Azzurri Thread (70 Viewers)

[Gigiventus]

Emerson can be a defensively solid fullback that also attacks well. More well rounded than Spinazzola so far. Darmian is more than fine as a solid RB. Zappacosta too. The FB are a weaker than the other positions but not to a prohibitive extent I think. Many good teams today (and in the past) have had weak fullbacks. Like Germany, France (only Mendy is great) or Spain before Carvajal (Arbeloa and Alba...).

The talent is there. Its up to a coach to make them fit and up to the players to perform (and also to not be always injured).

The players are even flexible enough to be a good adaptable team, a manager in the form of Conte or Allegri could have 4-3-3 turn 4-4-2 as needed with an 11 like Dominic posted that could work very well.

Insigne/El Shaarawy - Belotti/Immobile - Florenzi/Candreva
Marchisio/Parolo - Jorginho/De Rossi - Verratti/Pellegrini
Emerson/Spinazzola - Chiellini/Caldara- Bonucci/Rugani - Darmian/Zappacosta

That looks strong. Having Florenzi and Insigne, for example, in there allows you to change well into the defensive phase to a good 4-4-2.

Insigne-Belotti
Marchisio-Jorginho-Verratti-Florenzi

Or Verratti can be free to swap with Florenzi. The same if you throw Bernardeschi anywhere in there.

On paper, the squad can look very good..

 

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[Vialli_92]

So we got Sweden in the draw. They could potentially cause us trouble so it will be an interesting tie seeing as we are not that strong this year

 

[Salvo]

Sweden

probably better getting a decent team

 

[JCK]

So we got Sweden in the draw. They could potentially cause us trouble so it will be an interesting tie seeing as we are not that strong this year

Ireland are playing Denmark, you are most obviously totally mixed up.


Northern Ireland are playing Switzerland.

 

[Vialli_92]

Ireland are playing Denmark, you are most obviously totally mixed up.


Northern Ireland are playing Switzerland.

No i'm not when I refer to "we" i'm talking about Italy

 

[pitbull]

what's the average temperature in Sweden in mid November, around 0° C? good luck Italy

 

[Siamak]

With Everyone fit, italy could field more than a decent tram. A pretty fresh one even.
Buffon
Darmian Bonucci Chiellini spinazzola
florenzi jorginho marchisio
verratti
belloti insigne

Buffon
Barza Bonucci chiellini
Florenzi Jorginho verratti spinazzola
Bernardeschi insigne
Bellotti

Or a varation on the above. But there are plenty of fresh options

Rugani over barzagli
Barzagli in my opinion is done, he is only still playing because Ventura asked him to continue with the NT.

 

[DAiDEViL]

what's the average temperature in Sweden in mid November, around 0° C? good luck Italy

...10° warmer and it's too hot already

Only a small window in which the italian NT can function.

 

[pitbull]

...10° warmer and it's too hot already

Only a small window in which the italian NT can function.

the only Latvian NT games I usually go to see are the qualifiers at the end of October, as most of our opponents are not used to our conditions and we look like a decent team all of a sudden. recently we trashed Andora who are probably at a similar level 4:0, because it was cold, windy and rainy October evening in Riga. before that we had 12 games without wins, including 1 point in 2 games against mighty Faroe islands.

I don't think Sweden has a good chance to advance, but I bet it'll be a close game in Stockholm, probably 0:0 or 1:1

 

[Lapa]

Sweden? Italy will not make it, mark my words.

 

[Bianconero81]

Aren't Sweden without Zlatan? I think it's 35-65 in Italy's favor. Italy should have enough quality to see off the challenge of Sweden over two legs; the Swedes haven't defeated Italy in a competitive match in like 30 years, and I don't think their current squad is anything special.

 

[JCK]

Aren't Sweden without Zlatan? I think it's 35-65 in Italy's favor. Italy should have enough quality to see off the challenge of Sweden over two legs; the Swedes haven't defeated Italy in a competitive match in like 30 years, and I don't think their current squad is anything special.

They don't have to defeat them to knock them out. Back in 2004 the game ended 1-1 and then the famous due due knocked Italy out. 0-0 in a cold rainy Stockholm followed by a 1-1 in Milan and you see Ventura heading back to coaching mid table teams in the league.

 

[Bianconero81]

They don't have to defeat them to knock them out. Back in 2004 the game ended 1-1 and then the famous due due knocked Italy out. 0-0 in a cold rainy Stockholm followed by a 1-1 in Milan and you see Ventura heading back to coaching mid table teams in the league.

That could happen, but I still fancy Italy to pull it off, in spite of Ventura. A 1-1 in Stockholm, and a nervous 2-1 win back in Italy.

 

[Stephan]

what's the average temperature in Sweden in mid November, around 0° C? good luck Italy

You do know that the temperature has dropped to around 0° C in Turin in December/January right? I really dont see a big deal here.

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They don't have to defeat them to knock them out. Back in 2004 the game ended 1-1 and then the famous due due knocked Italy out. 0-0 in a cold rainy Stockholm followed by a 1-1 in Milan and you see Ventura heading back to coaching mid table teams in the league.

Ventura going to replace Montella you mean?

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How good is this Sweden team?

Who is the best player since Zlatan retired from national team?

 

[Wittl]

How good is this Sweden team?

Who is the best player since Zlatan retired from national team?

Emil Forsberg (Leipzig) and Victor Lindelöf (Man United) are the biggest names I think.

 

[Stephan]

What about this Berg? Just checked he was their top scorer in the groupstages.

 

[DIECI]

this won't be easy, since we've been struggling against teams like Albania, Sweden is definitely a better team than anyone we faced in the qualification minus Spain. With that said I think we will qualify but please no 4-2-4 bs anymore!

 

[Wittl]

What about this Berg? Just checked he was their top scorer in the groupstages.

Yes, he still hits it in NT, even though he's playing in some arabic league now.

 

[Stephan]

What actually happened to that guy. Remember he was supposed to be the next big thing back when he was early 20s.

 

[campionesidd]

Sweden is a decent draw.
An ultra defensive team like Northern Ireland,Ireland or Greece would cause more problems, while Switzerland, Croatia and Denmark are better than Sweden.