Opinion: Bring Vialli through Trap door Thursday 17 October, 2002
Football Italia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
He may be one of the world’s most successful Coaches but it is time that Giovanni Trapattoni was released from his duties. Last night’s 2-1 defeat in Wales, one that wasn’t entirely unexpected, was the latest piece of evidence that this side has no future under the guidance of Trap.
He says he won’t quit, the Federation say they won’t sack him. But hopefully after a few days of serious consideration, one of the two parties will realise that this relationship must come to an end.
Last night’s 90 minutes was the latest in a long line in which the side has failed to form a solid and well organised team from its undoubted individual world class stars. "We played excellently," clamed Trap after the game. An opinion that few shared in Cardiff when commenting on the Azzurri.
Admittedly the side did have severe injury problems for their games against Yugoslavia and Wales – in which just one point was collected – but Trap is not being put on trial simply on his last two matches.
Italy, three times World Cup winners and the runners-up at Euro 2000, have won just two of their last 10 games. They went to the World Cup as realistic contenders and came home with regrets, after their defensive attitude saw them knocked out in Round Two.
Trap and other members of the squad blamed refereeing errors for numerous valid goals being chalked off for non-existent offside decisions. But that was a convenient smokescreen, one that probably kept the tactician his job.
The fact is that he isn’t getting his side to do the basic things like keeping the ball and trying to construct. There have been endless examples of long ball football in the last 18 months, a ploy that proves useless without Christian Vieri who is missing through injury more often than not.
His selections also have a bit to be desired. His insistence on picking Milan’s Gennaro Gattuso is becoming hard to comprehend. Yes, he is a fighter and plays with all his heart, but what about his feet? What use is he if he wins the ball and then immediately gives it back to the opposition?
It’s time to get rid of this prudent football attitude. Last night again provided a perfect example. Trap replaced Gigi Di Biagio in the second half because he was afraid, as he admitted, the Inter man would get booked for the second time and be dismissed.
So the Coach took him off, who up to that point was the Azzurri’s best midfielder, and replaces him with Gattuso. Wales then score, Gattuso is taken off and Marazzina is put on.
It’s time to head down a new and brave route. "Italy needs a new Coach," said West Ham’s Paolo Di Canio last night.
"We need a young man in the job like Gianluca Vialli," he told Radio 105 after the match. "It would be a similar experiment to what Lazio are trying with Roberto Mancini. The reality of the situation is that this Italy would struggle to beat Albania."
While Di Canio’s recommendation initially seems rather risky, why shouldn’t someone like Vialli be given control? Even if qualification is still possible, there is no certainty that Trap could turn things around in the environment that he currently finds himself in.
Vialli would be an ideal candidate. Options to replace Trap at the minute are few and far between. Marco Tardelli harmed his chances by taking on the poison chalice that was Inter two years ago. While if the FA wanted to re-appoint Dino Zoff, then they might as well keep Trap.
Vialli could be given the job on a short term basis to see what occurs. If he gets us to Finals then great, if not then he just keeps the seat warm until Marcello Lippi takes over in the summer of 2004.
Some might say that Vialli has done little in his brief managerial career to merit the post. But didn’t former Roma great Rudi Voeller get his Germany to the World Cup Final with his mediocre players? Give Luca a chance, Italian football needs this gamble.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Words: Antonio Labbate
Buy on AliExpress.com
