The Defender "Crisis"

Discussion in 'Italy: National Teams' started by Reazzurro90, Aug 27, 2007.

  1. Reazzurro90

    Reazzurro90 New Member

    Jun 10, 2006
    Connecticut, USA
    Alright, lately there has been a lot of worry and gossip going around concerning the availability of solid defenders for the future Azzurri. Personally, I really don't see the existence of this "crisis" at all. I see that we have lots of quality defenders, and even more abundance of spirited youngsters who want to do well for their clubs.

    My opinion is that, because defenders are usually not in the attack and don't really score, it's more difficult to accurately track their form and how well they're playing, and therefore, a little more difficult to discover. But I don't necessarily attribute that to a crisis.

    Anyone else agree at all?
     
  2. CoachKilmer

    CoachKilmer Member

    Jun 18, 2006
    NJ
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Bazagli, cannavaro, zambro and oddo should be fine for the game.
     
  3. CoachKilmer

    CoachKilmer Member

    Jun 18, 2006
    NJ
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Bonera too will be included in the squad
     
  4. Reazzurro90

    Reazzurro90 New Member

    Jun 10, 2006
    Connecticut, USA
    I wasn't referring to the France game in particular, but I wholeheartedly agree on that. I was thinking more long-term, like Euro 2008 and WC 2010.
     
  5. Luca03

    Luca03 Member

    Jun 11, 2006
    Toronto,Canada
    Club:
    AC Milan
    I don't think the problem is a lack of defenders, I think it's more of a "when will the new defenders be brought in?".

    Thats, how I personally feel on this topic.
     
  6. legdonor

    legdonor Member

    Apr 29, 2006
    Firenze
    I disagree.
    When you look back at every generation and all the great defenders who were already tipped at a young age.

    We just don't have them right now. Sure Criscito and whoever else could step up to the challenge in the coming years, but at the moment nothing indicates that this generation will live up to the usual italian standard (which is very, very high obviously).

    I also disagree about the defenders being harder to track than attackers.
     
  7. rizzuto123

    rizzuto123 Member

    May 3, 2006
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    italy have great young Right and left backs in chellieni,rosi, anderolli,pasquel but its the central defender problem, materazzi and cannavaro are old people we can't depend on them no longer, and i think they will both retire from italy once euro 08 ends or fail to qualify.

    heres cannavaro's quote about the next generation of italian defenders "I'm a big fan of Andrea Barzagli, who's playing really well for Palermo at the moment"

    which means to me "there isn't nothing much right now"
     
  8. Berean Todd

    Berean Todd New Member

    Jan 25, 2006
    Houston
    Club:
    Tottenham Hotspur FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Barzagli, Andreoli, Criscito, and Bovo are just a few young and very competent and growing talents in the CB position. Of course out wide we have the Chielini, Zacardo (maybe), Rosi, Pasqual and others. I don't think we have a problem, at least not as bad as some others think. My concern is more just giving the young kids time to grow in the NT shirts. Although I appreciate Matrix's performance in the last WC, I am still really upset because I thought that Barzagli should have been getting that playing time.
     
  9. Regency

    Regency Member

    Apr 28, 2004
    Toronto
    I think there is a shift from great defenders to great attacking players which could in essence hide their "supposed" weakness in the back in the future.
     
  10. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006
    Barzagli is a more than capable replacement to either one of NEsta, Cannavaro, or Matrix. As far as who his potential partner could be, we currently have names such as Bonera, CHiellini, and Zaccardo to choose from. Sure, these guys probably aren't at the level that NEsta and Cannavaro are at, but that doesn't mean that these guys aren't talented defenders nonetheless! I am confident that there is NO CRISIS as far as our defending goes, and it will only get stronger once guys like Criscito, Motta, and Andreolli make their mark.
     
  11. Canadian Azzurri

    Nov 14, 2006
    Canada
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Exactly. These guys are more than CAPABLE. People seem to be getting worried because the next Nesta or Cannavaro hasn't come along yet. We were very lucky to have one player of that class, let alone two at the same time. These players mentioned are very, very good players. Just because they aren't phenoms doesn't mean they won't be completely suitable for the Azzurri.

    Speaking of phenoms, here's Italy's next superstar defender:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXpPD3FpxIg

    :D
     
  12. cooca

    cooca New Member

    Jul 15, 2006
    Consider Nesta and Cannavaro were already coined as world's best defenders in their early 20s, Bazagli is kinda late boomer to me. He's one decent, reliable defender of course, but he needs to step up his games in the international level instead of still "having the potential" at this age. The upcoming games are the real test for Bazagli to prove that he is the real deal to carry Italy in the Euro08 and the WC2010.

    Anyway, we were spoiled by having two world's greatest defenders in our backline for more than 10 years, so what do you guys think will be the one to partner with Bazagli to form another great centreback partnership in the national team, say for WC2010? (Assuming Nesta won't come back after Canna and Matrix retire...)
     
