Game Time Thread: France vs. Italy

Ah, just what we need before an incredibly important part of the schedule — an international friendly! Hooray!

/grumbles

Yes, Italy and France will be meeting for a mid-week friendly just days before Juventus take on Lazio and then, about 72 hours later, Chelsea in a decisive Champions League tie. Not like those are important.

Oh, they are?

Well, shoot. I guess this isn't going to sit well with a lot of people. But hey, it's not like there's any chance of the players with Juventus connections who are taking part risking any kind of injury in this so-called friendly between a couple of nations who don't exactly like one another.

Oh, there is?

Crap. So much for being completely relaxed as we all watch this from our respective living rooms and/or cubicles at work. Damn timing, I tell ya.

So we all will watch. But don't tell me to sit tight and relax, because I won't. I don't exactly know what a friendly — regardless of who it is against — in the middle of November during a completely hectic period in the schedule will do for the Azzurri setup.

In summary: MEH.

A reminder of the Italy squad for all of you folks who either missed it or don't have a very good memory.

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon, Morgan De Sanctis, Salvatore Sirigu, Emiliano Viviano

Defenders: Davide Astori, Federico Balzaretti, Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Domenico Criscito, Christian Maggio, Federico Peluso, Davide Santon

Midfielders: Antonio Candreva, Alessandro Diamanti, Alessandro Florenzi, Emanuele Giaccherini, Claudio Marchisio, Riccardo Montolivo, Andrea Pirlo, Marco Verratti

Strikers: Mario Balotelli, Mattia Destro, Stephan El Shaarawy, Sebastian Giovinco, Pablo Daniel Osvaldo

KICKOFF TIME IN THE UNITED STATES: 2:55 P.M. EASTERN, 11:55 A.M. ON THE WEST COAST