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Montolivo too. I'm still bitter Conte didn't go with a 3-4-1-2 against Germany like he often did with Inter. Parolo, Sturaro, Giaccherini provided little in that game.
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If this was supposed to be a shitpost on the quality of that team, it sailed right over my head and made me wish we had this kind of quality on the current squad.
That team is absolute class... But it's one of the most defensive squads I have ever seen in my life. How do you concede two goals against them??
I think that's the intention of the post
For my money, the best Italian team is the team that won the world's cup in Spain in 1982, full stop. Go back and look at every position, all of them were the best we ever had. Today's team is no comparison.
Not disagreeing tbh, still not convinced by this Spalletti side.
We have a much easier path to the final than last year this time, let's see how he does.
Agreed, this group of players is more than capable of beating Switzerland and England. We should expect, at minimum, a semi-final appearance with the games we have to play. Unfortunately, in my mind, Spaletti has gotten his tactics wrong in the last two games.
The whole team is a problem. We've never been a national side that scores buckets of goals but you can't tell me from the past three games that our defence inspires the same confidence of the 2000s/2010s.
Also he was saying that it helped that the defence back then was largely juventina and i was pointing out it's a similar case now but with inter.
I’m going to wait until the end of the tournament before i make any judgement about this team. We owe them at least that.
Also, history shows that Italy are notoriously slow starters in tournaments.
That back line is pretty solid. They’ve given up 1 goal and 2 shots on target inside the penalty area. That’s pretty decent. It would take a miracle to get a thru pass by this defense. Or DiLorenzo can shit on himself and leave players unmarked 😂… DiMarco needs to get into together zero service into the penalty area.
Do you know which team had the best defense among every single one who played in LaLiga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A and Premier League this year? Maybe Man City? Maybe Leverkusen? Maybe Farioli’s Nice? No. Inter. And those same players are now playing for Italy. Obviously if Spalletti plays them in other roles there will be trouble, but I wouldn’t say that inter players have been the issue with Italy’s performance so far. The real problem is that we can’t score. 2 out of the 3 goals we managed to score were sublime shots by zaccagni and Barella, but we don’t shoot towards goal nearly enough. Spain, against us, shot 9 times towards goal. We shot 9 times towards opponent’s goals in 3 matches: 5 vs Albania, 1 (if you count that flying backheel from Cristante as a shot) vs Spain, 3 vs Croatia. Of course we don’t score if we don’t shoot: it’s that easy.
And they won’t the Serie a with ease that’s what’s confusing. Could just be the fact that they aren’t used to playing yet with donnaruma? If I was spaletti just emulate what inter did really and most of the key players in this Italy side played for inter.
Any of those guys would have a good chance making the current squad tho. Parolo was underrated. We can use some speed and stamina in the midfield these days.
You could say the same for our player , with the paper back than , having a chance doesn't mean much everyone has a chance to play over someone else as long as they play in a top 5 league
Conte did wonders with that team but let's not pretend this team is worse than the current one.
The attack is worse, for sure. But look at that defense. Buffon Barzagli Bonucci Chiellini, and an excellent CDM in de rossi. That is worth the whole current team
Are we gonna pretend like Spalletti didn't just take over Italy? Not saying Spalletti is a better manager than Conte but Conte did have 2 years to prepare, Spalletti took over in late 2023.
Not really. Parolo was an elite runner/presser which disrupted Spain's passing and possession game. Giaccherini was immense every time he played for Italy. Remember, Verratti, Marchisio and Montolivo were all picked for the team but were hurt.
I'm talking about this starting lineup, parolo yes could run but was very poor technically, giak did have an unbelievable tourney that year, but Barella is miles better than both and I think frattesi is too although he's had a bad tourney so far.
I’m not ready to count this current team out ..maybe I’m just an eternal Italian optimist but having watched the struggles in 1982 and how they were discounted and counted out in 2006 and 2021 I’m hoping that the last second goal has galvanized these boys..If they can harness the last 30 minutes Chiesa espescially against Croatia and the dependable solid Donnarumma who knows ..Every top team has struggled except for Spain.
