Quality wise, they could. I'm worried by some of the shirt-pulling that goes on. It's the type of thing a ref can just call if he wants to screw us. Well we have a free hit against Ireland next game. Hoping they use that to trial a more offensive plan. I'd hate to see us go down a goal in a game and then look clueless trying to get it back.
I saw Parolo score on my beloved Milan at the San Siro in March. I always regarded him as a useful and industrious player. Hence No Parolo No Party
Giorgio pulled his foot on the throw, he is very lucky that he did not get called on that and we are even more lucky. We should consider that this does not go unnoticed by the tourney heads and the rest of the federations will be silently complaining about it. We could see #3 being watched a lot more harshly by refs moving foward and for all his positives he brings to the field, he does not exactly excel at discretion. I dunno if he is over tired, over worked, or struggling with injury, but his game has been off for at least a year now.
That was typical Italy yesterday. I think this team will go far in this tourney My only complaint is they have to create more scoring chances. would love to see Isigne, and El Sharaway against Ireland. and hgpefully Conte can put Florenzi in his proper position.
What is this mystical level of brilliant calcio we are waiting for? This isn't 1970 or 82 where international teams allow you to look pretty and give time and space on the ball. All these games are grinding affairs. Even Spain in its prime won squeezing out 1-0 victories after 1000 boring passes. Right now, the Azzurri would storm the beaches of Normandy for Conte. They have that look. That is beautiful and that is what we want to see. I agree the quality in the final third is lacking. I'm also concerned about it. Pelle was a ghost yesterday. Candreva made about 4 dangerous crosses to the near post and Pelle never made the proper runs to get them. Eder and Giac were indeed nothing more than workhorses for most of the game. There is no denying that. Parolo is a hard worker but he will never open up a clogging defense with his passing. All is not lost though. There is a lot of firepower on the bench. Yes, I wish we had a Gabbiadini or Verratti type in there, but there are 3 top quality seconde punte just sitting there waiting to be used. Conte was pretty clear in his post game presser that this win affords him the luxury of playing the other guys. Insigne, SES, and Bern could go out and beat Ireland 3-0 though and Conte will still go back to Giac, Pelle, and Eder for the Round of 16. At the end of the day, that is fine, because at least we will have some confident players coming off the bench when we need them.
If all of that is true, then that's very keen observation by you. But if Eder didn't score that late goal, would Conte have been happy with the tie?
Exactly. And the Belgium 3-0 Ireland game showed the value of our defense. Ireland's defense was porous and they didn't have the necessary second-man coverage that we do, and couldn't occupy the defensive lanes as we do, so they paid the price that we didn't pay. In America there is this saying: "offenses win games but defenses win championships." I'm encouraged by the excellence of this defense, and with Italy having secured the first place in the group, Conte will certainly be experimentation for more creativity up front in the final group match which means nothing for us and is a glorified training section. To be in this position in a group that has Belgium and Sweden is enviable and while we are all aware of the shortcomings, this team is clearly over-performing and may very well go deep. Forza Azzurri!
He likely would not have been happy. It was obvious Conte was intent on sneaking in a goal and taking very little risks. And think about it, why risk? Sweden was more desperate for the win and Conte knew they'd try to attack. So best tactic? Let them take the game to us, a style they aren't potent at, and absorb that and look for those handful of chances. If Pelle made his run ins and/or Candreva's touch was more precise, a goal was inevitable. Reading some of the comments here made me laugh. Everyone was wondering why we didnt attack. But why attack and risk conceding a goal? Our talent doesnt necessarily suit that anyways. I will say this though - despite the brilliance of his tactics - Conte should employ Insigne, El Shaarawy and Bernardeschi. I feel all 3 can add some creativity in that final third. But a part of me feels Conte is keeping them in his back pocket for the Knockouts.
Ireland 1 - 1 Sweden Ireland 0 - 3 Belgium If Italy had allowed Belgium the same amount of space they allowed Sweden they would have lost. And here's an early prediction for you. Belgium beats Spain b/c Spain will leave acres of space for B to run into.
You can't simultaneously say Conte's tactics are brilliant and also want him to change 3 of his players up front. Don't change a winning formula, tweak it.
Belgium can't play spain the best Belgium get now is runner up of our group E runner up group E plays winner of group F winner of group E ( Italy ) plays the runner up of group D ( Spain Croatia or Czech )
Haha conte looks like a weird ******** in that suit. A twisted character from the burbs/Adams family perhaps haha.
Well beat Ireland second strong or not. Insigne and El Sha would start you'd think. He's definitely saving them for later and that's a good thing. Don't give away too much when you don't have to. This has that euro 2000 feel to it where we beat Belgium 2-0, Sweden with an 88th minute winner and we won all three group games. Even how we played Belgium in a November friendly and lost 3-1. How three of these things have happened in exact fashion is crazy. Going back to euro 2000 pre friendly we also played Spain in March as we did this year. This is freaky. Were going to play the final vs france and lose again!
I dont want him to insert all three players at the same time. I just want to see them featured at some point. I do get the impression that Conte is keeping them on the bench until if or when we are down a goal. He's got one substition used up with DeRossi-Motta. Then he's got one for one of the attackers. I can see Insigne over Eder. I can see Bernardeschi anywhere in the midfield. And personally, not only do I see Stephen on the LW, I can see him partnering one of the attackers upfront - though I doubt Conte sees it that way.