With the Euros just hours away and Italy set to take the field on Monday against Belgium, Antonio Conte has some difficult decisions to make.
Since assuming the reigns of the Italian national team, Antonio Conte has played around with a number of formations. When none of them truly stood out from the other, the former Juventus boss went back to his tried and tested 3-5-2 and counted on the performances of the blocco Juve in defense. Given the relative lack of talent in the final third, it was worth a shot. However, since using the 3-5-2 the Azzurri have looked lacklustre in attack and devoid of any real ideas. Conte’s decision to stick with Southampton’s Graziano Pelle and Inter’s Eder as his main duo has raised more questions than answers. If Italy are to have success in this tournament, Conte will have to rethink his current ways.
When looking at Italy’s options up front, you get a sense of just how far the country’s development has stagnated in recent years. Let’s face it, the current crop of strikers would have never gotten onto past Azzurri teams. That said, it’s not all bad as Conte still can count on wide players like Lorenzo Insigne and Antonio Candreva to do a job. In fact, most of Italy’s best players in the final third play in wide positions. Antonio Candreva, Stephan El Shaarawy, Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi and the excluded Domenico Berardi all operate from wide areas. Given the dearth of options at #9, you’d expect Conte to adapt and only play one down the middle.
Going into the Euros, starting off on the right foot is of paramount importance. On Monday, when Italy take on a talented Belgium side avoiding defeat will be crucial. While Marc Wilmots’ have an abundance of quality in the final third, they are without Vincent Kompany at the heart of defense. It remains to be seen whether the Belgian tactician will play last season’s best defensive duo in the Premier League Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld at the heart of defence or whether he will plop them at fullback like it’s being reported. In any case, Conte will need to get his attacking lineup right if his side are to have any shot. Even if a shift to a more suitable 4-3-3 is highly unlikely, scratch that, impossible, there are some things he can do to set up gli Azzurri in the best possible way.
First of all, Lorenzo Insigne must start alongside Pelle even if he is not an out and out striker. By playing the diminutive Napoli man behind Pelle, Belgium and Italy’s future opponents will not be able to mark both strikers. Given Insigne’s creativity and vision, playing in the hole will suit him immensely. When looking at the midfield, it’s vastly important that Emanuele Giaccherini doesn’t see the field. Giaccherini, a Conte favourite, has consistently started in Italy’s buildup games on the left-hand side of a midfield three and hasn’t offered anything of note. Without Claudio Marchisio, Marco Verratti and Jorginho in the team, Italy will struggle to create anything from deep. As a result, Thiago Motta must start with Daniele De Rossi and Alessandro Florenzi. With the current options at Conte’s disposal, this is the best midfield trio he can field as it offers technique, steel, creativity and fresh legs. In defence, it would be foolish to break up Chiellini, Bonucci, Barzagli and Buffon but Conte seems to understand that. With these changes, Italy have a legitimate shot of beating Belgium on Monday and going into the knockout stages of the tournament. If you consider yourself a betting man or woman and are feeling confident in Italy’s chances, visit bestbettingbonuses.co.uk for some great odds on the Euros and Italy games.
While Conte and his men have downplayed expectations for the last two weeks, it would be foolish from Azzurri fans to go into this tournament defeated. Yes, the talent isn’t what it used to be. Yes, Italy’s play over the last eight months hasn’t been encouraging. However, the current roster is good enough to reach the knockout stages and perhaps qualify for the quarter-finals. All it takes is a slight shakeup from Antonio Conte across the board.
Over the course of his career, the Italian tactician has been reluctant to do so and has typically opted for his rigid ways time and time again. As a result of his stubbornness, I fully expect to see Eder and Pelle up front with Giaccherini in the midfield come Monday. In that case, and only in that case, it’s alright for Azzurri fans to abandon all expectations and pray for the best. Actually, no. The 24-team format at this tournament means, barring a disaster, Italy will qualify for the round of 16. And if they don’t, Conte has to take the brunt of the blame.
With the Euros just around the corner and Italian fans fearing for the worst, it’s time for Conte to acknowledge his best eleven and leave some of his favourites on the bench. If not, he will be off to London much sooner than he’d like to be this summer.
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