World Cup Qualifiers: Italy vs Macedonia and Albania

The fact is that Ireland are a very organized team, and are really good at nicking the results they need even if they are getting dominated. I do believe we should beat them, but they are the team I really just don't want to face. The type of team that will cause us problems no matter what.

I am hoping for Greece honestly. Here are the ranks of teams from most want to face to least want to face:

Greece, Northern Ireland, Sweden, Ireland.

 

Prandelli was way worse. At least Ventura does usually have some game plan. Prandelli was just awful. OMG the way he would just tinker around with formations and tactics was crazy. Half the games I didn't even see a game plan, and he relied on players way too much to find a strategy. He also spent a lot more time on computer and less in training which resulted in a number of players not fit enough and unprepared.

While I am not crazy about Ventura, and do not believe he is the man for this job, I'll admit I would much rather have him than Prandelli.

Our 2014 World Cup performance was unacceptable at all costs. Euro 2012 we made the final, but I believe it was clearly a fluke, as we only won 2 games properly. Drew Spain and Croatia, drew England (snatched win on penalties) (yes we were the better side, but the fact that we could not make any chances count matters), beat Germany which was the only good game I have seen us play under Prandelli, and got humiliated vs Spain. We did have to play a man down for a while but seriously being down 2-0 in the first half in a final is crazy.

I know we lost 3-0 to Spain just last month but at least it was only a qualifying match, we were missing a few players, and it was in Spain as well.

 

I think we should still be optimistic about Ventura. I mean its the first time we have been scoring a good amount of goals against the small teams. Until the Spain team he seemed to be doing pretty well.

I am not saying he is a good manager or the right man for the job, but the truth is I don't see him going unless we fail to qualify for the World Cup.

I mean look at the bright side: Ventura has have an idea on what he is doing and I wouldn't say he is clueless like people suggest. Again he isn't the best guy for the job, but he at least has some sort of idea on what he is trying to do and tactical plans.

Also keep in mind when Conte was our coach, he was being questioned a lot in qualifying and many of us were extremely worried when we saw the team he fielded. Croatia dominated us at home, and we did draw Bulgaria in Bulgaria. Also grinded out wins to Bulgaria at home and Malta. I don't think we would have beaten Spain at that time if they were in our qualifying group especially in Spain. Up until our first Euro 2016 game, Conte was being so bashed, and many people including me were calling for him to be sacked. I honestly do not think we look worse than we did when Conte was in charge during our qualifying campaign.

We looked amazing in the actual tournament, but seriously we did not look that good in qualifying if you remember.

I also wanted to point out that Macedonia are not a team to be underestimated. They had a great U21 team last year, and keep in mind their U21 team qualified for the U21 Championship over France and Iceland. If their U21 team can make it to the tournament than they are not a rubbish team. Yes we should be beating them, but they aren't as bad as you think. Sometimes teams just have a bad day as well.

Germany and Spain are the only teams that take full points against all weak teams in qualifying. We and most others do drop points at some point. I mean France tied Belarus and Luxembourg, Belgium tied Greece, Croatia dropped a number of points. Portugal and Switzerland were extremely lucky to have an easy group except for each other.

 

I think Ireland are the team we want to avoid. Sweden definitely have improved, but are not as good as Ireland. They are losing 2-0 to Netherlands now to point out actually. Anyway they can cause us trouble, but I think we got this if we get Sweden. The way Sweden beat France at home was a EXTREME mistake from Lloris and it was a lucky long shot at the very end. And to tell you the truth I don't think France is stronger than us. Its pretty equal. Germany is the best team in Europe, followed by Spain. Then there is a gap.

Northern Ireland wouldn't be too hard, but they are a defensive team which would make it hard to play against. This is why I am really hoping for Greece.

 

I have watched the Greeks play, and while they might be the strongest on paper, they definitely are not the strongest team in the unseeded. I watched them vs Belgium, and they really looked disorganized and not very comfortable at the back. I don't know where you are getting it from, but at least vs big teams Greece don't look very comfortable sitting back even though they try to do it sometimes. But yeah maybe Sweden might be the way to go.