Building an Azzurri squad for 2022

I think dropping Insigne and playing either Pellegrini (has same amount of goals as Balo in a tougher league and playing as a mid) or Zaniolo with Chiesa and Berardi is the way to go. Immobile off the bench. Hopefully we are healthy in March and injuries won’t be a factor.

Balotelli has 5 goals in 12 games playing in Turkey lol. And the best part is that three are penalties.

Pellegrini-Chiesa-Berardi
Verratti-Jorginho-Barella
Spinna-Bonucci-Chiellini-Calabria

 

Immobile scores a lot for Lazio and not often enough for the Azzurra.

 

Agreed except that I think that despite his youth, Tonali is better than Barella.

 

Super Mario!!!!

 

An interesting idea, but why would sticking with the false 9 formation - albeit with slightly different players - work in a more difficult game when it failed against Northern Ireland?

 

Because if we don't find a striker that's worth a damn a false 9 is all we got.

 

You have to put the best players out there, and we simply don’t have a CF who’s getting it done. Pellegrini has had a great year so far. He’s also 25, so can definitely get even better. He’s also played on the left of a front three for Mancini before. Like Immobile, I think Insigne would be better off the bench to create some magic. Hopefully Zaniolo sheds more of the rust and we see the pre injury form in 2022 because he is the most talented guy after Chiesa.

 

What the heck was the point of calling up Belotti and playing him those 2 games, he's been struggling with injuries this whole season and isn't inform. Mancini should have called up Destro, he has 6 goals in 8 games this season. Why does he feel he has to be loyal to the Euro 2020 squad? Berna over Politano is another one?

 

The fact that anyone is entertaining a Balotelli return to the NT shows just how dire the situation is in attack.

 

Correct!

Another reason why Mancini even picked Quagliarella.

After Immobile, there is Mattia Destro Domenico Berardi and Domenico Criscito.

None of them are national team quality.

Italy has virtually no forwards to choose from.

 

Must not forget that the Centre Forward position is the probably the hardest position to develop. Most nations have 1 or 2 really reliable strikers, after that its a crapshoot. At least for Italy there is a bunch of 19 to 21 year old's who could look promising.

 

Italy doesn’t h have many wingers or playmakers to speak of either!

Chiesa is ok but no one else is worth their weight in gold.

There are no #9’s or #10’s!

 

Yep, it's worth the risk IMO.

 

This has been going on for a while though.

Four years ago, right after Italy was elimnated from WC 2018 the Rome derby with Roma vs. Lazio on November 18, 2017 only featured 3 Italian players!

Look at all of the foreigners!

How can Italy qualify for a World Cup when there are no Italian players in Serie A?

 

you missed 2 italians.. El Shaarawy and Immobile. but its true. need more italians featuring. We always do well in the youth tournaments. so theres talent. The gap is that Serie A teams don't "trust" our youngsters and thus take longer / never pan out. Even Verratti probably wouldn't have started for a few years had he chosen Serie A instead of PSG.

 

Ok so 5 out of 22 starters. Two overaged (DeRossi and Parolo) and one crap player in El Shaarawy.

Still pretty bad.

 

Mancini has also been guilty of this too. Look at one of his squads when he was Inter coach.. no italians in sight. There's no way you couldn't find Italians better than Jovetic or Murillo or Biabiany.

 

mario is the answer!

 

At this point I believe it's at least worth considering ( note I said considering ) using Balo , given his technical ability in the center forward role that I haven't really seen matched since as a pure finisher with a great first touch , good aerial ability with good heading placement , good at holding up play deep in the other teams end and in the penalty area , good free kicking ability and fantastic penalty taker who can also of course draw fouls well . He may not play on the best teams anymore and I'm sure , as Falvo may or may not agree , that his ability didn't just evaporate due to that . While also considering that many National teams can achieve alot with a combination of lesser known players of lesser ability , so Balo at this point should be no exception to the rule. Clearly it can be said that his play , back then and now , wasn't consistent with that ability. And his attitude left alot to be rectified at times along with pissing off squad members which messes with the chemistry. However that was a long time ago when he was much younger. I have to admit I haven't followed his attitude and level of play reports with his teams as of late and haven't watched much of his play with those teams , but if he does indeed still possess much of the same form , raw talent and ability it's worth considering bringing him into the fold . Especially if we are still dealing with alot of holes and question marks by that time of the semis. More especially of we draw a team from Pot B that will present more problems for us with those holes and question marks still there .

Don't like to be an apologist - at all , especially for Balo of all people , but he might take a different approach and attitude if called up to gli azzurri at this point of his aging career and be a more humble composed player who would be more grateful for the chance to be there again as to not make another mockery and circus of himself. I wonder , would he pair with Chiesa well should they both be in form firing on all cylinders ?

It may be perhaps worth a shot - but the last shot.

What matches will we play before the WC semi playoff that he could be used in prior as a way of testing?

Note - Prior To this post I was staunchly against bringing Balotelli back when anyone mentioned it. Due in large part to our not so distant history with him and the circumstances during the current time to factor as well . And I have to admit I am still more so leaning toward no. But if there is anyway to test him prior to our important matches , then it may be worth trying that first and then go from there. Especially if we are still lacking neccessary ingredients.

But if we do that , then one could also argue we should bring Quags too given his play.

No easy clear cut answer when things are missing and not dependable. No easy fixes .

 

@Pietro Calcio very well said.

 

I know it most likely won't happen but that is what the FIGC and Serie A should do at this point is allow their national team players to train together at Coverciano or wherever during the week, play midweek exhibitions or scrimmages and have them have go back to their clubs for league or European matches.
This way they could work on tactics, cohesion and lineups.

The current old method of breaking away for one or two weeks clearly hasn't worked in the last 2 WCQ cycles so if making the WC is important, why not?

 

Just heard on Rai this morning that Mancini is looking to pick Cagliari's captain, João Pedro born March 9th 1992.......

 

You always take 2 legs over 1 if you are the more talented team.

Too many things can happen in 1 game. And that final game is determined by a draw. What if it's Portugal away?

This new format isn't good at all.

 

We would have said the same against Sweden four years back. The lack of firepower we have will be an issue for us, whether in a one off fixture or two legs.