Rebuilding The Azzurri for Euro 2024 and beyond

If Italy doesn't qualify out of this group, they don't deserve to go to the tournament.

I don't believe that will be the case though.

 

They have no style. They look silly playing those games. The English should just go back to pretending they have talent and are honest. That way it's more entertaining when they eventually lose.

 

Insigne made the difference?

 

Scalvini, bastoni and romagnoli.

Good enough better than toloi and acerbi.

 

Who is saying this and how would they know?

 

Ok but is Politano talking about Italian or foreign players?

I don't know Retegui and we can't judge him after just one game but I don't think there are that many good Italian attacking forwards or midfielder's around.

Another reason why Mancini (or Totti) went to Argentina to find him.

 

Politano is saying that while he rates Retegui, in Italy there are Italian strikers as good.

I don't think he's wrong because we have seen this to be true, as of right now. Maybe Retegui developes quicker and has a higher ceiling. Whatever it may be, time will tell.

I think the worry is that he's calling Retegui out as someone who doesn't belong.

 

I'm 38 years old which likely makes me among some of the more senior members on the boards and so I feel a bit sorry for the younger Italian fans who are growing up with this garbage.

My generation was spoiled for world-class centre-forwards and defenders who just knew how to win big games and perform in critical moments.

What we have today are a bunch of primadonnas i.e Instagram lifestyle-first athletes who are mostly talentless with no natural leaders among them.

 

I'm 38 as well and I completely agree. Seeing what our team used to be vs now is depressing which is one of the reasons why I'm so critical. I'm simply not used to this mediocracy, things really started going downhill after the 08 Euro. The other annoying part is that obviously the huge world renown names aren't there but we still have the ability to win with the crop of players that we have (this includes players that were left behind).

I don't hate Mancini I just think it's time and should be the norm to move on to a different coach after a couple of tournaments.

 

I got you beat.

Just looking at the World Cup teams in the 1990’s or the Euro 2000 roster for example, there were phenomenal players compared to what is available today.

 

From my perspective, it did look like Di Lorenzo had some contact and got tied up or turned around with Kane. The ball then struck his arm when he was a making a movement to find some leverage or room the regain balance. I honestly thought a foul call there against Kane could be justified, but I have seen these scenarios also called a handball fouls. I really think this is an unlucky play in general, but credit to Pengland for their stupid corner kick chaos tactic.

 

Mancini's contribution to the EURO win was incredible. Near flawless build-up and developing a talent pool at depths we had not seen since 2006 and prior.

The most important contribution Mancini, as a Manager, could have given to the federation after the world cup failure would have been self-awareness and accountability. Both of these would have allowed Italia to move forward and recover and I would forever be grateful to Mancini for both his achievements, and subsequent humility and accountability.

Instead we are left with his arrogance, excuses, and zero accountability. We are getting what is deserved. And Euro qualification is nowhere near guaranteed as a result. And nor should it be after his shameless actions as a manager after the failure to win the group qualification.

 

Doesn't Italy have old school classic DT's that can teach italian defending with a modern update? Italy needs a game plan. There's no excuse to not have solid defense, even a bare minimum country like Saudi Arabia and Morocco can do defense. Italy should be the masters of this, with teaching, philosophy alone making an averge player part of a rock solid defensive core.

If Mancini was smart he'd fix his defence first and then work from there on out. Instead of worrying about everything all at once.

The midfield he can fix progressively, but the defense should have been ready to go day 1.

 

It's not the CT's who need to teach how to defend

If national teams play 5-7 games a year with different lineups each time, there isn't enough time to teach anyone how they should play.

By the time players get to the national team, they should already know how to defend and attack.

If you don't have the player’s available, there isn't much a CT can do.

 

I agree, but also I fancy his chances with a national team. I think the issue much of the time is he overworks his players and has teams competing with intensity for both leagues and champions league. However with the national team, it’s all about making the world cups and Euro cups and winning them. Not competing for other things as well, so his intensity works well with the national teams.

 

The Conte situation is interesting. I am not exactly fond of his style, but the talent pool at the time of his first tenure was borderline awful and he pulled a EURO quarterfinal run out of pure will power and work rate. the players tried to die for him despite lacking substantial talent. it's interesting to think about his selections if he were choosing from the talent pool today.

This is a commentary on the thought of Conte coming back, not an opinion that he would be the best option.

 

@indestructible - De Zerbi is a popular candidate (valid reasoning). Obviously Ancelotti would be popular. What is your response if Spalletti would ultimately emerge as an option for CT?

 

I’d love Spaletti as well. Although I don’t think he’d abandon Napoli at this rate.

I also think Esubio Di Francesco and Gan Piero Gasperini are good options!