Italia
- Thread starter Alex de Large
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Tbh, I rather we draw Italy than Portugal
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10 years of FIF
Nostradamus
Most Passionate MemberThere's seeding. They avoid the big guys.
Turkey and Czechia are the two ones that could create issues. Austria, maybe.
Unless they have to play two opponents, then it gets too hard.
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10 years of FIF
Forum SupporterMy primary issue with Mancini's tactics are that they rely far too much on the involvement (and competence) of the fullbacks. When Spinnazola played like Roberto Carlos for two weeks, it looked wonderful. Emerson and Di Lorenzo making overlapping runs is a waste of time.
Is Calabria fit? He's been very impressive this season. I'd give him a shot.
Is Calabria fit? He's been very impressive this season. I'd give him a shot.
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10 years of FIFPretty much verbatim. What an atmosphere in Lucerne, 4 min left but up 4-0. Okafor, Garcia & Shaqiri really the catalysts
Yakin takes le Nati to WC and what an improvement over Petkovic - there is team chemistry and blend of youth
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Good. It would be fantastic if Italy doesn't qualify because that would mean a solid month of rest for Barella next November. As an Inter fan my only interest in national teams is rooting against all countries with our players in them. Tomorrow it's Netherlands' turn, in the hope that De Vrij will still be with us next season.
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One thing I'll never get, being a Belgian.
France, Spain, Italy, ... all have better squads and a better coach than we do. They also perform better in the tourneys.
But one thing that's inchangable, the reason we stay on top of the Fifa list (and why we get overrated) is that we barely ever drop points against worse opponents in the qualifiers. Not even if we play our B and C teams.
I will never be able to explain why we've been so consistently good at qualifiers while better teams have not been.
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I really hope Italy do not bottle this. Imagine being the fresh European Champion and not qualifying. I can't imagine. Just don't do something stupid.
Edit:
Also this apparently. I assume we expect a rigged drawing to avoid this fixture. Can't not have one of them in the WC. Time to heat up the balls.
France, Spain, Italy, ... all have better squads and a better coach than we do. They also perform better in the tourneys.
But one thing that's inchangable, the reason we stay on top of the Fifa list (and why we get overrated) is that we barely ever drop points against worse opponents in the qualifiers. Not even if we play our B and C teams.
I will never be able to explain why we've been so consistently good at qualifiers while better teams have not been.
___
I really hope Italy do not bottle this. Imagine being the fresh European Champion and not qualifying. I can't imagine. Just don't do something stupid.
Edit:
Also this apparently. I assume we expect a rigged drawing to avoid this fixture. Can't not have one of them in the WC. Time to heat up the balls.
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10 years of FIF
Transfer GuruLike I said, Italy were unlikely to go through yesterday. Italy screwed up the qualification in the draw against Bulgaria, and the games against the Swiss. Yesterday it was too much to do anyways, though Italy's struggle for goals is a big worry.
Winning 2 consecutive KO games is going to be tricky. But if the draw is favourable (ie no teams like Portugal), then I would bet on Mancini's boys.
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This is typical Italy anyway.
Having a flawless qualifying and winning the euros was very much an anomaly for the azzurri. We’ll have to sweat it out till the last second like always…
Having a flawless qualifying and winning the euros was very much an anomaly for the azzurri. We’ll have to sweat it out till the last second like always…
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So if I got it correctly, no Portugal on the playoffs? All other teams except Sweden are easy
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Noup, table1 vs table2
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Sweden who lost to Georgia 2-0 is a tough team?
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Maybe because you choke when it gets real? Like teams in Serie A trying to win Serie A these last 10 years e.g. Napoli.