Italian National Team

Since the 2006 World Cup win and particularly since Lippi took over the national team reigns, there seems to have been a marked slump in the team. From what I have seen of the team, particularly in world cup qualifiers, the performances from not only the individual players but also the team as a unit have lacked.

In particular, Lippi's philosophy of an integrated team like a healthy family though was evident in the last world cup, hasn't been seen this time around. The team appears to be very fragile even in the matches it wins.

Certain specific decisions also have been baffling and now un-justifiable. I'll point out two of these in detail.

1. Persistence with Luca Toni - He's gone from bad to worse for the national team and really should consider retiring. It's amazing that with players like Cassano, Pazzini, Giovinco just loitering around, he prefers to play old-horse Toni.

2. Refusal to play Cassano - He's possibly the best Italian striker right now and yet he can't break into Lippi's team. His temperament and behaviour has improved considerably since he joined Sampdoria. Why he's not been given a chance?

Young players haven't been given enough chances, particularly in defense. Santon, Santacroce, Motta have been very good this last season and certainly Lippi could give them a chance to play in friendlies and the confederations cup.

Players like Toni, Legrottaglie and Camoranesi are past it and yet being persisted with. Other ones like Iaquinta and Gilardino who have failed to prove themselves despite enough opportunities are again being persisted with.

The midfield and particularly the attack have been extremely static.
The defense is very shaky.

Though the team currently leads the world cup qualifying group, it has struggled against all the decent teams it has faced in the last year.

Beat Syprus, Georgia and Montenegro and USA.
Drew with Ireland, Bulgaria.
Lost to Egypt, Brazil (friendly)

I am aware that this thread has come after a defeat to Egypt and the upcoming encounter with Brazil but this has been my general feeling since Lippi took over.

Even teams like England have started to really hit it off but Italy it seems, have gone backwards.

P.S. - I just realised this thread belongs elsewhere.. Sorry to moderators.

Does anybody remember the lineups used in the 2006 world cup? Where did totti and del piero fit in? My memory is shot...

This team looks like it has a missing link...

^^ Del Piero was on the bench. It was...if i remember correctly:

Buffon; Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Nesta(Materazzi), Grosso; Pirlo, De Rossi(Gattuso); Perrotta, Camoranesi; Totti; Toni

I remember at the beginning he played Toni - Gila but that didn't work out too well so he switched it up.

I know the goals were very spread out throughout the tournament within the players. The attackers are just not as good as they once were or not getting service. Lippi really used his whole arsenal as Italy only had 2 players with 2 goals or more and one was a defender.

Goals in game order:
Pirlo(FK), Iaquinta, Gilardino, Materazzi, Inzaghi, Totti(PK), Zambrotta, Toni x 2, Grosso, Del Piero, Materazzi

Originally Posted by xvr11

I know the goals were very spread out throughout the tournament within the players. The attackers are just not as good as they once were or not getting service. Lippi really used his whole arsenal as Italy only had 2 players with 2 goals or more and one was a defender.

Goals in game order:
Pirlo(FK), Iaquinta, Gilardino, Materazzi, Inzaghi, Totti(PK), Zambrotta, Toni x 2, Grosso, Del Piero, Materazzi

Yup..Zaccardo also scored an own goal. And the other goal to be scored against Italy was Zidane's penalty. And a correction, Pirlo's goal against Ghana was not a free kick, it was a shot from right outside the area.

What seems to miss for Italy is someone between Pirlo and the striker(s). I think Lippi will have to play, even if he isn't a fan from some of these players, with Cassano, D'Agostino or Giovinco, players who are not strikers nor wingers ...

Agree GEoTav.

Originally Posted by GeoTav

What seems to miss for Italy is someone between Pirlo and the striker(s). I think Lippi will have to play, even if he isn't a fan from some of these players, with Cassano, D'Agostino or Giovinco, players who are not strikers nor wingers ...

Yes, I was thinking the same thing. Lippi needs to end this 4-3-3 nightmare for Italy, you cannot play that formation with players like Iaquinta on the wing, players who have no creativity.

Lippi should forget his silly "feud" with Cassano and play a 4-3-1-2 formation with Cassano (or Giovinco when he's ready) as a trequartista.

DOn't worry, the National team will start doing well in 2012, with players like Zambro, Grosso, Canna, Carmonse, Toni, Inquanta, Pirlo, Gattuso, Perrotta and others will retire from football or retiring National team or just play in Milan. The coach will have no choice but to call in players like Givinco, Santacroce and others

True.. the previous generation belonged to Brazil, the current to Spain and the future is Italy's as they clearly have the best youth out there.

I think things will turn around over the next year. The Confed Cup was a good wake-up call. Not only that, I think Lippi understand now that he cant keep ignoring the nation's call for Cassano to join the setup

I'm not that optimistic for Italy ... if the future of Italy is the likes of Giuseppe Rossi and Giovinco like we all think ... just think about a team with both of them on the pitch against a team like Germany for example: they will be physically outplayed.

Giovinco is far to be ready for the first team of Italy as he is already sometimes outplayed by physically stronger players in U21 (against Germany, again, for example). He needs to get some muscles, like Messi has done (look at his legs ... it's why he can keep running even when guys try to foul him).

And like France in 2004, if all oldies retire at the same time, the team will be probably nowhere (Domenech had to recall Zidane, Makelele and Thuram for the last games of the qualifications for the last World Cup).

A team with only young players is something that can't work at the international level: look at Netherlands. They always had some of the most promising players, a potentially amazing team, and they always fail when things become serious (after the group stages generally).

We will see, actually, I'm nor optimistic, nor pessimistic for Italy, all will depend on how the transition is done, and we don't know yet who will be the following NT coach anyway ... Italy will need an experienced coach having a good rapport with his players and able to teach them tactics ... I have a name but some people bashed him for the last 3 years before he left us !!

(About the USA, I hope they will be able to play like they did in this Confederations Cup (after their two initial defeats) at the next WC ... they play an interesting football reminding me sometimes an European team that had the same values some years ago: being strong in defence, using tactics, counter-attacking ... I let you thinking about what team it can be ...)

EDIT: I just noticed I wasn't in the Confederations Cup topic ...

Lippi should not change his squad drastically,the likes of Pirlo,Rhino Gattuso,Zambrotta,Grosso should be called up.

Italy should play like this at the WC,this would be the perfect formation.

Buffon
Motta-Santacroce-Chiellini-Zambrotta
Gattuso-De Rossi-Pirlo
Giovinco
Balotelli-Cassano

I think this should work out great,Giovinco as trequartista and Balo and Cassano as the forwards.

If Giovinco cant handle the physique of the rivals,you can play Cassano there and bring in Iaquinta...

I would prefer Rossi or Pazzini over Balotelli though the former is eventually going to demand the starting place.

Motta over Santon? Its a tough choice.

It is the midfield that IT needs to shape up. Gattuso and Pirlo are too one dimensional player at the International stage, if 2 of the 3 mids are one dimensional player, the mid will be over run.