Azzurri Thread (35 Viewers)

[Gigiventus]

^Thats why Ventura has always played with wingers for Italy. Candreva, Insigne, El Shaarawy, Bernardeschi and even Verdi. That comment is taken out of context, he said it as an example to explain that there was no obsession with the 4-4-2. That in terms of system he will play whatever his players qualities suggest. Its part of why has an obsession with playing 2 CFs, because in theory the form of Belotti and Immobile demand it.

I also don't like prefer the formations that Ventura plays, but its just to clarify a misinterpretation here.

For the first leg the 3-5-2/3-4-1-2 looks more likely than the 4-4-2 according to the media. I don't like it, I just want a 4-3-3. In any case its basically a formation to reconcile all the things that Ventura wants while realizing that the 4-4-2 didn't work. He gets to have his 2 CFs sergio and he can play a midfield 3 without losing width.

Belotti looks like he won't be fit enough to start the first leg, probably the second one for him. Lets hope that Immobile's and Zaza's form can translate to the NT. The backline will be BBBC. De Rossi, Candreva and Verratti are certainties. Parolo will probably get the nod for the left mezzala, thats fine. I just hope Jorginho comes on at some point. Spinazzola or Darmian for LWB, depends on form I guess and how ballsy Ventura wants to be.

Buffon; Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli; Spinazzola, Parolo, De Rossi, Verratti, Candreva; Immobile, Zaza

 

Buy on AliExpress.com

[Seven]

Italy lack truly talented forwards (with the exception of Insigne), but their squad is gaining strength again imo.

They sure look a hell of a lot better than they did two years ago.

I think it will be very interesting to see how they cope with the pressure of these play offs. Sweden have a team of nobodies basically, but any team can be difficult to beat in stressful conditions, especially because Italy probably lack the necessary creativity to be a world class side.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn A0001 met Tapatalk

 

[Seven]

He's a liar anyway, Italy have more wingers/wide midfielders/wide forwards now than most other times I can remember.

They do.

It's almost as if they traded their famous 9,5's (Baggio, Del Piero, Totti and many others) for wingers.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn A0001 met Tapatalk

 

[Gigiventus]

Italy lack truly talented forwards (with the exception of Insigne), but their squad is gaining strength again imo.

They sure look a hell of a lot better than they did two years ago.

I think it will be very interesting to see how they cope with the pressure of these play offs. Sweden have a team of nobodies basically, but any team can be difficult to beat in stressful conditions, especially because Italy probably lack the necessary creativity to be a world class side.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn A0001 met Tapatalk

Agreed. Two years ago it was a lot worse. 4 years ago worse too.

Its definitely better than last generation. The gap between the world champions and the current young players contained a bunch of talented looking youth that failed to deliver. Only a couple top ones (Chiellini, Bonucci and Marchisio) and a couple of good ones (Candreva, Parolo, etc.) and a bunch of "frauds" like Cassano, Aquilani, Borriello, Pazzini, Matri, etc.

It will be a tragedy if Ventura fails at getting Italy to the WC. Sweden are no scrubs. They already beat France at home and knocked out the Netherlands. Winning the first leg will be very hard for a team that is not firing on all cylinders (like Italy).

- - - Updated - - -

They do.

It's almost as if they traded their famous 9,5's (Baggio, Del Piero, Totti and many others) for wingers.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn A0001 met Tapatalk

There sure is a lack of trequartistas in the traditional sense. Its a shame because its a beautiful position. Not just in Italy too but everywhere.

I think that the tactical preference for wingers and the surge of wide forwards has pushed would-be-TQs to the wings. El Shaarawy's best position is surely central, every time he shows it, he excels there, yet there isn't space for him play that role anymore in most teams.

Bernardeschi has the looks of a TQ as well but we have Dybala.

Candreva is the true winger and Insigne is the true inside forward.

I would be a lot more at peace with Ventura's 2 forward formations if one of them was El Sha/Berna to setup the traditional CF-TQ combination.

 

[pitbull]

Italy lack truly talented forwards (with the exception of Insigne), but their squad is gaining strength again imo.

They sure look a hell of a lot better than they did two years ago.

I think it will be very interesting to see how they cope with the pressure of these play offs. Sweden have a team of nobodies basically, but any team can be difficult to beat in stressful conditions, especially because Italy probably lack the necessary creativity to be a world class side.

most of the time that doesn't matter if you have a good coach and a good group which Sweden seems to have. f.e. Iceland finished top of their group ahead of Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey, all of those have way superior talent pool to Iceland, but they're a real team and practically unbeatable on their own turf. Sweden seems similar, they very rarely loose at home

 

[Seven]

most of the time that doesn't matter if you have a good coach and a good group which Sweden seems to have. f.e. Iceland finished top of their group ahead of Croatia, Ukraine and Turkey, all of those have way superior talent pool to Iceland, but they're a real team and practically unbeatable on their own turf. Sweden seems similar, they very rarely loose at home

I'd argue Iceland is considerably stronger than Sweden right now though. But like I said above, any team is difficult to beat under these circumstances, Sweden will be no different.

