Azzurri Thread (48 Viewers)

[Xperd]

See italy and juve have the same problem no centre forward who will score goals so if the defence cant keep a clean sheet there is always going to be problem scoring goals

And that's always a dangerous strategy especially given that your defense is not getting any younger.

13 goals in 8 games. 5 of them in one game against the worst team in the group. This is poor stuff. Not champion material at all.

 

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[JuveJay]

Some people getting far too excited at Italy finishing second.

 

[Alen]

I see only one problem with these play-offs, and that's: A draw will decide who gets to play at home in the final play-off match.
That seems really unfair.
Why?
In the group semifinals 2 seeded teams will play at home against 2 unseeded teams. Let's say Italy, Portugal, Ukraine and Austria are in the same group, where Italy and Portugal are seeded. These two are seeded, and will be hosts in the semifinal, exactly because they were better in the group-stages and were among the best 6 runner-ups. Portugal won 17 pts in the groups, Italy 16, Ukraine 12, and Austria didn't even make it to top 2, but they qualified via the Nations league.
So, it makes sense why Italy will play, say, Ukraine in Rome in the semifinal, while Portugal plays Austria in Lisbon. They are rewarded for being better than Austria and Ukraine in the group qualifiers.

But why should a draw decide who hosts the final? Say Italy and Portugal make the final and the draw makes Italy hosts. How is that fair when Portugal did better than Italy in the group stages (they won 17 compared to Italy's 16 pts)? It would have been much more fair if the final was played on a neutral venue.

 

[MikeM]

Immobile and Belotti are so bad that Joao Pedro is becoming Italian now?

 

[HelterSkelter]

Immobile and Belotti are so bad that Joao Pedro is becoming Italian now?

Pedro would actually be an improvement over anything Italy has in the fwd department. It’s not because Pedro is some world beatee. It’s because the rest of the options are complete crap.

I doubt he will be called up though. Expect Mancini to stick with his trusted group.


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[Karim30]

I see only one problem with these play-offs, and that's: A draw will decide who gets to play at home in the final play-off match.
That seems really unfair.
Why?
In the group semifinals 2 seeded teams will play at home against 2 unseeded teams. Let's say Italy, Portugal, Ukraine and Austria are in the same group, where Italy and Portugal are seeded. These two are seeded, and will be hosts in the semifinal, exactly because they were better in the group-stages and were among the best 6 runner-ups. Portugal won 17 pts in the groups, Italy 16, Ukraine 12, and Austria didn't even make it to top 2, but they qualified via the Nations league.
So, it makes sense why Italy will play, say, Ukraine in Rome in the semifinal, while Portugal plays Austria in Lisbon. They are rewarded for being better than Austria and Ukraine in the group qualifiers.

But why should a draw decide who hosts the final? Say Italy and Portugal make the final and the draw makes Italy hosts. How is that fair when Portugal did better than Italy in the group stages (they won 17 compared to Italy's 16 pts)? It would have been much more fair if the final was played on a neutral venue.

Or maybe on the venue of the higher ranked seeded team, Portugal in your example.

 

[JuveE46]

Azzuri road to Wembley just out on Netflix.
Fun to see our goofballs and you get a look how it feels inside the NT. Sweet watch.

 

[Elvin]

Azzuri road to Wembley just out on Netflix.
Fun to see our goofballs and you get a look how it feels inside the NT. Sweet watch.

Yeah it was sweet reliving those amazing moments

 

[Mark]

possible Italy vs Portugal

lol

thanks Jorginho

 

[Mark]

Tiago is there LOL

 

[Mark]

possible Portugal away game LOL

 

[kao_ray]

OMG Italy are going to lose vs Portugal.

 

[HelterSkelter]

Portugal are so taking this.

Italy 2026 baby!


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[AFL_ITALIA]

Yeah, I unfortunately don't see Italy being able to break down Portugal. This sucks.

 

[Bianconero81]

A lot can happen between now and March. Portugal are incredibly overrated around these parts. They were shit at the Euros and have been shit ever since.

 

[HelterSkelter]

Fyi..all this assumes that Portugal will beat Turkey and Italy will beat Macedonia..

I think Italy can take Macedonia but Turkey are tricky despite their crapfest in the Euros


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[Siamak]

possible Italy vs Portugal

lol

thanks Jorginho

I wanted both of them to go

 

[Jäger]

So one of Italy and Portugal won't qualify. Meanwhile teams like Wales and Ukraine get the easy path through.
The quality of this tournament is declining. This shouldn't be allowed to happen

 

[PhRoZeN]

Fyi..all this assumes that Portugal will beat Turkey and Italy will beat Macedonia..

I think Italy can take Macedonia but Turkey are tricky despite their crapfest in the Euros


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Turkey at home would have possibly beaten Portugal, but can't see it happening with them going away. Even if Turkey somehow beat Portugal. Italy taking Turkey on in their own ground will be tough. Just a good thing there's less of a chance that it will snow in March.

Would be sweet if Bonbon beat Ronaldo FC on his own turf and then puts up images of Pasta. Pasta over Pasteis de Nata!

 

[Xperd]

For FIFA, Ronaldo is more important than Italy. Last world cup was a success without Italy being in it anyways so expect Portugal to qualify by hook or crook.