Italy vs Azerbaijan & Croatia thread: 2016 Euro Qualifiers

It was right after the 90 WC when Blatter as FIFA Secretary General was bitching during the tournament that refs were not giving cards and the policies changed where certain actions became mandatory cards. The idea was that refereeing would become more consistent. It has been anything else since.

 

Verratti's biggest fan boy sez wut?!

Has he gone mad?

 

Just remembered the first match of Italian 90 and looked it up. Cameroon had two reds and 3 yellows and Argentina had one yellow. I remember thinking back unlike prior tournaments , the refs aren't fooling around.

 

But Blatter was pushing that for the entire tournament. He wanted referees to have a heavy presence, especially to protect star players. He was very critical throughout and refs were sent home. It was the turn in the craziness we see today. Back then, a yellow meant something. It is worthless today.

 

I disagree with the notion that you don't factor age into the decision-making process ahead of a big tournament. Tournaments are almost always in the summer and it's usually pretty hot wherever you go. Having young fresh legs in for games that have little recovery time...well, that's a big advantage. Let's take Pirlo as an example...last WC, he was great in the first game. But, it was a hot grueling game, and he was done after that. Literally jogging pace the rest of the way.

That is not going to win you tournaments. I think sometimes as a CT, you have to build the core of a young squad and try to establish a "ciclo" or cycle. Lippi built on Trap's team in 2006, Spain and Germany established young cores in the years leading up to the last 2 WCs and they won them both.

Heck, you can go back all the way to 1978. Bearzot took a very young team to Argentina...other than Zoff...there were only TWO other players over 30. TWO! And, I think the oldest was around 32. What did he do? He built a generational team.

Conte has to do that as well. Start building a young core now...they might surprise at the Euros...and even if they don't, that team will be ready for 2018. Oh, and before someone tries to say we don't have young talent, they simply are not watching.

 

I agree that its definitely a young men's tournament. Although Pirlo may have slowed down , I recall many games in his younger days when he played that way.

 

balance that against the number of time matches were ruined by professional fouls when players were through on goal only to be dragged down leaving the offending player unpunished.

 

That was my concern with picking Conte--a coach in his prime who was unlikely to commit up to the World Cup. Of course he's only going to focus on winning the Euros. Remember Pirlo had retired, probably expecting a new manager who would be building for 2018... then Conte came in and called him back.

I'm not saying we should always sacrifice the Euros but given our last 2 WC exits, now was the time to have a development focus.

 

He already is building a young team with a mind to the future. De Sciglio, Insigne, Darmian, Berardi, Florenzi, Santon, Soriano, Bertolacci, Verratti, Zaza and El Shaarawy are all 25 or under.
And we have a few talented guys still playing u21 like Rugani, Romagnoli, Benassi, Cataldi who can make the jump soon

 

I know Conte never used Berardi but has he ever selected him?

 

He has gotten injured when called. I think twice.

 

Verratti got substituted against Real Madrid today...

 

That's good. I'm sure he will get his chance as he is still young enough. Nice to see a Calabrese get picked for a change.

 

Italy euro 2016 kit

 

excited to see what the name and numbers look like

 

nothing too breathtaking

 

Never has been which is a good thing.

 

awesome jersey.

 

He's back!

 

That's what your mum says when she opens the door to great me for some late night actionpretty soon I'm going to start wh0ring her out. I've got a sneaky suspicion you're going to be her number one customer

 

It's good to get those demons out Tfan

 

She's already doing voluntary work for me bud, no time for you