First three of the set:


01 02 03

( 20 total )

As a follow-up to the Maldini-in-Miami post right here and upon special request by betsyli, under the cut are more pics of the Maldini Princes, Christian and Daniel, doing somersaults at the beach.

Also just in: Sandro and Sofia:



( Daniel Maldini flipping out )

victor_reno wanted to share with you the following photos of The Maldinis and The Nestas on their Miami holiday:




( Tommaso Nesta is a qt )

Italy 0-3 Brazil
L. Fabiano 37, 43 (B) Dossena 44 og (B)

Italy: Buffon; Dossena, Chiellini, Cannavaro, Zambrotta; Pirlo, De Rossi, Montolivo (Pepe 45); Iaquinta (Rossi 38), Toni (Gilardino 56), Camoranesi
Brazil: J. Cesar; Andre Santos, Juan (Luisao 24), Lucio, Maicon; Melo, Gilberto (Kleberson 84); Robinho, Ramires, Elano; L. Fabiano

No commentary, as my Azzurri pride is still dented at the net result. And it's taken me long enough to get this far: at least this way you get the pictures before the semi final! I stopped looking when my folder topped 180 images - Getty alone had over 450 of the game, and I just couldn't face it. Sorry.

( +180 )

As expected, the Italian press are in an uproar in the wake of Italy's utter destruction at the hands of Brazil, with Lippi's attachment to the team that won the World Cup being seen as the main culprit in the awful Confederation's Cup performance. So the newspapers are having a field day cleaning out the team, and trying to figure out which new players -- either on the fringes of the team now, with the U21s in Sweden, or currently Brazilian -- ought to be called in for South Africa. [The graphic above is from Gazzetta dello Sport, illustrating their opinions on the who gets to stay, who could be in trouble, who ought to go, and who should be promoted from the Azzurrini.]

So what do you guys think? Who ought to go to South Africa, assuming the Azzurri manage to qualify? Who needs to be dumped, and never seen in blue again? Is there anyone missing from Gazzetta's list of guys who ought to be brought into the senior squad?

ETA: Today's New York Times includes a surprisingly insightful look at the current state of the team.

RIGHT HERE.

Title: Roman Shortcomings
Rating: R, but no sex scenes.
Authors: cheryl_bites with instructions from razor2rozary, who wrote Ovid’s verses. (The ones in this fic, I mean. She didn’t actually write Ovid’s verses.) The original Thread Of Inspiration is here.
Characters: Loads of Serie A peeps, with a particularly disproportionate number of Fiorentinians.
Warning: Bawdy humour, possibly rather offensive. Plus anything about Romans has tortures and horrid deaths in it; sorry about that.
Disclaimer: This is not true.
Summary: Publius Ovid is mocking Emperor Adrian’s crap facial hair. He must be found and executed.

(NOTE: There are Ancient Roman notes at the end, and a glorious manip by Marie just under the cut.)

( Ridiculousness here )