by two goals to nil.

But it was off the pitch that the greatest drama of the weekend was played out as Marcello Lippi announced the players he had chosen to be part of his provisional World Cup squad.

Glaring omissions were expected and Lippi did not disappoint. Arguably Serie A's best Italian player all season, the enigmatic Fabrizio Miccoli, was again snubbed despite his 18 goals and 8 assists this term, which have helped Palermo to be in with a real chance of Champions League football next term.

The omission of Fabrizio Miccoli is the most astounding of all given his consistency and performances this season. But at the same time it is not surprising. Miccoli has never been a favorite of Lippi's due to personal differences in the past. In addition, Lippi has never even selected Miccoli for the national team. What is most unfortunate is that this decision has nothing to do with talent.

For Italian fans, it is only more untoward that the reasons behind Antonio Cassano's omission strikingly similar to that of Miccoli's. Due to past differences, Cassano has not been a favorite of Lippi's either and as a result Cassano has never once been selected by Lippi for the national team. It is the same story all over again, as you can see. 

Therefore, despite some impressive displays this season for Sampdoria, Cassano has again been overlooked. Though this is another glaring omission, like with Miccoli, it does not come as a surprise.

The problem for Lippi is that unless Italy win the World Cup, which is unlikely, he will be lambasted by many for having left at home two of Italy's best strikers, if not best. For aside from Miccoli and Cassano, there are not many world class strikers to choose from.

Di Natale has had a great season so perhaps deserves his place, as does Pazzini, and maybe Gilardino. But the likes of Borriello, Iaquinta, and Qualgliarella, players that have been included, are not great strikers by any stretch of the imagination. 

It is not just the omission of Cassano and Miccoli that is causing heartache for Italian fans. There are a host of players that should have been included in this squad and there are a few players that should not have been included.

Other notable absentees include Inter's Mario Balotelli. Easily the most talented young footballer on the peninsula, Super Mario would have been great to be used as a kind of wild card. For he has talent in abundance, can score goals just as easily as he can create them whilst he is also a specialist from set pieces. Balotelli is the kind of player who you want to be able to throw on when your team is chasing goals.

Another puzzling omission is that of Alberto Aquliani. Sure he has not been in fine form since moving to Liverpool; however, the Italian is a class act nonetheless and already has valuable international experience gained at Euro 2008.

Fiorentina duo of Alessandro Gamberini and Lorenzo De Silvestri are two more curious omissions, considering the players that have been selected in their place. Udinese's Gaetano D'Agostino has also been left out to complete a numerous list of Italian players that simply should have been included.

As for the players that have no right to be chosen, Milan's Gennaro Gattuso tops the list. The Calabrese midfielder has simply been woeful for Milan this season, and that is when he has played. Gattuso's form has been so poor that he was relegated to the bench earlier on in the season. To include him in the squad is, quite simply, a baffling decision on Lippi's part.

A few other baffling decisions by Lippi has been his inclusion of Nicola Leggrotaglie and Gianluca Zambrotta. The former has never been a great defender and, despite some good performances here and there for Juve this season, he still does not warrant a place in the side.

Neither does Milan's Zambrotta. Though once a great player, like Gattuso, Zambrotta's displays have been poor this season. He no longer has the pace nor the acceleration needed of a full back. Lorenzo De Silvestri surely should have been given the nod instead as should of Alessandro Gamberini instead of Leggrotaglie.

As already mentioned, the inclusion of Borriello, Quagliarella, and Iaquinta are also questionable. Though the former has had a relatively good season for Milan the same cannot be said of the latter two.

However, not one of these players possess the quality that is needed at international level. Since the likes of Cassano and Miccoli have been overlooked for such strikers, their inclusion is just another baffling decision by the unbearably stubborn Marcello Lippi.

Italy's prospects before this squad was announced were not looking good. Now, with Lippi having named this curious squad of players, Italy's odds for winning the World Cup surely will increase. Lippi's decisions have caused outrage amongst Italian fans the world over. The only way now that Lippi can justify his selection is to lead Italy to back to back World Cup titles. Whether this will happen remains to be seen, but the wait is not too long now.