We are certainly capable of great calcio. That 37 game unbeaten streak was fun. In qualifying we were 10-0 (+34 goal differential!). Before Spinazzola got hurt, I would put us against anyone in the world and think we would win. We were playing that well. Solid D. Great skill in the midfield. LB who was blazing fast and stretched defenses. A highly skilled Insigne being creative. What's stopping us from playing that way again if we find the right players? Remember, those were great players but it's not like we were world class at every position. We just have very good talent across the board.
Great conversation here between Sabatini and Schira. Some good truth bombs dropped (mostly by Schira). Some good points: - Spain’s model of having federation coaches used to be OUR MODEL. And it was something that was completely abandoned. - Schira laments the fact that the federation is seriously considering Pirlo. We need a strong and experienced coach and Pirlo doesn’t have the resume right now. He says that Guardiola would be great but it’s not feasible. Conte is taking a sabbatical and for him the only answer is Mancini. - Italy can’t afford to experiment because in two years time, we can be back where we are right now. If Pirlo really wants to do things right it would make more sense to send him to coach the U21s
It’s a story repeated here many times, but if you want to sustain a technical project, you need turnover. You need to have players adapted to takeover roles. Jorginho and Verratti were high calibre champions league players. The next in line was Rovella and Ricci. Players who had potential but two guys playing in mid table clubs who both lack the big game experience. After Insigne who was there on the left wing Zaccagni? You get my point. Mancini hit a high note at the right time and then everything collapsed. He could not invent something else and the rest is history. It’s not enough to have talent. That talent has to be playing at the highest level. Thats real depth
Both mens and womens senior teams are World champions and Perugia's mens team are European champions.
Me too. Especially for that England final as well. He was such a catalyst for the system and was really the most important player to make things go under Mancini. Thank goodness Chiesa answered the call in those final two games and stepped up. I still have no idea how he did not score in the final. He was absolutely fearless and buzzing until they hacked him out of the game.
Buffon screwed us so hard convincing Gravina to pick Gattuso. I simply cant believe we are giving him another chance, please go away Gigi, go join Lazio with your friend, you have failed.
Pirlo nuovo ct della Nazionale: ma è uno scherzo? Di chi è amico? Per ripartire c'è bisogno di ben altro https://t.co/zWsIN7nKYF— Corriere della Sera (@Corriere) July 15, 2026 Corriere Della Sera wrote a scathing editorial on the prospect of Pirlo being the new CT
I'll give Pirlo the benefit of the doubt. Did de la Fuente or Scaloni have a great managing CV before getting their current jobs? As for the comment that he is too calm. Italy tried the Gattuso approach and it didn't work so there's that.
Gattuso looks like he's going to have a heart attack at the dinner table after 3 wines. We don't need that, but there are times you have to fire a team up a bit. That said...I just don't think Pirlo has done enough to earn the job. Maldini is not dumb though and this can't just be nepotism...can it? I have no clue what Maldini's vision is.
I’ll also give Pirlo the benefit of the doubt even though his appointment doesn’t give me a lot of enthusiasm. After all, we need a CT not a coach. Whoever takes over Italy right now is going to have the same selection problems.
Scaloni didn't have much experience but he obviously has talent to work with. DLF had been coaching for 25 years before he got the Spain job. Yes, a lot of it was at the Federal level, but he clearly was experienced. Pirlo had Juve, Samp, and some Arab experience. I just would have wanted to see more. And what is Buffon going to do or add? Is he going to be our team mascot? I think he's bored, unemployed, and looking for some ways to make cash. That's not someone we necessarily need on our team. He's no Gianluca Vialli. That said...I've gone on record as saying the CT doesn't matter right now. We have so much work to do to improve our youth set-up, scouting, progression of players, domestic player utilization in Serie A, etc.
Absolutely do not want Buffon to return. Giving me the whole "let's get the band back together" vibes. I do wonder if Bonucci, who is employed by the FIGC, pushing Maldini to get Pep.
I think he owns a winery. Forza Il Mister. Damn. Just yesterday I was watching him as a 21 YO score the winning goal against Petr Cech in the Euro U21 Final to win it for the Azzurrini and now he's likely CT.
I was talking to my cousins over in the motherland. Most of these clowns over there want Conte believe it or not. They see Mancini as a traitor and when I explained Conte's mercenary history they somehow thought it wasn't the same LMAO But one thing all Italians seem to be united about...they don't want Pirlo. It's fascinating. These clowns don't normally give a sh*t about Gli Azzurri and now they are up in arms about a possible Pirlo CT. The more I think about it, the more I feel our biggest enemy is ourselves. Our fans just don't care. Argentinians and Spaniards would give their left arm for their national teams. Our fans are worried right now about the calciomercato and whether they can get that some unknown player from abroad that we've never heard of.
When I was living in Italy, Milan had Andrea Pirlo in drug rehab but it was silenced. I believe that was why he was not a full fledged starter.
Then why change at all? The advantage of Pirlo is that he knows how to properly play the game. Renew the defense first.
So, for me to their last point, I do differ from them. I think now is the time to try something fresh, new ideas...or in their words "experiment". I think a coach with a healthy new idea combined with truly picking the best players available, would be ideal now not later. So, I do differ from them in that I do not see the need for a strong experienced coach. But of course, either they are wrong or I am wrong. it is ok with me debating these things. It's Conte (previously Lord Allegri) that I think is factually a death sentence
Mancini (CHE RICORDO E' UN PROFESSIONISTA) ha lasciato la nazionale per 30 MILIONI all'ANNO OVVERO quello CHE AVREBBE PRESO IN 10 ANNI (come ct prendeva 3 MILIONI) ora CHIEDI A QUESTI CIALTRONI se avessere detto di NO a un OFFERTA DEL GENERE, CONTE NON HA VOLUTO RINNOVARE (prendeva 4 MILIONI) per andare al CHELSEA e prendere 8 MILIONI!!!!!!!!!!!! Poi il ragionamento che si deve fare è sul lavoro che deve svolgere il CT, Con Conte che tipo di gioco farà? riuscira a lavorare con quello che si ha? (NIENTE CALCIOMERCATO), Riuscirà a lanciare i giovani come ha fatto MANCINI?