International Game Time Thread: Italy vs. Holland

I know it's not exactly the easiest thing to plan around a big-time club's schedule in this day and age of teams competing on what seems like 20 different fronts with how busy things can get. That's just the nature of the best. That's just the world we live in right now.

But I guess we're just going to need to form some kind of prayer circle to make sure all of the ItalJuve contingent don't come home with a bunch of injuries they didn't have before they left. Yeah, sure, I'd like to see Italy put in a good performance against a strong side like Holland. But worrying about everybody not getting injured won't be good for my mental health — and I'm probably not the only one thinking along those lines.

Dammit, FIFA. You just had to schedule a game this week?

/shakes fist/

Here's a reminder of the call-ups for the Dutch 'treat" today:

Goalkeepers: Buffon (Juventus), De Sanctis (Napoli), Marchetti (Lazio), Sirigu (PSG)

Defenders: Abate (Milan), Astori (Cagliari), Barzagli (Juventus), Gastaldello (Sampdoria), Peluso (Juventus), Ranocchia (Inter), Santon (Newcastle)

Midfielders: Candreva (Lazio), De Rossi (Roma), Diamanti (Bologna), Florenzi (Roma), Giaccherini (Juventus), Montolivo (Milan), Nocerino (Milan), Pirlo (Juventus), Verratti (PSG)

Strikers: Balotelli (Milan), El Shaarawy (Milan), Gilardino (Bologna), Giovinco (Juventus), Osvaldo (Roma)

As was announced on Monday, Juve's minute striker pulled out injured because of the thigh injury he picked up against Chievo on Sunday afternoon. Good. Don't risk it.

Now let's just hope everybody else — including those away on international duty who are outside of Italy — comes back healthy and ready to roll for Fiorentina's visit to Turin on Saturday. It's kinda important, ya know.