Only happens if Italy is out of the EU or Italy elects a Viktor Orban type of leader like Hungary has who loves telling the EU where to go despite being in the EU. Forza Orban
To echo the sentiments of many here, I can't comprehend how so many seem to think that our qualification is a foregone conclusion. This is a side that is among the worst that I can recall both in terms of talent and quality of play in the last 40 years, definitely in the attack. We got annihilated by Norway (good side, not great) twice. Why are we talking like we're a contender already when we missed the last two World Cups altogether?
I think on performance this is the worst team defending we have seen in 40 years but on paper in terms of talent/names per position it is a fairly decent group relative to where international football is in this era. But the fact that the defending is so bad means that yes anyone can beat us. the saving grace is that none of Wales Bosnia N.Ireland are very good either but we can lose to anyone. If we play how we played against Israel in the first meeting where it was 5-4 we can lose to N.Ireland let alone Wales Bosnia. Its hard to compare to past era's but Italy were not very good in the mid 70s the 1950s and the 2010s. Someone like Folorunsho for example is better than a Nocerino and he is no where near this team. Mandragora is much better than Sturaro. Prati/Fabbian/Fagioli are better than a Marco Parolo. And Barella Tonali are worlds better than a combo of Marchisio/Montolivio who were are best midfielders under 30 in the early 2010s by a huge margin. From 82-2006 we were incredible even when we had some failures like 86 not qualifying for 92 and Euro 96 Euro 2004 we were always a very hard out and tended to go out on draws penalties or extra time. We hardly had a loss in 90minutes in any tournament qualifier or friendly between 1990-2006. We've lost our identity as the game has changed. Had some bad luck in 2017/2022/2026 in qualifiers as we've had to go up against Spain Switzerland and now Norway with 3 very fragile groups and three managers that were in crisis and here we are.
this is the thing that gives me hope... in 2017 and 2022 we could have played for 3 days and we were not going to score. even in Euro 2020 once Spina went down we were not going to score more than one goal a game against England and Spain. Sweden scored off a deflection and held on. Macedonia parked the bus and got a late miracle goal. These were remarkable situations. If we can keep Wales/Bosnia/N.Ireland to 1 goal I believe we will score 2 goals against all 3 with our current attack. Ironically Gatusso has unlocked the attack while Spalletti mostly was strangling it with his slow build up play and Rapsadori as a 10 dropping deep. We also scored 3 against Germany and France .. it's been a year of this its no longer a fluke. We score goals. The worry is the defence collapsing and allowing a team like Wales or Bosnia to score 3 goals against us off corners counter attacks giving away a penalty etc.
Italy must qualify. 2030 that would be 16 years without Italy in wc. Impossible and makes the wc illegitimate imho.
Of course qualification first matters. But drawing an easier group and easier path is a GOOD THING. It should excite and galvanize us. I'm not as down on our talent and team as some. I'm more down on our broken system and the FIGC but I do still think there is some talent there. I don't think Gattuso is a good enough manager right now, but I'm hoping he gets some good advice by those surrounding him to get better. Gattuso really needs a tactical genius on his bench and he should just be a cheerleader - which he is good at.
I agree. Any system that excludes a 4-time WC winner for 3 cycles in a row (in favor of shit teams) is broken. That said, we need to stop making excuses and get it done.
We disagree. Our best strikers presently are Retegui and Kean. The players on the wing are nothing to write home about at all. If they were top tier, they would be at higher caliber clubs. Compare that to the likes of ADP, Totti, Vieri, Inzaghi, etc. Aside from Totti, they were playing for clubs competing for the CL--and in Totti's case, it's because he didn't want to leave Roma. We have some decent talent in the midfield, some decent defenders and an excellent goalkeeper. However, how many of these guys would even get onto the national sides of the 80s, 90s and early 2000s? This side is very unimpressive on paper and the results show it. In any event, I think most sensible people understand that World Cup qualification is hardly a given for this lot.
They couldn't break down Norway FFS. And in that vein, Norway nearly doubled our goal-scoring tally in qualification. We have a poor attack and it's been that way for a long time bar the group that came together and won the Euros.
