Yes exactly. Fabregas spoke about this how he was discouraged from using under 16 players when he was coaching the primavera side that he wanted to sue to fill weak spots because in Italian football youre not supposed to skip grades so to speak. This creates a bottle neck where players are waiting in line too long and by the time they are 21/22 and still struggling for game time it's far too late. Mancini and DiBiagio had it going in the right direction in 2020 both were using a 433 and trying to train the players the same way but it's a fundamental issue. Juve Milan Inter Atalanta all having under 23 sides now helps. Fiorentina is investing. There are some good things but if we were serious we would have had our under 21 manager be second choice to Spaletti instead of going for a name.
Go look at the la liga lineups in every fixture. Almost all Spanish. Only handful of foreigners start each game. it needs to be said, it's time someone states the obvious....the US ownership in Italian clubs is killing Italia. US investors only see the cheap opportunity to invest in cash strapped clubs and then load on all cheap foreign talent. The US investors need to be eradicated. We were better off with cheap Italian owners who could only afford cheap Italians lol. At least more Italians were playing regularly. But then, it was at a time when less games were played...see below. This part is not a complaint, I am just listing what I observe. In addition, the Italians are severely suffering with handling the additional club and international games. We all know Italian fitness history. The increase in club and international games is killing the Italian players that do play, who are alreayd mentally weak and physically weak as it is. As, advancements in our fitness have not been made, but other nations have turned their players into horses. The fact is that England and France have armies of horses upon horses. One horse may go down, three horses are ready. When the initial horse recovers, you now have four horses, and the cycle repeats. We have fallen behind. Clubs with no cash go for the cheap non italian options. Those that play cannot sustain the modern schedule. To be fair, the modern schedule is complete a$$. And then the FIGC is flat out incompetent.
In short, it's one thing to lack quality, but it's a different thing altogether to lack effort and belief. This lot are the biggest bunch of losers I have ever seen wear the Italy jersey. To lose the match in this fashion was inexcusable, and you saw them lose belief shortly after they struggled to score the second goal. I think we all could have lived with a narrow Italy win or even a draw; but to lose by three goals at home because you lost belief and gave up is scandalous. I am convinced we cannot go anywhere (meaning we're luck to even qualify for the World Cup) with the losers on this squad. Yes, you have a world class keeper in Donnarumma, and some other quality here and there, but most of these guys have no business wearing that jersey. Beyond frustrated, to say the least.
Ecuador has been a much different team since we played them, they literally went 18 games in the South American quals and only allowed 5 goals. Yes, that is right. We let in 4 against Israel in one game, lol. They were 2nd place behind champions Argentina. Also when we played Ecuador before the Euros, we were actually playing good ball unlike now. I dont care about scores of friendly games, the South American quals is what matters so yes they are better than us. Turkey literally have Guler Hakan and Yildz, our right side would get destroyed and they could beat us on set pieces alone where they are elite and we are shit. Norway literally beat us 7-1 on aggregate, who cares what nonsense Gattuso is spewing. They are WAY better than us. Period. They destroyed us away, they destroyed us at home. You can say ifs all you want, they can say the same too. Those 3 teams I don't want any part of.
There is no short-term fix for talent but I do think it is scandalous that Gatusso has essentially been using majority of the Euro 2024 squad where these psychological issues surfaced and even went back to virtually the same system Spalletti used against Norway. DiLorenzo Cristante Scamacca Zacagni Politano Mancini should not be called again and not because they were at fault but because they are taking up room where fresh players that have not been damaged could come in and not possibly do worse.
Honestly, we should be more worried about playing Ireland in the playoff. This group would cry at the first punch thrown by Ireland
This is exactly it. Great post. Once again, this stems from the fact that the FIGC, even when they make decisions, are doing so in slow motion. Euro 2024 and the failure it was needed to be the wake up call to rid Spaletti of his duties and start to really integrate other talent. Remove the old guard so to speak. What do they do? Let the mess continue, holding onto the slight glimmers of hope, some good results in NL, but ultimately for it to all crumble down again on itself. Allowing this mess to continue into WC qualifying knowing what was at stake, especially that first game against Norway, was inexplicable. Nothing is done proactively and we are left to pick up the pieces so late in the process. We are asking many of the same questions with Gattuso and the squad now as we did years ago facing yet another playoff. Same personnel issues, formation issues, etc. I understand this job was never going to be a glamorous one, but it sure as ******** is not desirable whatsoever when you have all the pressure of the nation and a lack of time to actually implement a project. We were always destined to end up with the likes of a cheerleader type of manager in Gattuso hoping to crawl our way in at best. So sad.
Maybe they need to check his hard drive and device. Is he gambling? We know now a few players caught up in it. UFC fighters have spoken about being told to throw fights, 2 MLB players indicted. Bastoni has ********ed up tragically the last couple of matches. Enough already. Get with it or cede way.
Beh. The exotic foreigner was in place long before US Conglomerates started snooping around Italian football. Remember, Massimo Moratti owned Inter when they became the first team to field an entirely non-Italian starting 11. But you aren't wrong.
Imagine getting triggered and mentally wilting away because Norway took a Shot at Goal. This is where we are at with them. Absurd.
It’s all the teams look at Lecce look at Sassoulo… they are all shit run clubs that live off of selling players.
Silver lining...if Scotland hold on it'd be a blessing in disguise. Our Nazionale would capitulate to Scotland. And we'd be in the same pot as Denmark so two obstacles removed in one swoop.
I didn't think the 2017/2018 was all that good, element of bad luck versus Sweden if we are to look at the expanded statistics from that Tie, but they weren't mentally fragile as these clowns are. Something has to give. They are not a young team, all at appropriate ages. Just what is the problem exactly? They shouldn't be burdened of the previous cycles. Just need to get on with it.
I should have watched the Scotland v Denmark match. 93rd Minute go ahead goal for Scotland. Denmark even scored down a player. Jesus.
Wales battered North Macedonia 7-1. A shame. Would have preferred North Macedonia over Wales in the mix. 50% chance of playing a British team, Wales, Northern Ireland, 100 MPH runners PACE PACE PACE. Italy need to get their heads screwed on right. EDIT: North Macedonia still going to a Playoff despite finishing 3rd. Too lazy to check. They might have it through the Nations League.
Stage 1 Completed Pot 1 host Pot 4, Pot 2 host Pot 3. My Preference in order: North Macedonia, Northern Ireland, Sweden, Romania. Have them play in Bari or another stadium that has served Italy well. Stay away from Milano for a while.
I just did a simulation: Match 1: Romania @ Italia Match 2 Czech Republic / Bosnia @ Italia / Romania That might be as good as it gets gentlemen.
Politely disagree fra'. Romania are to be avoided. Historically very good against them but they had some good matches at Euro'24.
Party like it's 1998 Scotland and Norway qualify to their first WC's since 1998. Hopefully Italy overcome a Playoff like 1998 as well.