Conte at least coached Italy in a tournament and even wanted to come back this time around. Carlo was twittling his thumbs at home for months free as a bird and told Italy to fly a kite in their time of need, yet jumps at Brazil when they come calling. Its not the same thing no matter how much you want to make it be. Stars never align. You either want something or you don't. Mancini had a contract with Zenit he got out of for the Italy job. Ancelotti was doing nothing, he was fired from Bayern. Ancelotti is more under contract now then he was then. You want to be happy for him? Good for you. Saying we should be happy for him? No way, that's going too far for me. I hope he loses every game.
Right, not 6. Groups of 4 and 5. Made even smaller by adding more Groups to ensure the top teams get in. Even further with a backdoor UNL spot. I've already agreed that UEFA leaves no room for error. About percentages that you brought up... consider that 25% of Croatia's qualifiers will be against Gibraltar, 33% of Germany's Qualifiers will be against Luxembourg. As an Italy fan, if his heart wasn't in it, I'm glad he declined.
I've got to come out and say Conte f'd us big time by choosing the day to day over a world cup experience. It stung. It was his right to do that, but it stung. In a lot of ways we still haven't recovered. In my opinion, he would have been just the same or better off having the world cup experience under his belt than screwing around with Chelsea, but hey he made bank and won both major english titles. I'd like the guy to have a little more loyalty...he gets the most out of his players that I've ever seen but his loyalty is that of a feral cat. The 2016 euro roster is so laughably bad and we came within an inch of dumping the World Champions with the likes of Sturaro and Zaza LOL and zero attacking creativity. Ok maybe not zero because Candreva had such an underrated Italia career, but still.
At no point did Conte ever say he wanted the job again NOW. He said he would be open to returning ONE DAY. Why? Because he’s not done with club management. The same reason Carlo didn’t accept Italy in 2017. It’s the exact same scenario. Conte also “Abandoned Italy in a time of need” mid tournament and the only CT to ever do so. You’re just not being consistent. And of course “stars have to align”. If you want a job but it isn’t available, wtf are you supposed to do? Walk into coverciano with a gun and force the federation to hire you? Capello never coached Italy for this exact reason. At the end of the day, it’s my belief that Carlo would take the job if it were open now. You disagree and thats fine. But calling him a traitor is over emotional and childish.
One off matches can be lost. Who cares. Brazil can lose 6X to Bolivia (they only play twice) or whoever and still qualify. That's a joke. Germany loses once to Slovakia its playoffs. France loses to Ukraine or Iceland its playoffs. COMMEBOL= joke There are weak teams in South America as well. Peru lost to Australia.
The job was available to Ancelotti for longer than any one else!!! How much do you want the stars to align LOL. Conte did not leave for another national team did he? I don't particularly like the way he left but he still coached them. I never brought up Conte anyway you did. I can be childish so what? Better than being two faced like Carletto.
How long has Carlo been linked to the Brazil job.. it must be like a year or so that we've been hearing rumours. If he really wanted to coach Italia... he would have been in contact with the FIGC and there's no doubt Spalletti would have been sacked post Euro debacle if Carlo wanted it and was open. I think for me its maybe a little to do with the salary.. i think its more so that he's afraid of being the next coach to fail with the NT.
Well my Frosinone must play out for the right top stay in B. But wow Samp are a joke and a half. What a clown organization
South American qualifying has always been a joke. Massive margin for error. If FIFA really wanted a higher level World Cup, they would give UEFA more spots and take away from the other regions, including South America. Frankly, you could have an awesome WC of just UEFA plus Brazil and Argentina (maybe Uruguay too on their good years).
This is SPOT on. Don Carlo could have maneuvered his way into the CT role many times. He's just a coward and prefers easier paths to victory (or what he perceives as easier). The guy lives in fckin Vancouver. (No offense to our Canadian friends and I know his wife is from there, but really you couldn't find a nice spot in Italia for your millions?). He's a global mercenary.
When you have money life is great wherever you live (going back to the topic of the last few days). One of the biggest drawbacks of Vancouver is the prices of homes (probably the first city in North America to have this discrepancy). A problem he wouldn't have of course. IIRC his wife still runs her business from there. Have vacationed there a couple of times. Stay away from the east side and it's a dream. FWIW, a few years ago he was asked if he would manage Canada for 2026 and he said he would. Probably just being nice to the person who asked him, lol. Make of that what you will.
As for Italy, it's on Spalletti to get it right. They have no choice. I'd like Raffaele Palladino to continue on as he is and get himself in the CT job. IMO, the days of older Managers taking on the CT jobs should be a thing of the past.
Sounds boring, who wants to see more low end euro countries and make it feel like euro tournament. South American qualifiers when it was top 4 it was always tough.
No kidding. Didn't Argentina have to go to a Playoff versus Australia for 1994? I seem.to recall last World Cup cycle Italy needing a Result in Belfast to avoid the Playoff and shitting the bed, 0-0 in a stadium that isn't the least bit intimidating. But think matches in some South American locales are easy? France'98 a Draw versus Chile, 2010 a Draw versus Paraguay, 2014 a Loss versus Uruguay in neutral venues. OK, 2014 doesn't count because Luis Suarez is a ********. Also, it's not like Italy failed to qualify in 2022 because it was Portugal that kept them out, it was against North Macedonia. I do agree however it is less forgiving in UEFA.
Aerez--true..I forgot when it was top 4 it was tougher. Now though there is a lot of margin for error. To be fair to South America, it is the North American and Asian teams that water down the WC even more. There are some complete doormats that get it and make the first round silly at times.
Congrats Bologna. Congrats Italiano. Italian managers burn bright. Conte is Conte. Simone Inzaghi what a career so far regardless of CL result. Gasperini is Gasperini. Italiano. Palladino. Wish Pirlo could have worked in peace at Juve and Samp but both clubs had to interfere for some reason. Pirlo should have been given space to work at both clubs but the Juve and Samp went crazy. I cannot understand why Pirlo must always have been tampered with. Gila should have been left alone at Genoa too
I respect your Insight and your opinion. having said that, facts are facts. Italy has never beaten Croatia! Italy played Croatia 4 times. Croatia won once in 2002. Italy and Croatia tied in the other three games.
Oh sorry that's right. I knew I got that one wrong but forgot to go back and correct it. They are our perennial bogey team.
Yeah it's an obvious problem. It's something we see with finals in England as well at times but far more English players with play abroad or in the Scottish League etc etc. Far too many Italian players are reaching the age of 24/25 without much experience and you just become a Serie B journey man. The gap is too big. Milan are said to be looking at bringing in Italians and the thing is as much as it hurts the national team it hurts Milan too. You wont win as Milan with a team of mercenaries. You need that Italian spine. It's come to the point where any Italian that is a first team regular on a top 8 side is automatically in the mix for the national team.