UEFA Nations League

Besnik

La Grande Inter
La Grande Inter
Joined
Mar 3, 2009
Messages
18,618
Likes
5,638
10 years of FIF
England was robbed tonight, a crystal clear goal was disallowed for them at the very late mins of the game.
 

Bluenine

La Grande Inter
La Grande Inter
Joined
Feb 3, 2009
Messages
13,318
Likes
5,333
Favorite Player
Zanetti
10 years of FIF
Transfer Guru
This starting XI was the youngest Italy in 42 years. Think about that before you massacre the coach or the players. In his first competitive game, Mancini is being very brave, perhaps even foolhardy with his squad selection because such an young and inexperienced squad will have many poor/inconsistent games before they start to express themselves. But hopefully in a couple of years, a few new quality players will emerge who will serve Italy for many years. Italy are finally rebuilding and giving chances to their talented youth, and its been a long time coming.

Unless FIGC pull the plug under media/fan pressure, buckle up for a very bumpy ride. Italy are going to be consistently inconsistent for a while. And thats a good thing.
 
Last edited:

wera

might be Deadpool
La Grande Inter
Joined
Mar 28, 2011
Messages
32,671
Likes
11,465
Favorite Player
Bea Arthur
10 years of FIF
Most Diverse Poster
Do you have to play old(er) players to play good?
 

Bergpavian

Capitano
Capitano
Joined
Nov 2, 2010
Messages
3,154
Likes
293
Favorite Player
Vieri, Baggio
Forum Supporter
10 years of FIF
This "youngest starting XI" thing only shows that Italy had a problem with young players and trusted old farts more because in the UEFA Nations League A alone three from eight countries (France, England, Switzerland) played with a younger team than Italy.

It would be more interesting to see how many games the players already have played for their NT.
 

Bluenine

La Grande Inter
La Grande Inter
Joined
Feb 3, 2009
Messages
13,318
Likes
5,333
Favorite Player
Zanetti
10 years of FIF
Transfer Guru
This "youngest starting XI" thing only shows that Italy had a problem with young players and trusted old farts more because in the UEFA Nations League A alone three from eight countries (France, England, Switzerland) played with a younger team than Italy.

It would be more interesting to see how many games the players already have played for their NT.

The current Italy squad has 18 players who have played less than 10 games for the Azzurri. The 8 midfielders had played only 34 games combined, and none of them had even scored a goal yet. You are right, the problem is not only about "young players" but also lack of international experience. The problem is the results-first focus of previous coaches like Ventura, Conte, Lippi etc meant that a lot of the younger generation got left out. Now if Italy does not use this Nations League to develop new talent and give them experience, a huge opportunity will be missed.

Mancini is on the right track. Whether he is successful or not is another discussion entirely, but IMO the results of these games don't matter. Italy will lack consistency for a while. The only thing that matters in these UNL games is whether new players get some experience, and whether some of them emerge to stake their claim on a starting spot.

From the Poland game, we saw Jorginho emerge as the leader for the Azzurri (damn that Ventura for not giving him the chance) and Chiesa emerge as possible starter for Euro 2020. Its a start. You can say this was obvious, but the previous coaches did largely ignore them.
 

Devious

Somebody stop me!
La Grande Inter
Joined
Oct 1, 2006
Messages
16,876
Likes
920
Favorite Player
Javier Zanetti
10 years of FIF
Most Diverse Poster
I think skriniar could be able to stop CR, he can even stop Messi when on top form, but I don't think he could stop Mbappi.
 

Kenny

Allenatore
Allenatore
Joined
Sep 17, 2011
Messages
7,237
Likes
1,524
Favorite Player
LIMONE
Forum Supporter
10 years of FIF
watching liechtenstein - gibraltar
lol
 

Besnik

La Grande Inter
La Grande Inter
Joined
Mar 3, 2009
Messages
18,618
Likes
5,638
10 years of FIF
Babel scores for 1-1. Holland is all over the place though, I can see them win this one.

- - - Updated - - -

Nevermind.

France takes the lead again with Giroud. That was a nice strike but goalkeeping was terrible, obviously gk he could have done better there.
 

