Italia

[brakbrak]

If you look at most western countries, there is a demographic problem with regards to age. Italy's average is 48 (one of the oldest nations in the world). That means half the people are older than that. Most western nations just aren't having kids that's why they rely on first gen/second gen immigrants.

If you want a large talent pool, you need a large pool of young players in the grassroots. For an aging country like Italy, that pool will get smaller and smaller every year. Other western nations have made this up by using younger immigrants or children of immigrants.

You could have said median and your statement would have been factually correct.

 

[Forzanerazzurri]

Assuming a bellcurve distribution, yes it is.

Yeah median and average are not the same. I get the issue. Why limit yourself to 60 mil when you can choose among 2 bil. But thats also why international football is dead and none of these teams are anything to be proud of. Its redundant with club football now.

 

[brehme1989]

Yeah median and average are not the same. I get the issue. Why limit yourself to 60 mil when you can choose among 2 bil. But thats also why international football is dead and none of these teams are anything to be proud of. Its redundant with club football now.

It's redundant because apart from the poor football [mostly due to the timing of these events], it's no longer "representative".
Most people in their own countries don't care anymore. Only a handful of countries have a steady National Team following (eg England and the Netherlands come to mind from the so called 'elite'), the rest of them seem like they will have a large domestic following only if the results are expected or will come. And I'm not referring to big tournaments only.

The French people don't really like their football team if it's not winning, yet they all love their rugby team. How many do you think watch the rugby vs football? I can safely say not as many. But I've been to games of both at big tournaments they hosted. Much different vibe.

It's a "football federation" team rather than a "national" team. They should stop presenting it as something that people should be nationally proud of, maybe we'd see less people oppose their very own "teams", which is something I see expressed more and more of lately.


Club football doesn't have much to do with this, although it's also losing the plot as it becomes more and more a business. As the top teams become more global, the big nations with top players will always have some sort of external support. Just see how many random people were rooting for Argentina or Portugal due to Messi and Cristiano. Just like us weirdo foreigners are supporting Italy at times, because Inter is an Italian club. People will always find some degree of attachment to something if they really want to try.

 

[Nerazzurri_Ninja]

Italy will come back stronger than ever

 

[Fitzy]

Yeah median and average are not the same.

What do you MEAN?

 

[brakbrak]

Wtf? No Barella?



Edit: nvm, saw that he's gonna have nose surgery

 

[brehme1989]

This looks like a B team

 

[Il Drago]

This looks like a B team

That's kinda the purpose of Nations League. No one really cares about it. Glorified friendlies

 

[brakbrak]

That's kinda the purpose of Nations League. No one really cares about it. Glorified friendlies

Yea but sadly that's Italy's A team lol

 

[thatdude]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1830628813073440841

About time

 

[thatdude]

Wtf? No Barella?

View attachment 13290

Edit: nvm, saw that he's gonna have nose surgery

Surprised Locatelli didn’t make this squad. I’d argue he should be a starter, Italy doesn’t have a ton of options to replace Jorginho as a holding midfielder. I guess Spalletti likes Fagioli, maybe he sees a player similar to Lobotka.

Raspadori - Retegui
Dimarco - Tonali - Fagioli - Ricci - Cambiaso
Bastoni - Buongiorno - Gatti

I think you add Barella, Scalvini, Scamacca and Locatelli to this team if everyone is fit and in form.

 

[Il Drago]

Surprised Locatelli didn’t make this squad. I’d argue he should be a starter, Italy doesn’t have a ton of options to replace Jorginho as a holding midfielder. I guess Spalletti likes Fagioli, maybe he sees a player similar to Lobotka.

Raspadori - Retegui
Dimarco - Tonali - Fagioli - Ricci - Cambiaso
Bastoni - Buongiorno - Gatti

I think you add Barella, Scalvini, Scamacca and Locatelli to this team if everyone is fit and in form.

What makes you think Spalletti will bench Calafiori? Honestly i can't see it happening.

Also Spalletti sees Di Lorenzo as a son. He isn't getting benched.

 

[ADRossi]

I get the Califiori and Bastoni thing. If you ranked the individual talents in this squad, they're both in the top ten (if not five). But they don't belong together in the same formation unless it's a back four.

 

[thatdude]

That's kinda the purpose of Nations League. No one really cares about it. Glorified friendlies

Bastoni/Calafiori - Buongiorno/Okoli - Di Lorenzo/Gatti

Maybe Gatti and Okoli switch idk. You would think he Spalletti intended to plah both Bastoni and Calafiori he would look to bring another LCB option. Hopefully he’s not silly enough to bench Bastoni when he has so much chemistry with Dimarco but we’ll see.

 

[brakbrak]

Bastoni/Calafiori - Buongiorno/Okoli - Di Lorenzo/Gatti

Maybe Gatti and Okoli switch idk. You would think he Spalletti intended to plah both Bastoni and Calafiori he would look to bring another LCB option. Hopefully he’s not silly enough to bench Bastoni when he has so much chemistry with Dimarco but we’ll see.

I think Spalo will play Bastoni in the centre and Calafiori on the left. Bastoni is too big of a talent to be benched and Calafiori is simply not experienced enough to play in the center.

 

[Il Drago]

Bastoni picked up an injury against Atalanta and he's doubtful for Italy. Spalletti said yesterday player is optimistic he can make it but doctors not so much.

Sidenote: Isn't it crazy Italy have 3 quality cbs in Bastoni, Calafiori and Buongiorno and all of them are left footed? What were the odds?

 

[Nerazzurri_Ninja]

Bastoni picked up an injury against Atalanta and he's doubtful for Italy. Spalletti said yesterday player is optimistic he can make it but doctors not so much.

Sidenote: Isn't it crazy Italy have 3 quality cbs in Bastoni, Calafiori and Buongiorno and all of them are left footed? What were the odds?

Italia has alot of young promising CBs.

Id say keep an eye on Viti, he might be one of this yrs new top left footed CB along with Chiarodia.

Hope Scalvini comes back stronger.

Hopefully Leoni joins Inter in near future.

I doubt Bamba will get a call up playing in Qatar.

TBH idk who Okoli is.

 

[Il Drago]

Predicted lineup against France. Color me surprised.

 

[Ethor]

No injuries pls.

 

[ADRossi]

I'm ready to be hurt again.