UEFA Nations League

[Bluenine]

On another note, I don't understand the fascination with saying this young Italy is 'impressive'. It's the same issue as with under Ventura. Can't score goals.

Let's not pretend like Ventura's team wasn't dominating possession (against lesser opponents of course) and not creating chances. They just couldn't score...

Have you really watched these teams, because the difference between Ventura's team and this one is very stark, even if they both struggle to score goals.

Ventura's team had a lot of experienced players like Buffon, Barzagli, Candreva, De Rossi, etc, and their basic tactic was to attack from the wings and cross. Even when they were "dominating possession" against Sweden, it was with little creativity.

This team is full of young players many of whom have little international experience. In the last two games, they have displayed good creativity in building attacks. They largely attack with a lot of quick, 1-2 touch vertical passes which are nice to watch, even if they lack end product (which is understandable for a youth project, but not for Ventura's experienced project). A lot of young and new players are being developed, and whichever way this project ends it is clear that the Azzurri will be in a better place 2 years from now.

Of course, its early days yet. Mancini was clearly using the Nations League as a development exercise. It will be interesting to see if he continues to be brave when the Euro qualifiers start.

 

[dynasty27]

Tottenham with Dier and Kane vs Inter coming up

 

[n4l]

Have you really watched these teams, because the difference between Ventura's team and this one is very stark, even if they both struggle to score goals.

Ventura's team had a lot of experienced players like Buffon, Barzagli, Candreva, De Rossi, etc, and their basic tactic was to attack from the wings and cross. Even when they were "dominating possession" against Sweden, it was with little creativity.

This team is full of young players many of whom have little international experience. In the last two games, they have displayed good creativity in building attacks. They largely attack with a lot of quick, 1-2 touch vertical passes which are nice to watch, even if they lack end product (which is understandable for a youth project, but not for Ventura's experienced project). A lot of young and new players are being developed, and whichever way this project ends it is clear that the Azzurri will be in a better place 2 years from now.

Of course, its early days yet. Mancini was clearly using the Nations League as a development exercise. It will be interesting to see if he continues to be brave when the Euro qualifiers start.

(1) I never said they play the same. Just don't think that it's genious to not recall that Ventura's team actually did create lots of chances but just failed to score. And not just against Sweden, which quite frankly was a very difficult game, particularly the 2nd leg where Sweden just parked the bus from minute 1. Unless you're a Pep team, breaking down an 11 man team who are parked in their defensive third is very, very difficult. If I recall correctly, Italy had over 70% possession and over 25 shots easily in that game. Playing "attractive" football in random games with no real pressure, especially at NT level, is also very meaningless.

(2) Playing 'younger' players doesn't automatically mean Italy will be in a better place in a few years. Young players playing at NT level is just the final push. If the infrastructure behind that is poor and not producing, then playing young players at NT is practically usesless (young players at club level, playing at the highest level against top competition; a strategic youth development setup within the country's football association). That part isn't an indictment on Mancini, but lega calcio as a whole. The talent level is quite frankly a joke compared to other euro nations, and the answer isn't simply playing low quality players at the NT level. But at the end of the day, players like Kevin lasagne have no business playing for Italy NT. Period. And that's on Mancini to at least reward players who are likely to be useful to Italy in the near future, not just call up random players.

Mancini or not, Italy NT is fucked for a while unless they do full scale, nationwide youth focus like Spain and germany did 15+ years ago or that france & england started to do about 8-10 years ago as well.

Do you really see this team doing any damage to France/Spain/Germany/England at the moment? I can even throw Holland in there now too. I get that anything can happen in a one off game, but those teams are simply ahead of Italy in terms of talent & systems deployed.

 

[YoramG]

Dunno about all that, I think Italy are one good CF away from being a pretty good NT again.

Shame all our options are shit. Still holding out some hope for Belotti once he's fit, but other than that it's not looking great. Insigne as the false 9 seems to be the way to go for now.

