Here is Mancini's Squad: Italy squad to face Ukraine and Poland: Alessio Cragno (Cagliari), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Mattia Perin (Juventus), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino); Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Cristiano Biraghi (Fiorentina), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Domenico Criscito (Genoa), Danilo D’Ambrosio (Inter), Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Alessio Romagnoli (Milan); Nicolo Barella (Cagliari), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Giacomo Bonaventura (Milan), Roberto Gagliardini (Inter), Jorginho (Chelsea), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain); Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Gianluca Caprari (Sampdoria), Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina), Patrick Cutrone (Milan), Sebastian Giovinco (Toronto FC), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Simone Zaza (Torino) Belotti is dropped. Not sure why, I guess he just had a slow start. Balotelli is deservedly dropped. It might be a blessing in disguise that Rugani and Caldara are injured. I mean I do feel both of those defenders will get better and have great potential, However we have a huge new project to build with a new team, and I really don't think inexperienced players like Rugani and Caldara are ready for this yet, especially the state that the whole national team is in. Here is what I hope to see with this squad: -Chiesa-Immobile-Bernardeschi- -Bonaventura-Jorgino-Verratti-Florenzi- -Chiellini-Bonucci-Romagnoli- -Donnarumma- I do not see Cristante anywhere. I wonder why not. Jorginho I'm willing to give another chance. So far I have not been too impressed with him, but let's see how he does with Verratti back. I also think we need to try Cutrone as striker as well.
Giovinco called up to the NT again!!!! I was vacationing in Central America and this was headline news. It was on the Fox Sports and ESPN (Mexican affiliates) sports tickers all day.
We all know the level of MLS. But the Atomic Ant dominates it. Hopefully he sees some minutes these two games.
Yeah I think that level of the league moniker is overrated and overplayed. I was watching Geona lose to Parma 1-3 at home this morning and just 2 years ago they were militating in the Serie D or the 4th division. Depending on what happens today, Parma is now in 7th place in Serie A. You play with and against better players and you raise your level of play. That has been going on for as long as I remember.
Woukd like to see Insigne in a SS role behind Immobile/Cutrone. Mancini has really remade Insigne into a world class forward rather than a tricky winger. 4411 ———————Immobile ———————-Insigne Bonaventura—Barrella-Verratti-Bernar.. Criscito——-Chielini—Bonnucci—-Florenzi ————————Gigio That basically mimics Ancelottis 442 with one winger and three CMs Cutrone Chiesa Jorginho off the bench Besides the LB position this is very strong
IAF/MeanMachine/Toronto Calabria/etc/etc Just messing with you bro... ( or Bros ) depending on how your mind sees it
No Cutrone, Immobile, Zaza, Belotti, Balotelli. Mancini called up Lasagna now this is very concerning. Might a well start bernadeschi as forward. He also wants to call up Allan from Napoli, I say he goes for it, With Allan, Veratti, Joringinho and Barella thats a decent midfield
Bernardeschi false 9 predicted With Chiesa and Insigne Barella Jorginho Verratti midfield 3 Very excited for the midfield, false 9 is not a long term plan I would think
If it were up to me, I'd play: ------- Insigne Bernardeschi Chiesa Barella Pellegrini Verratti Florenzi --- Chiellini Bonucci Romagnoli --------Donnarumma------------- That is a dynamic team with a ton of skill and a lot of interchangeable parts. All those midfielders can attack but they also can play good defense. No slow footed Jorginho out there to cripple the midfield.
So it's really just Berna as no 10 in a 4-3-1-2? oh man its like my dream line-up let's see if it works now.
Yeah he’s playing the 11 most talented players without a doubt. Not sure if everyone can do their job but there is a lot of quality on the field. I see Immobile and Cutrone as the only number 9s for this group. Midfield is the best it’s been since 2012/14.