Rebuilding The Azzurri for Euro 2024 and beyond

totally agree... Pinamonti has shown some positive growth this season for sure. Between him, Scamacca, Raspadori (who scored again today vs Juve), etc i think we can all admit Immobile needs to never wear the Azzurri blue again.

 

Both Gilardino and Iaquinta are poor examples of players that are so called better than the current crew. We don't need to speak about mediocre players at best. We need to talk about those who would be able to walk into any national team in the world. That's the kind of player we need to be creating.

 

Yeah Gilardino never took the leap as a multi year starter on a Champions league level team. That's what Italy is missing right now. Guys like Totti, DelP, Vieri, could have played on any team in the world Even a prime Luca Toni tore up Germany his few years at Bayern. Italy has no one close to that level in the attacking pieces. I guess the closest would be Chiesa and Berardi but to me Beradi needs to take the leap to a Champions league team (hopefully Milan) and play major minutes. Even then he is already in his prime years and only has maybe another world cup cycle left as a guy who relies on pace as a major part of his game. None of the stikers are champions league worthy at this time though. Lots of hopefuls with Raspadori Scamacca and Pinamonti but none at a major club.

 

If Milan will continue to give Berardi the same time then great. There's no guarantee they will. I've seen it before. Right now those three are performing well at Sassuolo with Berardi featuring in on 26 goals this season. In that regard, I think it's better that they play at clubs that will give them as much playing time as they can get rather than join a big club and potentially be ruined by a coach that needs to play his spanish or brazilian counterparts so they can attract big club money! Let them be late bloomers like a Luca Toni for all I care, speaking of Scamacca and Raspadori here because we already see that Berardi has reached the peak of his ability and should literally just be getting as much action as he can right now. Playing time over big club for me. If both happen, then even better. It's the same reason why someone like Tammy Abraham came to Roma rather than stay in the EPL with Chelsea if they were even to keep him at all and that was to get more consistent playing time. I see no difference in him starting games for Roma and Scamacca/Raspadori starting games for Sassuolo. They're playing in the same environment and getting the same results.

 

Let's not get hung up on Gilardino. My point stands. Our backup striker depth used to be phenomenal...to the point they could start on most major international teams. Remember how good Beppe Signori and Mancini were? Backups at the National team level.

Our starting strikers now other than Chiesa are not worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as our backups of long ago. When guys like Montella, Chiesa, Zola, etc sat on the bench...you know how good that depth was. Until we properly invest in our youth programs and stop the dependence on cheap mediocre foreign talent, we are going to have problems.

 

Just looking back at Italy's 2004 Euro roster gives me chills.

 

Speaking of Gilardino... as a 21 yr old had 23 goals for Parma in 2003-04 and was left off the Euro 2004 team.

 

Yeah that was on Trap!

He left Baggio out of the 2002 WC and Gila off of Euro 2004. What an idiot!

 

Only

only thing that could have stopped that roster was a fix. Oh...yeah...well point proven I guess.

I also maintain Cassano saw the game of football differently than any other Italian footballer. Yes he was absolutely a nutcase and not dedicated to the craft, by my God the football brain he had was genius. The contributions he made to the jersey in 2004 and 2012 should not be forgotten. And Lippi being so gd stubborn to not include him or Rossi together in 2010. We go to South Africa with Cassano at his peak, Rossi, Quags, and Di Natale...my goodness the forecast shifts dangerously in favor of Italia. And with a healthy Pirlo and Buffon who doesn't have a broken back. One of the best things Prandelli did in his first three years was put his complete trust in Cassano.

Now all I can think about is how awful Lippi botched the 2010 roster haha. Atrocious at best.

 

That 2002 team was honestly really good, almost a great roster. And constantly getting screwed each game, they were warriors. Tomassi was immense. One of the greatest Italian midfield performances that is buried by the blatantly corrupt officiating.

 

Sacchi!

 

Trappatoni's tactics in 2004 were too cautious. Totti was playing long balls all game to Vieri against Denmark. The tie-breaker UEFA created was a disaster, but Trap's tactics were all wrong.

 

What I would do for a Di Vaio today … Super undervalued during his day, in part, because of the level of talent that was possessed by his fellow attacking colleagues at the time. Today, he would be the #1 striker for Italy.

 

Pinamonti definitely needs to get called up and given a chance.

 

holy what a save. we're fortunate to have options on options for goalies.

impressive season for Scamacca. Wonder which Milan club he will end up at next year...

4 Italians in the top 10 in Serie A scoring:

Immobile 27 (1st)
Scamacca 16 (T4th)
Berardi 15 (T6th)
Pinamonti 13 (T10th)

(disclaimer: I purposely left out a certain Cagliari striker who should revert back to being Brazilian IMO)

 

Scamacca better behave next weekend.

 

Sad to see Chiellini play his last game for Juve.

I know the game has changed but either way, I don't think there are any defenders left like Chiellini or Bonucci.

I'm trying to think but I can't really name anyone who currently plays in the Serie A that plays at their level.

Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Davide Calabria and Alessio Romagnoli are ok but I don't think they are as good as those two were.

 

there's only one King Kong.. so its hard to play up to his level.

As for Bonucci... i can think of a few off the top of my head.. maybe a few more later:

Bastoni, Bremer, Skriniar, Koulibaly

 

I meant Italian players.

Bastoni is good and is still young but I think he has a long way to go to prove he is as good as Bonucci.

 

Has anyone else heard rumblings about Simone Pafundi at Udinese? 16 year old that has been training with the first team under Cioffi. Since he was 8 years old, he has always played against players that are older than him and impressed. Apparently he is one to look out for. Technically gifted attacking player that is capable of beating his man one on one. Can play as a second striker, trequartista, or as a modern winger. If he impresses over the summer, he could get a steady run out with Udinese next season as a 16-17 year old.

 

If true he would boost the number of Italians on their team by 33%!

 

LOL

I shouldn't be laughing but damn...