Edit: Oh excellent, Vrsaljko's come off 25 minutes in. Christ I hate these fucking breaks. Back to D'Ambro we go, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

 

[JJM]

Croatia is a sexy football country

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[ADRossi]

It's coming to League B :troll:

Dunno about all that, I think Italy are one good CF away from being a pretty good NT again.

We also need another difference maker in the midfield, someone better defensively. Essentially we need a proper De Rossi replacement.

 

[ADRossi]

and England ties it up. Ten minutes for Croatia to score, or they're going down.

England takes the lead. They're winning this group as of now.

 

[JJM]

Lovren... Biggest moron ever seen

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[Demenza Senile]

The decision making of Perisic and Brozovic in the final third is a real let down.They sure do work hard but my god they and especially Perisic always find a way to screw up that last shot or last pass.Nothing new ofcourse but this is text book choking for me.Winning a trophy for both Croatia and Inter with these 2 as the heart and soul of the team doesnt seem possible to me.Hopefully they pull up their socks with the final pass and shot against Spurs.But i am not betting on it having seen their shenanigans for so long.

 

[thatdude]

Yeah Perisic also kept Kane onside for the winning goal. Brozo should have probably scored to make it 2-0 as well. Sucks they both fucked up in crucial moments

 

[Palacio]

It's coming to League B :troll:



We also need another difference maker in the midfield, someone better defensively. Essentially we need a proper De Rossi replacement.

If it has only one decent right back, it deserves to be in the b league.

 

[Palacio]

Yeah Perisic also kept Kane onside for the winning goal. Brozo should have probably scored to make it 2-0 as well. Sucks they both fucked up in crucial moments

Inter should consider selling him in the summer as he is in decline.

 

[n4l]

Dunno about all that, I think Italy are one good CF away from being a pretty good NT again.

Shame all our options are shit. Still holding out some hope for Belotti once he's fit, but other than that it's not looking great. Insigne as the false 9 seems to be the way to go for now.

So one striker makes you feel confident against the likes of Belgium, France, Spain, Germany, Holland, England? Just an opinion, but i think that's MAJORLY delusional.

 

[KevinB]

Thanks Martinez. Maybe you could call Van Buyten for the next national game, he played as many games as Origi this year..

 

[Besnik]

Swiss with a crazy come back against Belgium after being down 2-0 early, now they are leading 5-2 :trollol:

 

[ADRossi]

I really don't like Roberto Martinez as a manager.

If the Netherlands beats Germany tomorrow, I would imagine England is the favourite to win this tournament.

 

[n4l]

I really don't like Roberto Martinez as a manager.

If the Netherlands beats Germany tomorrow, I would imagine England is the favourite to win this tournament.

I thought I heard the commentator say Germany is already out with Holland beating France yesterday?

 

[ADRossi]

I thought I heard the commentator say Germany is already out with Holland beating France yesterday?

You are correct. If Germany beat the Netherlands, France advances (and thus would be the overwhelming favourites). My point was that in a final four of England, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Portugal we would probably peg England as the favourites.

 

[KevinB]

I really don't like Roberto Martinez as a manager.

If the Netherlands beats Germany tomorrow, I would imagine England is the favourite to win this tournament.

Stubborn fucker as manager. Constantly the 3-4-3, always calling the same fuckers, regardless of how few games they play or how bad they been playing prior, ...

 

[n4l]

You are correct. If Germany beat the Netherlands, France advances (and thus would be the overwhelming favourites). My point was that in a final four of England, Netherlands, Switzerland, and Portugal we would probably peg England as the favourites.

I actually think Netherlands are looking really, really good right now. Very controlled and deliberate. Like they know they will beat you tactically and break you down.

England still very impulsive, reactive....not really in control. I think that'd be a great matchup in all honest. I'd prefer France NOT in because they will play catenaccio. Fucking deschamps

And yeah, I can't stand Martinez. Thinks he is too good tactically.....