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Free Weekly Episode - Barella & Pellegrini Shine, Winners & Losers vs Ecuador, Selecting Italy’s Euro 2024 Squad, How Far Can Azzurri Go? & Much More (Ep. 407)
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From Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Pellegrini starring, Italy winners and losers from this international break, who Luciano Spalletti should call up to his Azzurri squad for EURO 2024, which starting formation and lineup should he start, to how far can Italy go, and which teams can threaten tournament favorites England and France as well as an Azzurri themed Baggio, Premface and Serie Ass of the week and much, much more when Nima and Carlo break down all the main talking points from an action-packed weekend in Italian football.
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Transcript
Italy's Friendly Win and Euro 2024 Prospects
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian football podcast.
00:00:05
Speaker
Hello, everybody, and welcome to the Italian football podcast. I'm Carlo Garganese joined, as always, by Nimat Savali. On today's show, we will react to Italy's 2-0 friendly win against Ecuador in New York on Sunday. We're going to go through all the winners and losers from the game, discuss what formation Italy should use at Euro 2024, and then run through the position by position, the squad that Luciano Spelletti will
00:00:34
Speaker
or rather should choose for the Euros. These are the last games that Italy will play before he picks that squad.
Introduction to the Podcast and Support Options
00:00:42
Speaker
And also we'll both give our starting leavens that we think Spelletti should pick for the group stage matches and assess also how well Italy can do at the Euros and the strengths and weaknesses of our biggest rivals. It's been a lot of games during this international break to assess some of the others.
00:01:02
Speaker
We'll also have our usual Bad Gio, Prem Face and Celia Ask of the Week, but this Monday pod is going to be very Italy-Azure heavy. For all our first time listeners, this is our free weekly episode that we do every Monday, reviewing the weekend Syria action and all the biggest talking points in Italian football. If you want to support the Italian football podcast and receive all of our content that we do throughout the week, including a weekly Q&A episode every Tuesday where we answer all of the questions from our patrons, plus the weekly Thursday
00:01:29
Speaker
midweek reviews, show plus interviews, post-match reaction, and much, much more, then go to patreon.com slash T-I-F-P and become a subscriber for just $2.99 a month plus VAT. And you can also sign up now to be a paid subscriber on Spotify. We'll provide the link in the description. It's the same price, same terms. And for all of you who do listen on Spotify, Apple, and iTunes podcasts, we'd really appreciate it. If you give us a five-star rating, give us a follow and a like. We're on YouTube as well. It really helps us to grow and do more content for you guys.
00:01:59
Speaker
Okay, so let's get into today's show.
Recap and Analysis of Italy's US Friendlies
00:02:04
Speaker
So, Italy versus Ecuador, Sunday night in New York, the second of the two games that Italy are playing in the United States. Italy playing on Thursday, beating Venezuela 2-1 in Miami. They then flew over to the East Coast to play against
00:02:28
Speaker
to play in New York against Ecuador. So what we'll do is we'll do exactly the same as we did on after the Thursday game. We'll work our way through all the big talking points, the positives, the negatives, the winners and losers, but starting off with the formation, NIMA.
00:02:52
Speaker
In the Venezuela game, Spelletti went with this new 3-4-2-1, testing it out to see if it would be something that we can use in the Euros. And it was pretty much a disaster against Venezuela, despite Italy escaping with a pretty undeserved 2-1 win. But he persisted with the same system against Ecuador. He changed the entire team.
00:03:19
Speaker
and the team was Vicario in goal, