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Extended Clip - Euro 2024: Switzerland vs Italy Preview, Lineups, Team News, Predictions (Ep. 429)
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After a Mattia Zaccagni equalizer at the death against Croatia books the Azzurri's place in the Last 16 of EURO 2024, Nima Tavallaey and Carlo Garganese discuss, debate, analyze and preview Switzerland vs Italy clash on Saturday at 18.00 CET, asking in particular with whom and how does Luciano Spalletti replace Riccardo Calafiori.
This is an extended clip from this weeks free Monday episode of The Italian Football Podcast which is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google podcasts.
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Transcript
Italy's Tournament Progress
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast. Italy are through, though. and So let's preview ah the last 16 on Saturday.
Preview: Italy vs Switzerland
00:00:11
Speaker
Italy against Switzerland, who are the runners up of Group A. They're unbeaten. They got five points from their three games. They beat Hungary 3-1 in the first match. Very impressive performance. Then they drew 1-1 with Scotland. and in the same score, 1-1, with Germany. They very nearly topped the group. and They were winning 1-0 for much of that game against Germany. they Fantastic. and Only for Germany. you good Substitute Nicholas Fulkruch to equalise in injury time, which allowed Germany to to win the group. Otherwise, Italy would have been playing Germany.
Switzerland's Team Analysis
00:00:42
Speaker
um So let's look at how good ah how good Switzerland are, first of all. As I said, I think they were excellent in their first and third games. Not so good against Scotland, but they are a very well organised and well drilled team. that Germany really struggled to to create against them. Switzerland took a deserved lead and Doy scored and was also inches away from making it 2-0 and had a had a second goal. so They played 3-4-2-1. They are a very well organised and very well drilled team is the best way that I would describe them. and I think they have more
00:01:14
Speaker
more ah weapons offensively than than Croatia do. So I think it's going to be a very, very difficult game. numbermer I couldn't agree more. I think you're absolutely right. I think Switzerland are have been really, really good. They've been one of the better teams in this tournament and they've got good players um and they have players who play at big clubs and do and are important at big clubs. um You know, you have the Bologna block and the Serie A influence that they've been all of them. great all on your They've been all of them, all Bologna players, I have to say. I saw that Bologna players or players from Bologna are the ones that have scored the most and assisted the most this tournament out of all the clubs. I think six goals and five assists from Bologna players in this tournament. Yeah. I saw a stat on that. They have been brilliant, this tournament, Bologna players.
00:02:06
Speaker
so Yeah, look, it's um it's ah look so so and and you know they've got they've got quite a few Bologna players in that team. They have Akanji, who is great very good. it's very monster yeah He's been so underrated
Jan Sommer's Goalkeeping Prowess
00:02:24
Speaker
for a long time. I've always been a big fan of Akanji. I know you have. And Jan Sommer, who I think has made howlers... He got away with one, didn't he? He got away with one against Germany. But we all know that he's... The thing about Sommer that I absolutely love is if you're going to teach mental strength of a goalkeeper to someone, I'd use Jan Sommer because if he makes a mistake, he immediately has that ability to just brush it off and then pull off a magical save.
00:02:54
Speaker
That's mental strength, to not let one mistake kind of drag you along for the rest of the game. Sommer does this over and over again. He can make a mistake, but it doesn't bother him because he can he can can he he just wiped we just brushes it off and goes into the next situation and pulls off a miracle save. And he's done it at Inter for quite some time. Or he's he's done it at Inter for many times last season, and he's done it throughout his career. And then you see it at Switzerland as well, that, yes, he can make a mistake, but that doesn't bother him because he can then turn up and pull off one of those crazy cat-like reflexes that is... No, they're good. They're very solid in Senate midfield. Froyla and Jaka are very, very... They don't give much away. And they've both been great in this tour. And Ibisha from Bologna has been fantastic. ah But Dan Undoy is the one that's really broken out because I've always... I've said since the start of of the season,
00:03:46
Speaker
that he has the attributes, he has the pace, he has the dribbling, he works hard. He's a very raw player, very raw talent, but what has let him down for Bologna this season, and he only scored one goal for Bologna, which is right near the end of the season as well, his final product and his finishing has really let him down. like he A bit like Adeyemi, the Germany player, really got that pace and drive but lets himself down with the final ball. But the raw talent is there and it's like in this tournament, he started to have a final product and he showed that again we showed that in the group against Germany especially, he scored the goal with a really really good finish actually. um So he is he is going to be dangerous because he's got that explosiveness about him that can cause it. And they've actually got some explosive players like Imbalos, Quick,
00:04:34
Speaker
Okafor hasn't played much at all. and Not sure if he's played at all, but if he comes on, he's he's a dangerous player. So you know they have got some some weapons that we have to, we had you know much more than Croatia, because that was the thing about Croatia. Croatia just had nothing can attack. They can't couldn't stretch us. We were never gonna get, they were never gonna put balls in behind. We never had to worry about what was going over the top of us or anyone running into the channels. We just had to basically defend our box, defend crosses, defend those pockets on the edge of the area kind of stuff. that will be different against Switzerland. There's always going to be a threat, you know, um in the game. So, yeah, it's going to be a difficult game.
Italy's Tactical Speculations
00:05:10
Speaker
There are probably 11. Someone will play in goal. It will be Fabian Shah, Akanji, and Riccardo Rodriguez will be the three centre-backs. Freuder and Jaco will play at centre-midfield. Ibisha will play definitely as the kind of more the left-sided midfielder. Sylvain Widmer is suspended, so he will be replaced. I'm not sure he will come in for him.
00:05:30
Speaker
then Dan and Doi would definitely play. ah Then it is kind of like a question mark, like who the two support and attackers will be. One could be in Doi. If it is him, the other would be either Rida, who played the last game, Ruben Vargas, or Shaqiri, who's still around and actually scored a great goal against Scotland. they did or or um And could play up front, or actually Imbolo, who started the last game, could play and as the as the attacker and Doi playing support and attacker. So there's a bit of uncertainty there, but there is quality. what's the
00:06:00
Speaker
is What's his name? ah Milan Okafor. Yeah, Okafor. I'm not sure if he's played at all yet in this one, but he's there and he's ah he's a weapon. I mean, I like him. and I like him too, but i've off I've not seen any injury reports on him, but you never know with him. Yeah, i'm not sure what's going I'm not sure what's going on there. and But obviously, look, we know them well. They know us well. The World Cup 2022 nightmares, they they they did it. we did They become a brothers in our group. All I will say is this, if we get a penalty, do not let Giorgio take it. That's all I will say. I'll miss those two penalties in the World Cup. No, look, I think they're a good side. And I think that potentially I think they could they could knock Italy out, if I'm perfectly honest.
00:06:45
Speaker
um because But we can also beat them. like Let's put this with Germany. Germany yeah would would kill us. but have killed us Germany would would rip Italy limb by limb apart. Thank God for that last minute. that lastlo yeah yeah and no no no Germany would just rip. like It would look like the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. They would just destroy this Italy side. So no, no, no. this is Look, I think I think it's going to be tough. I think this could go to 120 minutes, possibly even penalties. god I think it's because I think these are two teams that are fairly well balanced. And I think that, you know, then it's it really is a toss up for me who wins it.