  13. ArtemioD

    ArtemioD Member+

    Jun 2, 2006
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    My take on all this is if Italy fail to qualify there will major changes along the backline starting with Cannavaro who will retire. Not sure about Barzagli. He had good games against Australia went he came on for Materazzi and Ukraine but has not been good since. The fact that Italy have 2 losses and a tie in those games that he played leaves me totally concerned about this game. And at 27 like some of you said he is a little too old to be the next one. As far the new guys Criscito is clearly at the top of the list. At 20 he starts for Juventus one of the top 5 clubs in the world. This is an accomplishment since Juve rarely ever start a player this young. He will be paired on the left side with Chiellini whom most of you seem to like alot more than I do so the left side looks like it will be set for the next 10 years. Andreolli the jury is still out on him. Awhile back he was thought to be the next great CB but his lack of playing time last year for Inter and how he played in the U-21 has put him a step backwards. Now with Roma he does not start and probably will not play much this year unless Juan or Mexes get hurt. Like Reazzurro says I do not think it is time to panic as the French have problems too but these two games will decide what happens with the squad. Fail and the coach will be gone and so could half the team. Deliver and these guys will get one more chance but that is it. The team must be retooled for the 2010 WC.
     
  14. Cassano

    Cassano Member

    Jul 16, 2004
    Club:
    AC Milan
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    I like Criscito but I agree with Capello when he said that he likes him better on the left because he isn't the biggest presence physically. I actually think Chiellini and Criscito should switch positions. Chiellini is big and tall and can fit well in the center, as we saw in the U21 tournament, and Criscito is an excellent left-back, as we saw with Genoa last season.
     
  15. ArtemioD

    ArtemioD Member+

    Jun 2, 2006
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Cassano I agree. Maybe eventually somebody will realize this.
     
  16. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006
    Once again you don't seem to realize that the criteria to be selected for NT duty is a lot greater than having started one or two games for Juventus! I don't care if he's starting for Juve, Milan, Real or Man u! Fact remains that at 20 years old the kid has yet to do anything significant to suggest that he deserves a call up just yet! Is he very talented? Yes he is! Is he destined to crack the Azzurri line up one day? Yes he is! But has he done anything to deserve being called up right now? HELL NO! Perhaps if he dazzles us by the end of the first half of the season then I'll start singing a different tune. But a couple of starts with Juve just doesn't cut it for me when talking about a 20 year old playing for the defending world champs.

    Secondly, Barzagli is 26, not 27 years old, and he has been a regular call up for the Azzurri for almost 3 years now! You are focusing on a couple of mediocre performances he might have had in qualifiers or friendlies, yet in the matches that mattered the most such as world cup matches he was awesome and was every bit deserving to be on that squad! This is also why he has been the undisputed starting centerback for Palermo for years and is now also their captain. He may not be a Cannavaro or a Nesta, but he has done more to prove his worth than Criscito has that's for sure.
     
  17. ArtemioD

    ArtemioD Member+

    Jun 2, 2006
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    How about an 18 year old playing the WC final with hardly any experience. Remember that? Because I do
     
  18. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006
    point being?
     
  19. ArtemioD

    ArtemioD Member+

    Jun 2, 2006
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    If you are good enough to deliver age and experience do not mean a thing.
     
  20. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006
    And just how often do these kinds of young prodigies come around? Hate to burst your bubble but Criscito just doesn't fall into the same category as guys like Baggio, ROnadlo (both of them), Nesta, Maldini, or Roberto Carlos. He's a talented player as I've said before, but is he of the same calibre as these afformentioned players? Not yet he isn't.
     
  21. ArtemioD

    ArtemioD Member+

    Jun 2, 2006
    Club:
    Juventus FC
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    Fair enough. Let's see what he can do this year. If he is a good as I think he is then he should have no problem at all cracking the squad.
     
  22. gumbacicc

    gumbacicc Member+

    Dec 7, 2004
    USA
    I think the so called "crisis" has been magnified of late due to the critical match involving France. It would have been nice to have someone of Nesta or Materazzi's calibre to partner Cannavaro for that crucial match; unfortunately, it wont happen. Therefore, the "crisis" gets magnified.

    Setting aside the predicament for the France match, I like many others here would agree that the situation has been exaggerated a bit. We have many young talents that could step in that role and do well. That said, I think we have always been spoiled by the great central defenders Italy have always had. Of course, someone always seems to step in and do well. For example, which one of you actually thought Materazzi would be able to fill in for Nesta the way he did at the World Cup?
     
  23. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006
    If anything it will be the perfect opportunity for a younger up and coming center back to show what he can do against a strong team like France. Say for example Cannavaro's replacement happens to be someone like Bonera or Chiellini and either of those two happen to have a very strong performance then that's all they would need to gain Donadoni's confidence for the rest of the qualifying campaign!

    Personally I'm not worried. I think that whoever Don calls up and starts, he will handle the role well and put on a good show.
     
  24. Forzaabruzzo

    Forzaabruzzo Member+

    Apr 19, 2006
    Oh and guys, remember that France's backline has taken a beating with injuries as well with Thurham, Gallas, and Escude all out with injury! We may have it rough with Matrix and Cannavaro being out, but their situation isn't much better either.
     
  25. rizzuto123

    rizzuto123 Member

    May 3, 2006
    Club:
    AS Roma
    Nat'l Team:
    Italy
    not to mention vieria and makele don't have "it" anymore, two players who have been a pain in opposing sides for years
     

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