The Italian national team, a once feared titan with the likes of Inzaghi, Totti, Del Piero, Baggio, and Toni (to name a few) were a force to be reckoned with through the 90s and early 2000s.
The past few years, however, have seen a revolving door of strikers and attackers that just can’t foot the bill. From Cesare Prandelli’s Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano experiment to now Antonio Conte’s need to use Graziano Pelle and Antonio Candreva, Italy just can’t seem to get the recipe at striker right. It is quite a frustrating time for Azzurri fans all across the country and the world. The team lacks flair and excitement and barely does enough to draw its qualifying games. Is there a solution? Can an Italian striker bust through the ranks of Italy and bring back the glory that was the 2006 champions of the world?
A more plausible solution is to bring in the youth. Italy’s upsetting U21 campaign came to a heartbreaking halt earlier this week, but it showed positive signs of a bright and vibrant future. Young strikers like Trotta, Benassi, and Berardi all look promising and both the U21 and Senior team have decided to accommodate the new playing styles by using a 4-3-3. This adaptation of attacking wing play is something Italy has RARELY ever used. The ability to beat players 1 v 1 and cross the ball is a style of play Italy just has never been accustomed to. The future plans would be to groom a new number 9 in place of Balotelli, Immobile and Pelle, and insert them into the senior team. People call this experimentation but I call it playing with what you’ve got. The Italian defense will ALWAYS be a force and a strength of Italy but with a new look midfield already comprised of players such as Marchisio, Verratti and De Rossi, Italy should be fine. On the other hand, the recipe for the wingers and central forward is definitely short of spice.
With the lack of goals coming from these mediocre strikers, the azzurri should groom the young players slowly and not rush them. Having them play for middle-lower tier Serie A teams will keep the pressure off of them until they mature and are ready for the “bigger” and more talented Italian giants. A question that has stupefied is the fact that knowing there is a severe drought at the striker position, why not bring back a player like co-capocannoniere Luca Toni (a “young” 38 years old) or maybe an in-form Giovinco, who is tearing up the MLS? It is risky business but when Immobile, Pelle and Balotelli are all out of sync, sometimes the old-guard can provide some life; even off the bench. Players who have been out of favor due to injury, like Giuseppe Rossi and Stephan El Shaaraway, still have a fair shot at cracking the team’s starting XI for Euro 2016. The recovery process is long and arduous but there is still hope that one day they will return to full strength.
The immediate future looks bleak and bland, although there is small doubt that Italy won’t qualify for Euro 2016. There will be some serious overhaul needed post Euro qualification yet, Antonio Conte’s wheels are certainly turning and knowing his “grinta,” he will find some sort of complex and questionable solution. Italy and its fans will have to put up with the mediocre style of play for a couple of more years, but will the lucky twelve year cycle continue for Italy come 2018?
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