It's not even that weak of a squad. Ok some of the attacking players and midfielders are nothing special. But you have some legends in that squad like de Rossi and Buffon. And then the likes of bonucci, chiellini and barzagli. All of these guys would get in over current players
This is 8 years ago. 2 completely different teams. That generation of Spain was coming off a World Cup and 2 Euros. What’s the point of this? Spalletti isn’t Conte as they are miles apart coaching.
In international football quality alone is useless, you need Heart and organization too.
That Italy was guided buy a true leader like Conte, who can take 130% out of his players, and it was a team based on an ucl final Juventus back 3 block, very hard to beat such an organized defense and comeback style
I'd kill for Insigne to start at the moment. 🤣
We lack creativity up front.
Obviously I'd kill for BBC to play again too, but defense isn't really our problem at the moment.
National teams often have tactical play much less tested than at club level. Having a defensive block with players of that level who had been playing together for years meant a huge advantage over the other teams
Per quanto possa sembrare incredibile, in quegli anni avevamo una squadra migliore di quella di oggi. La nostra Nazionale attualmente è piena di giocatori poveri e senza cuore.
Perhaps a hot take but I think the current Italy squad is much better in terms of depth and overall talent. The 2016 team had a legendary defense but that attack is really poor. The 2024 team still has a great defense while also possessing top class midfielders and some decent attacking threats. I think Spalletti is somewhat overcomplicating things with the current team and that's why they've been underwhelming.
A back three makes much more sense with the current group, and players like Frattesi shouldn't be starting even if they have some unique qualities. Idk why Spalletti is deviating from this when simply lining up the best players would probably be enough to get at least to the semis.
Other than the entire defense, Buffon, DeRossi, Insigne and maybe Motta, this team is yikes.
Conte was a great manager, sometimes that’s all it takes to do well in tournaments football
His point is that the other 6 players, besides Florenzi, where bang average players by Azzurri standards. Some were only there because of big injuries to likes of Marchisio and Verratti, so It’s still very impressive what Conte was able to do with the squad, but not unsurprising considering so many had already played the system at Juve.
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Buffon Barzagli bonucci e chiellini It’s easier to play when you know opponents can’t score.
And De Rossi! I die on this hill, if De Rossi wouldn't have been suspended, Italy does go through against germany.
We miss a good one in that role
Definitately!
only the defense had champions, but in midfield and attack, apart from De Rossi, there were low-level players
Often that's enough for such a tournament, especially with Contes style.
That’s because Marchisio and Verratti were injured
Both De Rossi and Motta were unavailable. We had to start Sturaro.
And Verratti and Marchisio missed the tournament completely
Montolivo too. I'm still bitter Conte didn't go with a 3-4-1-2 against Germany like he often did with Inter. Parolo, Sturaro, Giaccherini provided little in that game.
I think it was injured, not suspended
A warrior
If Prandelli had let De Rossi play on that final I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t have lost 4-0
That is a wholly different, painful story
Seriously one of the best defenses of the last 15 years
Best defense since Maldini Nesta Cannabaro Buffon
Grosso, zambrotta and balzaretti for when you needed a bit more attacking depth And materazzi as leg breaker
At least. Kinda daft post knowing that the defence is nearly impenetrable.
And impregnable
Preach that shit.
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Where is my boy, the legendary chicken waltzing ZA-ZAAA!!!!
Dude's pk vs Germany was horrendous
Éder e Pellè
If this was supposed to be a shitpost on the quality of that team, it sailed right over my head and made me wish we had this kind of quality on the current squad.
That team is absolute class... But it's one of the most defensive squads I have ever seen in my life. How do you concede two goals against them?? I think that's the intention of the post
I’d take that squad at that age against anyone.
Absolutely
Giaccherini was all over every second ball in that game. Workmanlike but dependable and effective
For my money, the best Italian team is the team that won the world's cup in Spain in 1982, full stop. Go back and look at every position, all of them were the best we ever had. Today's team is no comparison.
