Senior Team Discussion

Well, we all knew it. We were expecting a miracle. It didn’t happen. Let’s qualify through playoffs. It’s time to kill away this burden!

 

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estonia has a better chance brining a draw than israel

 

Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bastoni, Calafiori, Dimarco; Orsolini, Barella, Tonali, Raspadori; Kean, Retegui

 

Looks like 4-4-2 with Raspadori as a false winger. Really a 4-2-4.

I don’t think Gattuso should be fielding this offensive line up right now. The goal tally means nothing. We should be working on cementing a real formation for the future. We wouldn’t take on a big team with this system.

 

Had zero expectations for today. Let's take care of our own business.

Looks like Orso gets the start today. Need something from him today in the shirt.

Forza Azzurri.

 

I did. Just shows that Italy played sloppy and poor Defensively against Israel.

This really sucks.

 

5-0 Norway.

They've been nothing but dominant in this group. More than deserved.

The bright spot is it harms Israel's GD compared to Italy for 2nd Place. Estonia can set up a low block and get a Draw out of Norway, which is actually preferred from an Italy POV.

Who are we kidding? Norway's got 1st Place.

 

Norway is very good there are a bunch of national teams ranked in the top 15 that aren't playing as well as they are against even lesser opposition. Norway have been growing for a few years but always struggled in qualifying but just our luck they have fully bloomed into their golden generation.

Yes we still should have found a way to get a draw in Norway but how well they are doing has little to do with us. It's just bad luck that they've really hit their stride as we were in transition.

 

Norway has been on a complete mission since the first whistle of the first game.

Felt like a pipe dream to expect much from Israel going against that attack, IMO.

Either way, our destiny is in our own hands, and we need to start building in the right direction to play a brand of football that works with this squad.

 

Yes. If there was ever a match to just don't lose it it was Italy in Norway last June.

But enter Spalletti and his buzzwords, hyperbole, "let's try and play like Spain" to set back the qualification. This pisses me off.

 

We will either score a mess of goals or be a disorganized mess and tie the game.

 

I don’t like how Kean fell there. Hope it’s nothing serious

 

Kean forgot how to run

 

Kean off. Have to assume it’s an ankle sprain judging by the way he’s moving

 

Quarter hour gone.

0-1, going well besides the injury to Kean. Let's see how Esposito does.

Navigate the Booking to Barella, smartly. Might want to score 2 more and then sub him off then start against Israel. If he gets Booked in that one he would miss the Moldova trip in November which isn't the worst thing to happen.

 

Wake the ******** up.

 

Estonia almost score on their first counter. We’re getting good possession but no good shots on target

 

Terrible PK by Retegui.

I remember this keeper now from the last game. He’s the reason we didn’t win 8-0

 

I absolutely hate stutter-step PK's. A recipe for disaster more often than not. Damn it, Retegui.

 

Orsolini should have taken it

 

Typical ********ing Italy making teams look better than they are. It will never change.

 

Nice pass by Orso to Retegui 2-0

 

Bravo Tano Retegui. 0-2. Nice short pass by Orsolini.

Right before the goal was scored I was going to write that Italy build up their attack from the left side a lot more than the right side, which is not surprising given Dimarco and Richy on the left while Di Lorenzo on the right. Could be a hindrance when another team scouts them.

 

Half.

Decent play. For the amount of possession we have, we should have had more shots on target. Estonia are terrible.

 

Israel is a much better team than Estonia. Tuesday's game is going to be a BIG game and now we have Kean injured while Israel lost a CB today.