Former Brazilian international criticises Italian national team

Date: 8th March 2014 at 4:30am
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JuninhoFormer Brazilian international Juninho Pernambucano has criticised the Italian national team after their performance against Spain on Monday night.

The 39-year-old former attacking midfielder watched the match and he believes that the Azzurri are missing something in their midfield play.

“I remain disappointed,” Juninho told French radio station RMC.

“I saw a squad of robots with many players with the same characteristics in midfield: Montolivo, Pirlo …

“They did not find a number 10 that can give them the offensive actions. I am really worried for this squad.

“They will have difficulty to also pass the first round in my opinion.”

Juninho played 40 times for Brazil and scored six goals from 1999 until 2006, having also played at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

He is best-known to Europeans audiences for his time at French club Olympique Lyonnais. The Brazilian played for the French giants from 2001 until 2009 and developed a reputation for being a free-kick specialist.

Follow Vito Doria on Twitter: @VitoCDoria

 

8 responses to “Former Brazilian international criticises Italian national team”

  1. gabriel says:

    Are you kidding me first of all not the starting squad in that game so how can u judge we have agood midfield if anything we lack a bit of defense at the back

  2. Davide Longo says:

    The Azzurri were missing some pivotal players, De Rossi being the main player. Rossi and Balotelli will provide the outlets so these comments are poor. Prandelli needs to assemble a team that’s creative but solid. I still have doubts about Marchisio and Montolivo but their opportunity will be given in June and assessed after the WC2014

  3. Sal nair says:

    Get a life juninho, doesn’t mean you played for Brazil ,that you suddenly become a master at judging a teams performance based on a single game.
    It’s the Azzurris you are taking about, not some C grade country.when it comes to football , the Azzurris are always a serious contender for the WC. If anything I do have faith in prandeli to carve out a winning team come June . Forza Azzurri…..

  4. Mike says:

    He is actually serious? You can’t make comments on a team you don’t know did he not realize italy didn’t even have no where near their full team? This makes him look like he doesn’t even know football outside of Madrid barca

  5. Angelo says:

    clearly juninho didnt hear prandelli say he didnt want to give anything away, i hope Verratti plays next 2 friendlys

  6. sebastiano says:

    Its clear that Juninho has no clue about the sport he once played. This was not Italia’s starting squad as they were missing key players. De Rossi, Balo, G rossi and chiellini to name a few. Spain had their first choice line up, were playing at home and could still only muster a scrappy ping pong goal. Italy is always a contender and Prandelli will select the right players to compliment each other. Forza Azzuri sempre!

  7. Angeli says:

    He didnt say italy dosent deserve respect, hes stating italys weakness against one of the best if not the best mid field today shows weak signs and i agree, with or without pirlo, montolivo over raited i guess ac milab had to give fhe captAin band to someone this her but that wont last long. Why is veratti not playing Verratti = Xavi , cause he plays in spain?

  8. ANTHONY C says:

    Angeli…. Verratti plays for PSG in france.
    Let this guy think that way.
    It is not the first time people discounted italy.
    Italy has the accumilation of the most cups, that doesnt happen by accident. Italy is also the most tactical team. they may not be the best or favourites, but they have the tactics to beat the best.