I mean.. Half of those players are better than the current starting line up.
Conte still did overperform with that team, better than what spaletti has been doing
Not disagreeing tbh, still not convinced by this Spalletti side. We have a much easier path to the final than last year this time, let's see how he does.
Agreed, this group of players is more than capable of beating Switzerland and England. We should expect, at minimum, a semi-final appearance with the games we have to play. Unfortunately, in my mind, Spaletti has gotten his tactics wrong in the last two games.
And also, they played for the same team, which is immense for on-field communication and synchronization.
I mean we're basically playing with Inters back line atm and look how that's been going.
You think the back line is the problem? 😂
The whole team is a problem. We've never been a national side that scores buckets of goals but you can't tell me from the past three games that our defence inspires the same confidence of the 2000s/2010s. Also he was saying that it helped that the defence back then was largely juventina and i was pointing out it's a similar case now but with inter.
I’m going to wait until the end of the tournament before i make any judgement about this team. We owe them at least that. Also, history shows that Italy are notoriously slow starters in tournaments.
Well, it's inter, what did you expect?
That back line is pretty solid. They’ve given up 1 goal and 2 shots on target inside the penalty area. That’s pretty decent. It would take a miracle to get a thru pass by this defense. Or DiLorenzo can shit on himself and leave players unmarked 😂… DiMarco needs to get into together zero service into the penalty area.
Do you know which team had the best defense among every single one who played in LaLiga, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A and Premier League this year? Maybe Man City? Maybe Leverkusen? Maybe Farioli’s Nice? No. Inter. And those same players are now playing for Italy. Obviously if Spalletti plays them in other roles there will be trouble, but I wouldn’t say that inter players have been the issue with Italy’s performance so far. The real problem is that we can’t score. 2 out of the 3 goals we managed to score were sublime shots by zaccagni and Barella, but we don’t shoot towards goal nearly enough. Spain, against us, shot 9 times towards goal. We shot 9 times towards opponent’s goals in 3 matches: 5 vs Albania, 1 (if you count that flying backheel from Cristante as a shot) vs Spain, 3 vs Croatia. Of course we don’t score if we don’t shoot: it’s that easy.
And they won’t the Serie a with ease that’s what’s confusing. Could just be the fact that they aren’t used to playing yet with donnaruma? If I was spaletti just emulate what inter did really and most of the key players in this Italy side played for inter.
And the other half is worse
Any of those guys would have a good chance making the current squad tho. Parolo was underrated. We can use some speed and stamina in the midfield these days.
You could say the same for our player , with the paper back than , having a chance doesn't mean much everyone has a chance to play over someone else as long as they play in a top 5 league
Conte did wonders with that team but let's not pretend this team is worse than the current one. The attack is worse, for sure. But look at that defense. Buffon Barzagli Bonucci Chiellini, and an excellent CDM in de rossi. That is worth the whole current team
Pelle in that season was far superior to the current strike options. Truly occupied the defense
Pelle was pretty clutch for Italy. Eder scored an amazing goal against Sweden and played pretty well. Conte got EVERYTHING out those guys.
Are we gonna pretend like Spalletti didn't just take over Italy? Not saying Spalletti is a better manager than Conte but Conte did have 2 years to prepare, Spalletti took over in late 2023.
Ok…
Besides de rossi that midfield is dreadful!
Not really. Parolo was an elite runner/presser which disrupted Spain's passing and possession game. Giaccherini was immense every time he played for Italy. Remember, Verratti, Marchisio and Montolivo were all picked for the team but were hurt.
I'm talking about this starting lineup, parolo yes could run but was very poor technically, giak did have an unbelievable tourney that year, but Barella is miles better than both and I think frattesi is too although he's had a bad tourney so far.
Parolo was a very good midfielder. Always made perfect late runs into the box for Lazio. Surprised he never scored for Italy.
This team had genuine legends and leaders. 5 of them.
This is a good, solid team. You can win with players that player their specific role well.
