Who is De Rossi's replacement for Italy? Or who will play the defensive mid position when De Rossi is out?
What a great game, great pace and end to end football. I've never seen Italy have SO many chances to score. Ever.. An insane amount of chances. Great game to watch! Balotelli had a terrible game in my opinion. Where the hell is Insigne? C'mon Prandelli....
Diamanti is a good player, but he need's to pass the ball more.. i saw many opportunities where he could have just passed the ball to a open player for a easy goal. .. 3 on 1 and players are blasting the ball.
Defense killed us this game, disappointed Rossi didn't play more though. I think with Pirlo/D.Rossi/G.Rossi/Balotelli we'll be a huge threat upfront, it's the backline that I'm worried about like everyone else. Hopefully the first choice lineup will remain healthy during the WC, because this sure as hell won't cut it.
The problem is not so much the back line but lack of defense at midfield. Too much space given in the middle. A 3-5-2 should be considered.
he made some key blocks today. he can push the ball and he plays with confidence.. i would like to see him and Chiellini together in a friendly.
the defensive relapse is what kills italy in every game. They play very good until they get scored on and its as if they panic so much that they usually let in more goals. why do they panic ?? like i said earlier, italy coulda put this game to bed easily in the first half with finishing those 2-3 great chances....2 of them balotelli didnt pass the ball in time, the other montolivo blasting it like an idiot. they let nigeria back in the game and let in 2 stupid goals. in any case, for italy to have any chance at the WC, they need all the major players healthy.
What panic? Prandelli played Candreva & Maggio on the same flank. Guess where the Nigerian attack was coming from? On the first goal, Maggio could have only crossed the ball himself to make it any easier. Too bad he didn't as it would not have been on target then.
When De Sciglio is healthy he should be Abate's sub on the right when his form from last season returns. He can switch up on the left with any combination of Chiellini and Criscito too. Ogbonna as a first option sub either centrally or at left back. Maggio should only ever be considered in a 3 man backline and only if there are no other options. And if Prandelli really wants to be creative offensively he needs to reconcile with Cassano or find a way to get Totti behind a Rossi/Balo partnership even if for only a half, then use Candreva/Diamanti/Cerci against teams where having them in tactically makes sense. With three forwards where Totti is an option putting DDR and Motta on either side of Pirlo, and the team can compete offensively with any national team in the world. Defensively everyone else needs to be fit though.