Native

Allenatore
Allenatore
Joined
Jan 18, 2011
Messages
5,933
Likes
221
Favorite Player
Lukaku
Forum Supporter
10 years of FIF
Anti-Barca
Irritating but expected, at least it looks like we're slowly crawling back up one step at a time.
 

Palacio

Allenatore
Allenatore
Joined
May 27, 2012
Messages
5,142
Likes
19
Favorite Player
000000
Forum Supporter
Most Pessimistic Member
Irritating but expected, at least it looks like we're slowly crawling back up one step at a time.

I think you probably need a new coach.
 

Bob Sacamano

Capitano
Capitano
Joined
Jan 22, 2009
Messages
1,826
Likes
10
Favorite Player
J.R. Cruz
10 years of FIF
I think we should have brought (Luuk) De Jong earlier on. After the 2-1 Koeman had to let Vormer on the bench, to bring him at that moment wasn't a very good choice as it isn't Vormers natural role at all to play like that, he is more like a controlling midfielder and not the one who has to be brought in front of the goal of the enemy. Blind is horrible in his positioning and he is very nonchalant. I don't like him at all as a player, never liked him. Also the right side wasn't performing well, Tete had much space but didn't do very much with it (wouldn't mind to see Atalanta's Hans Hateboer get another chance) and Promes was also very unlucky, in particular at the first goal. Frenkie de Jong is a big talent and very promising but sometimes he wanted a bit too much with the ball and he lost possession. But what i very like about him is that he always turns to the good side, he accelarates brilliantly, he has a sense of position and he is already very mature, like De Ligt. I also think Cillessen wasn't chanceless at the goal of Giroud. Gini Wijnaldum MotM for me.

But against the world champion i wasn't unsatisfied overall. In the WC qualification we lost 4-0 in the same stadium. I was afraid it was going the same way because the French started quite furiously and put a lot of pressure on us but when they cooled down we did quite well the rest of the match.
 
Last edited:

ADRossi

Administrator
Administrator
Joined
Jul 17, 2010
Messages
18,955
Likes
19,889
10 years of FIF
Forum Supporter
Zaza and Immobile starting in a 4-2-4. I take back the three good things I have ever said about Mancini :lol:
 

Hasan

Allenatore
Allenatore
Joined
Jul 14, 2005
Messages
7,869
Likes
62
Favorite Player
4 & 10
10 years of FIF
Watching Portugal-Italy and I am so happy.

Finally whole Italy can feel our pain when we had this clown for a coach.
 

Azul

Prima Squadra
Prima Squadra
Joined
May 7, 2011
Messages
930
Likes
57
Favorite Player
Vitor Baía
Forum Supporter
Jesus, without Ronaldo we really can’t score...
 

brehme1989

La Grande Inter
La Grande Inter
Joined
Jan 17, 2005
Messages
34,405
Likes
17,028
10 years of FIF
Nostradamus
Most Passionate Member
Zaza and Immobile starting in a 4-2-4. I take back the three good things I have ever said about Mancini :lol:

there's Cristante in the lineup as well, damn...
 

Bluenine

La Grande Inter
La Grande Inter
Joined
Feb 3, 2009
Messages
13,318
Likes
5,333
Favorite Player
Zanetti
10 years of FIF
Transfer Guru
No Rube players in the starting line up for the first time in 2 decades. Thats something.
 

ScottishInterista

La Grande Inter
La Grande Inter
Joined
May 14, 2013
Messages
11,034
Likes
7
Favorite Player
Skrinrar
Forum Supporter
Scotland being shite again. If we dont win at home its a fucking disgrace.

Naismith's been in this team far too long and still being this shit is shocking

- - - Updated - - -

Naismith, offside and the only reason the header went in was cause it went in of the defender
 

Batman

La Grande Inter
La Grande Inter
Joined
Jun 7, 2010
Messages
14,157
Likes
1,387
Favorite Player
Icardi
10 years of FIF
Who is Lazzari? He is so shit. The whole team are.
 

brehme1989

La Grande Inter
La Grande Inter
Joined
Jan 17, 2005
Messages
34,405
Likes
17,028
10 years of FIF
Nostradamus
Most Passionate Member
Who is Lazzari? He is so shit. The whole team are.

SPAL's right winger...

Andre Silva scores against Italy's Milan defence... Hillarious shit here.
 
Top