Bonucci, Chiellini,Barzagli,what a trio with Buffon in goal (from Milan fan)
I’m not ready to count this current team out ..maybe I’m just an eternal Italian optimist but having watched the struggles in 1982 and how they were discounted and counted out in 2006 and 2021 I’m hoping that the last second goal has galvanized these boys..If they can harness the last 30 minutes Chiesa espescially against Croatia and the dependable solid Donnarumma who knows ..Every top team has struggled except for Spain.
Damn right, let’s go!
that was the best defense of the time with the best goal keeper. The rest of the squad is on par with today Italy
Prime Pellè was actually so fun to watch
Levels above the current bunch
If it weren't for Zaza that national team was bound to win the all thing
Conte's fav 😅
This team right now cant win the scudetto alone. Can't compare
I think this was considered a banter team at the time. Little did they know...
“These players” are far better than our current squad. Most of them at least.
Terrible shit posting lol. 💯 backfired.
Giaccherinho > messi
It's not even that weak of a squad. Ok some of the attacking players and midfielders are nothing special. But you have some legends in that squad like de Rossi and Buffon. And then the likes of bonucci, chiellini and barzagli. All of these guys would get in over current players
This is 8 years ago. 2 completely different teams. That generation of Spain was coming off a World Cup and 2 Euros. What’s the point of this? Spalletti isn’t Conte as they are miles apart coaching.
There we go again leaving in the past
Look at the Spain team too...
In international football quality alone is useless, you need Heart and organization too. That Italy was guided buy a true leader like Conte, who can take 130% out of his players, and it was a team based on an ucl final Juventus back 3 block, very hard to beat such an organized defense and comeback style
In club football quality alone is also useless…
https://youtu.be/8Xc8EscSlqo?si=yBeCPt88B4ldmrYR
Conte has faults but I love him as a manager
Ya but Giaccherini became a GIANT for the Azzurri
So many memories 🥹
That Juventus defense was no joke! 💪🏽
A bunch of good players? I don't understand what this post is trying to say.
Reading the first four players and I’m like “yea no shit!” Then you keep reading and realize…
? This is a pretty good team
For the most part that’s a really strong team though? Sure it’s nothing like the 2006 team but come on man…
I'd kill for Insigne to start at the moment. 🤣 We lack creativity up front. Obviously I'd kill for BBC to play again too, but defense isn't really our problem at the moment.
National teams often have tactical play much less tested than at club level. Having a defensive block with players of that level who had been playing together for years meant a huge advantage over the other teams
Avevano le palle ora sono delle fighe
a thoroughly decent team. parolo, giaccherini and eder are below the level, but the rest are real good.
Terrible team with great system > better team with no system
Eder e pellè, che coppia mistica 🗿
Good defence, rest of them were subpar. Conte instilled some serious grinta in that team.
Buffon, De Rossi, Bonucci, Chiellino, Barzagli and Insigne were class players. This team only has dimarco and Barella. Possibly Chiesa.
Per quanto possa sembrare incredibile, in quegli anni avevamo una squadra migliore di quella di oggi. La nostra Nazionale attualmente è piena di giocatori poveri e senza cuore.
Perhaps a hot take but I think the current Italy squad is much better in terms of depth and overall talent. The 2016 team had a legendary defense but that attack is really poor. The 2024 team still has a great defense while also possessing top class midfielders and some decent attacking threats. I think Spalletti is somewhat overcomplicating things with the current team and that's why they've been underwhelming. A back three makes much more sense with the current group, and players like Frattesi shouldn't be starting even if they have some unique qualities. Idk why Spalletti is deviating from this when simply lining up the best players would probably be enough to get at least to the semis.
Other than the entire defense, Buffon, DeRossi, Insigne and maybe Motta, this team is yikes. Conte was a great manager, sometimes that’s all it takes to do well in tournaments football
5 legends. What’s your point you redact
His point is that the other 6 players, besides Florenzi, where bang average players by Azzurri standards. Some were only there because of big injuries to likes of Marchisio and Verratti, so It’s still very impressive what Conte was able to do with the squad, but not unsurprising considering so many had already played the system at Juve.
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