In a weekend of saved penalties and superlative performances, Dave Taylor had more tough calls to make while picking Football Italia’s best XI.
Andrea Consigli [Atalanta]
In a weekend of saved penalties and superlative performances, Dave Taylor had more tough calls to make while picking Football Italia’s best XI.
Andrea Consigli [Atalanta]
The hero goalkeeper of the day after firstly stopping Joaquin Larrivey's penalty then Daniele Conti's spot-kick. Sadly, after bravely denying Thiago Ribeiro’s header, he collided with his own defender and had to be stretchered off. Brilliant.
Abdoulay Konko [Lazio]
Ostensibly a right-back, the Frenchman kept pressing along the flank ending up more winger than defender but also never forgot his real duties. Almost scored but his shot was stopped on the line. Dynamic.
Hugo Campagnaro [Napoli]
Another determined performance full of running and brave blocks. ‘The Boss’ worked well with his captain Paolo Cannavaro, but still the pick of the three man back-line with his no-nonsense control of the Fiorentina forwards on a terrible pitch. Definitive.
Francesco Acerbi [Milan]
There were some doubts whether he could survive in a top team, but the former Chievo rock is the genuine article and never looked out of place. Stood his ground and simply shut out Robert Acquafresca then Alberto Gilardino. Powerful.
Nicolas Burdisso [Roma]
A sterling performance against Diego Milito, especially his perfect slide tackle. Solid throughout, he put in several vital blocks and was never afraid to put his body on the line. Influential.
Juan Zuniga [Napoli]
It’s usually his teammate Christian Maggio who gets the plaudits with his wing-play, but this time the Colombian was superb. Always looking to attack down the left and kept his normally active fellow-countryman Juan Cuadrado at bay. Forceful.
Kevin-Prince Boateng [Milan]
Was a complete menace and could have scored several goals. Made defenders look like so many red and blue shirts on a washing line in a hurricane, all flapping helplessly. Inspirational.
Andrea Pirlo [Juventus]
The metronomic midfielder was unplayable and as usual inspired his side with his sublimity. Set up several chances and had a massive hand in two of the goals and sang off the same sheet as Sebastian Giovinco.
Francesco Totti [Roma]
The enigmatic legend had the passing ability and intelligence to see several moves ahead of everyone. Rolled back the years and was rewarded with two fabulous assists, the second one for Osvaldo even outdoing the first. Genius.
Giampaolo Pazzini [Milan]
Pazzo is there to score and didn’t do too much else, but was still sensational. First he cleverly won and converted a penalty then, like all great strikers, he was in the right place to convert two more. Inzaghi-ish.
Sebastian Giovinco [Juventus]
The new boy won a penalty and scored twice. His first saw him earliest to the ball from Claudio Marchisio’s rebound, while his second was pure class as he struck a thunderbolt from just inside the area. Sublime.
Special mentions for Alessandro Sgringa [Torino], Lorenzo Insigne [Napoli], Rolando Bianchi [Torino], Kwadwo Asamoah [Juventus] and Miroslav Klose [Lazio].