Its more that there is no such thing as an easier group at this current juncture when we don't really know what state Italy is in will be in so it's logically untrue to say it would be an qualitatively easier group.
They literally scored against Norway last match. Could have added a 2nd with the score 1-0. Last time they were held scoreless was in Norway. Prior to that was 1 year removed at Euro 24 against Switzerland. 8 matches played between those 2 shutouts. Currently on a 7 match streak of scoring at least 1 goal per match. The problem is Defending.
TorontoCalabria, Dimarco will never start as a LW ahead of the LB, Inter don't do it and the Azzurri won't either. I recall Spinnazzola coming on as a sub and playing LW ahead of him, so something like that may occur but that was one time, I would just drop it. Anyway, Salah hasn't been starting for Liverpool yet Chiesa still never starts, so Afcon will come and go and Chiesa still won't get any meaningful playing time.
100% Comparing the attack to the golden age of Italian forwards is just played out and silly. Nothing compares to twenty years ago, so why keep going on about it? It was an era that many nations would envy in their entire footballing existence. Kean and Retegui have performed very well for the Azzurri. We rolled into the 2016 Euro with legitimately nothing in the way of attack. We won the 2020 Euro with basically no striker all tournament. We have been in far worse positions attacker wise in the last handful of years than we are right now. Chiesa notwithstanding as the potential other card that could be played. Who knows where that will stand. The problem has been defense. We are hemorrhaging goals at such an alarming rate with the best goalie in the world. It is extremely concerning and has been the thorn in the side for this group far too long.
Our issues are not in attack. Not anymore. Retegui and Kean aren't superstar names but they are miles away more talented than someone like Immobile. It was mentioned above, but its useless comparing this side to an Azzurri side from 20-30 years ago. Every nation could do this and every nation would have that nostalgia for the past. Our issue is in defense. Plain and simple. Bastoni is a modern defender, yes, but lacks discipline. Calafiore isnt really a CB and shouldn't be there anyways. DiMarco isnt really a LB and should be further up the pitch anyways. We have quality talent: Donnarumma, Bastoni (you can't exclude him despite shaky performances), Barella (ditto), Tonali, Chiesa (when he's fit, he'll be there), Calafiore.. the talent is there. It's about finding the right ideas where they can co-exist. Calafiore and Bastoni can't co-exist in a back 3. Maybe in a back 4 with Calafiore at LB. Barella and Tonali likely dont work in midfield together. Maybe in a 3-man mid with someone like Ricci.. TorontoCalabria said it best - we were once a side that had Marchisio and Montolivo in midfield starting. How can anyone say we've fallen from that? I'll take Barella and Tonali over that any day. Another point I see some saying here about how the world is rooting against us. So what? Its been like that since forever. We are the Yankees of soccer. In 2006, I had people saying how we had no chance and how Serie A was a joke. When we won, suddenly everyone gets all quiet. Ignore the BS. They hate us because we are resilient and we find ways to dig deep when shit gets tough. And yea. Im happy about the group draw. Why? Because Im confident we'll get there.
Speaking of which the NY Yankees are in town that weekend as well. *Should* Italy play Canada at BMO Field, I really should go to both. Would work with the start times.
We literally won the World Cup with Camorenesi, Perrota, and Gattuso starting in the midfield, it's hilarious no one ever brings that up. Also our golden generation never won the Euros, don't forget that.
Days like today show why it is impossible to not start Dimarco. Just a wrecking ball of a WB and destroyed Como
I believe Chiesa is being sold in January the rumour is Roma... at this point Chiesa did enough to both get a move away from Liverpool but also this means Slot wont play him even off the bench anymore as he has to move on. Slot wanted to use him as a sub. Chiesa felt if he played well he would get more game time. It's clear he wont and he needs to be playing to get back on the italy team. Now he will simply leave in 30 days time. Slot is making a mistake here but he has made several. Chiesa playing so well became a thorn in his side as he was trying to force others into good form.