Italy's Tournament Outlook
00:07:30
Speaker
I couldn't tell you, I think he I'd even go say that Switzerland are slight favorites. But I will tell you this, if Italy get to the quarterfinals,
00:07:40
Speaker
then no one can complain, results wise. The question then becomes, okay, you you've completed what was asked of you. You finished second in the group and you got to the quarterfinals. That's what we can ask of you. From here on out to move on to a semi, to a final, that is the next step and that's the most difficult step yeah and that that's probably going to be a step too far but we know we can we this tournament yes probably probably going to be a step what i mean yeah but what i mean by that what i mean by that is that i think i um i'm okay with that because it will
00:08:18
Speaker
It provides Spaletti and this team with something to build on, something to look forward when looking to the future. And that, I think, is the most important thing. Well, if if we if we just look ahead just to this game, I don't want to have ah another long debate over what formation we play. So everybody that's listening to just the preview of this game, because we've clicked this up just to just to just just as a Italy-Switzerland preview. So for those of you who are just what listening to the preview, listen to our full show and where we have a long debate over the 3-5-2 versus bat-4. So I don't want to debate that ah now over whether we should play the 3-5-2 or go back to a 4. It's too early right now to say what a probable 11 will be, but I think the current the only guarantees, Nima, are those four players we mentioned before that have carried Italy in the tournament. Donnarumma, well, Calipari suspended. So Donnarumma, Bastani and Barella,
00:09:09
Speaker
along with i would say de lorenzo because i can't see him dropin dedoo i think those are those four are the only guarantees for me he's never going to drop de loino after referring to him as his son which is so also other than those four nimmer i think they're the only four absolute guarantees because if you look at around the rest of the team i mean demarco as we said you know He needs to be bent he marco looks dead California suspended. So probably so one John or Manchini will come in for him for genio You know, we know that he can't play too too many games in succession I mean, I would expect him surely to play because of lack of alternatives, but you know, he could be exhausted There's not it's not impossible. He could be rested Pellegrini I mean, I don't know ah there if he would start and then he got respiratory and reticures the attackers I mean, you know, they could change as well. So it's it's um, it's gonna be
00:09:59
Speaker
It's difficult to say what it's these 11 could be this mean it could be like we were recording this on Tuesday the games played on Saturday I I think it's just like the game, you know going into the Croatia game I think we'll he'll make up his decision as you know, you'll push it until the very end Yeah, I still think it's going to be a three five two um because this is a knockout stage game and you need to you need to have defensive stability. um I think he'll probably start Mancini or Darmian to the right, Bonjourno in the middle, Bastoni to the left. I think he'll start di Lorenzo as a right wing back, he'll continue with that. um I think it's going to be Barrella Gioginio, Pellegrini, and Cambiaso to the left.
00:10:44
Speaker
And then up front, I think he's going to continue with Retegi and Rasparori or Kieza, one of the two. um I don't think he'll start with Skamaka based on what he saw. um He didn't help himself, did he? with the or Or he could play, you know, if he wanted to bring on Zakanyi and play Zakanyi and Retegi. Well, that's it. Yeah, we do I mean, do you do you start the candy? I mean, I mean, I think you can't say you can't say that he doesn't deserve. I think you can't you're not going to start the candy. If he plays a three five two, you're not going to start the candy because if you can't play him in the front two, but if you're playing a four, two, three, if he goes back to the four, two, three, one, I think you probably have to place a candy, place a candy on the left, like he's on the right.
00:11:26
Speaker
you have to be complete three four two you complete three four two one as well you can have but yeah well i'm playing with the field in the two behind the one possibly possibly but i mean yeah i mean not not not impossible but if you do that yeah i mean i think you think he has to yes to sorry he has been i know he hasn't played many minutes but yeah he's actually been good in the few minutes that he's been given him no one can say anything that about zakanyu starting at this point given what the other attack is exactly exactly like you cannot criticize him for starting zakanyu you just can't not when you have looked at the absolute cluster f of a performance from all four italian attackers keza raspardoris gamak garriti finally name a final question um what can we target in this switzerland team for me
00:12:14
Speaker
personnel-wise Riccardo Rodriguez. I know he plays better for Switzerland, but let's be honest, his Serie A career has been pretty average, hasn't it? I think on the wings. vi de mehar rodriguez eishsar I think that's where you hurt them. bi was suspend it by the way Yeah, sorry. Yeah, yeah you're right. um But yeah, on the wings. I think it's on the wings where you need, where you can dominate, where you can probably overtake them. I think Froiler and Chaka have been very good in midfield. It's going to be a very interesting central midfield matchup. um
00:12:46
Speaker