 

[DIECI]

Ventura hasn't said anything about starting Zaza though.

He didn't comment on formations except for saying that there is no obsession with the 4-2-4 as he has used others in this tenure. That Jorginho didn't have space before because of the system, but that going forward he does.

The squad is good. The call up is pretty much on point. Only Gabbiadini doesn't deserve to be there at all. Now its up to Ventura to give us the best chance to succeed with the right tactics and for the players to come through.

http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/Nazio...ropeo-zaza-immobile-avanti-230444284605.shtml

 

[Gigiventus]

That article came out after my post and it still doesn't have Ventura saying anything about who is starting with which formation. Its from the media (probably correctly) predicting what we'll play. My post was just about Ventura's press conference.

 

[Bianconero_Aus]

Italy lack truly talented forwards (with the exception of Insigne), but their squad is gaining strength again imo.

They sure look a hell of a lot better than they did two years ago.

I think it will be very interesting to see how they cope with the pressure of these play offs. Sweden have a team of nobodies basically, but any team can be difficult to beat in stressful conditions, especially because Italy probably lack the necessary creativity to be a world class side.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn A0001 met Tapatalk

Definite jump in quality as opposed to just a couple of years ago. And then we should see even more of the talented U/21 generation in the next European Cup cycle. The quality is definitely increasing.

 

[DIECI]

Definite jump in quality as opposed to just a couple of years ago. And then we should see even more of the talented U/21 generation in the next European Cup cycle. The quality is definitely increasing.

this shows you how much coaching matters. The Azzurri from the Euro coached by Conte would crush this team. That was a solid squad that beat Belgium, Spain and only lost to PKs to Germany.

 

[spurdo]

Would an Azzuri U23 team coached by Conte beat the Azzuri team coached by Ventura?

 

[JuveJay]

Noticed a couple of Swedes in Serie A seem to think that Italy's players are over confident. Just seems like the usual throw away comment, there's no way this team thinks these ties will be easy. When was the last time anyone had an easy game against Sweden?

 

[Seven]

Noticed a couple of Swedes in Serie A seem to think that Italy's players are over confident. Just seems like the usual throw away comment, there's no way this team thinks these ties will be easy. When was the last time anyone had an easy game against Sweden?

If anything I think they underestimate themselves. Purely looking at the quality in both teams Italy is a hell of a lot better. But they look scared imo.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn A0001 met Tapatalk

 

[Seven]

this shows you how much coaching matters. The Azzurri from the Euro coached by Conte would crush this team. That was a solid squad that beat Belgium, Spain and only lost to PKs to Germany.

Conte's team wouldn't crush anyone. Every team struggled against them, but they struggled too. That's what they were capable of: making life difficult for everyone. But crushing another team? Definitely not.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn A0001 met Tapatalk

 

[Gigiventus]

Conte's team completely crushed Spain. They were outplayed in every aspect of the game. Or is this bitterness because we swept Belgium away?

 

[X Æ A-12]

Conte's team wouldn't crush anyone. Every team struggled against them, but they struggled too. That's what they were capable of: making life difficult for everyone. But crushing another team? Definitely not.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn A0001 met Tapatalk

Always going to struggle to keep up that high pressing game and work rate when the goal is to play six games in a month . It was an effective tactic but fatigue was always going to be an issue in the latter stages.

 

[AFL_ITALIA]

God, I miss Conte

Ideal scenario is Italy makes the World Cup, Chelsea stupidly fires Conte, then he comes back. I wish he would've at least stayed for one whole cycle.

 

[Seven]

Conte's team completely crushed Spain. They were outplayed in every aspect of the game. Or is this bitterness because we swept Belgium away?

Sigh.

I guess some people are just stupid and there's really nothing I can do about it.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn A0001 met Tapatalk

 

[Gigiventus]

They didn't crush Spain? That game could have been 6-0 if De Gea didn't have a fantastic game. When the GK is by far the motm and the game still ends 2-0, they were curshed. Maybe you didn't watch the games? Maybe its a stupid thing to do, but it gives you better perspective on these things.

 

[Ocelot]

Conte's team completely crushed Spain. They were outplayed in every aspect of the game. Or is this bitterness because we swept Belgium away?

Definitely this, he was adamant that they could win it before the tournament

Even his current avatar is the result of a bet to that effect