As much as we love these tournaments, it's hard to read much into a player's quality judging their performances in these tournaments. Their club form is the better indicator by far.
Portugal the way better team against Belgium, but thats football. This will work in Italy’s favour, especially with potential injuries to KDB and Hazard.
We’ve heard since day 1 that we haven’t played anyone yet. It’s finally time for Italy to play all our cards.
What changes would you make from Austria? I dont fear Belgium. The Azzurri always play to their opponents so I'm expecting a focused side.
Chiesa & Locatelli in. Berardi & Verratti out. Keep Berardi as a winger option and throw Verratti into the game if we are leading to slow the game down and draw fouls. A big question mark for me is in defence. They say that Chiellini is being saved for this exact match. I don’t know how wise it’d be to insert him now and have him go head to head with Big Rom. But these guys know better than me Looks like they might be without KDB and Hazard which will be a boost.
Locatelli for Verratti, that's it. Insigne is fundamental and if Chiesa starts over Berardi I wouldn't be to disappointed.
I agree, this might be a good game to start with Locatelli and Chiesa. Maybe use Verratti as a sub later and possibly Berardi as well. I think we need to put Chiellini back. Many people I think are overreacting to age, but in a game like this, I feel that experience is the way to go. We can always use a sub if it's not working so well or they look slow. Let's face it Barzagli did absolutely amazing in Euro 2016 and he was definitely aging.
Verratti and Barella can start again; the holdup with a small midfield in the Austria game was a size and physical difference that made it gruesome to watch - however, by contrast, Belgium doesn't have the same level of physicality in midfield at all. Don't need to start Locatelli in this one. Marco is the superior player by far after all.
Some crazy rumors out there that Verratti, Barella, Immobile, and Berardi will all sit for Locatelli, Pessina, Belotti, and Chiesa.
This is why Mancini is the man not afraid to change what he sees. Belotti might be just what the Belgium defence dont want to face. He will bully them.
I was listening to Italian radio this morning and and they were also suggesting that Chiesa might still be more useful coming off the bench vs. a tired Belgian defence. Which might be true but I would start him
Are you allowed to start a player, sub him off, and then bring him back on again later? I wonder if we could do that with Chiesa. Probably won't happen, but is that even allowed?
Really? I just don't remember ever seeing a player starting, coming off, and then coming back on again in the same game.