against Barilla and Giorginio, who i why we all know is are going to start. So so that's that's going to be key. And I think if Barilla and Giorginio is fantastically well, that I think they did in the first half against Modric and Kovacic and Brozovic. Brozovic, who I thought was really good in this game. He was very, very good. yeah um It was the Brozovic of old. I think it it was shades of the Brozovic of old. But if you can if you can control that, if you can survive that and do well against that, you should be able to handle Shaka and Froiler too. you you know it's It's a very interesting midfield battle, but I think they should be able to do that. It's going to be a very interesting test, but I think that's where this is going to be won. And again, Switzerland, you know they're very well organized and they're tactically solid and they're actually very good at counter-attacking. I don't want to see Italy
00:13:37
Speaker
bum-rushing this. I want them to be, because this is a knockout game, this isn't group stage game, you don't need to chase the game from the first minute, you should impose yourself, absolutely, but you don't need to bum-rush. Be patient. Well, they do play with the back three, so so yeah, the the the back three may be more suitable than I believe it would was for the Croatia game, but yeah, that's that's another that's not a debate. um Finally, just before we finish off with a couple of club club talking points, I just want to lay out what the route to the final is now and without looking too far
Potential Matchups and Finals Route
00:14:10
Speaker
ahead. But um I think this this this is interesting because we are now in the bottom half of the draw and we play Switzerland in the last 16. But on the top half of the draw, Spain, Germany and Portugal, which means Italy can't play any of them until the final,
00:14:25
Speaker
France are currently also on the top half of the draw, although we've been recording this before France play. and If france France win against Poland and better Holland score, which I think they should do, then they will be on our side, which means we could play them in the semis. But if they come second, as they are currently, they will go on the other half too. And England, again, recording this before the England game, England will be ah ah will be are probably our quarter final opponents, if they win the group, which you expect them to do. Against Slovenia they've got. Yeah. So if England beats Slovenia, they will come top of their group and then they will play a best third place team, which will almost certainly be either Austria,
00:15:06
Speaker
Austria or Holland or Romania, Belgium, Slovakia will be one of those. So basically, Italy will play Switzerland in the last 16. If we get through that, we will play the winner of Group C, which is probably England or or a best third place team that will play against the winner of Group C, which will be, as I said, Austria or Holland or Romania, Belgium, Slovakia. um So I think we can safely count that from the way I see it, France and England are in the quarterfinals already. Like, that's just how I view it. Well, not necessarily, because if England play Austria or Holland, which is there's about a 50-50 chance at the moment, whether they play Austria-Holland or whether they play Romania- Belgium. We clear it after tonight, who who who the best third player is. If they play Austria-Holland, that's not an easy game for England, the way England are playing. But I agree with you on france on France, I agree with you. But so yeah, that's that's not easy. But what basically the point I'm making is that as bad as we've been,
00:16:03
Speaker
um The, you know, it could potentially open up a little bit for us, I think, but again, it depends on the, it it depends on the, you know, what the title of this pod should be. It should be Carlo clutching for straws. Can we not do that? Can we not? do This has been 71 minutes of you clutching at straws. Stop it. Let it go. If England have got a bite, the semi-finals feel like the last three tournaments. So it's a cop we have a bite with a bad team and get like a bite to the semi-finals. No, no. Listen, just get past scott is Switzerland. Let's worry let's worry about Switzerland first. yeah And exit with a grace because England against Italy in the quarterfinals,
00:16:50
Speaker
I'm not looking forward to that. yeah on looking forward to that yeah that is goingnna be some I am not looking forward to that like at all. um so And if Spaletti is going to continue his war against i don'nno the the demons in his head and and you know this obsession Oh, who's leaking and whoever's leaking doesn't want the national team to do well and all the nonsense. that is yeah well who you know Someone needs to find his medicine. and know They need to call Beppe Marotta and ask him what the correct mixture of the medicine is, so they get because he seems to be the mad person whisper.
Spaletti's Challenges
00:17:30
Speaker
that I feel a little bit sorry for Spelletti as well. I have to be honest. ah you know I can understand it to a bit. I think the pressure is getting to him and and he needs to behave. He needs to not let the pressure get into him, at least publicly, because I don't think the good comes out of that. But i do I do feel sorry for him because I look at the squad, the players he has available to him, and he's getting it in the net from people. and know And I feel like to an extent, it's like, what the hell can he do because with this with the listen these players? Listen, I agree with that. I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about how you communicate. I have no problems with people getting angry, OK? But you have to be able to communicate why you're angry. A 22 minute stream of consciousness, incoherent word salad, where literally no one in any language understands what the actual F you're talking about, where people wondering if you're drunk, then that's not a good way to communicate. That's what I'm talking about. Antonio Conte used to get pissed that could wake up and the wig didn't sit right and have a meltdown.
00:18:29
Speaker
But at least he could at least speak in somewhat coherent sentences. Spaletti was just unhinged and and was all over the place. OK, listen, we have to move on.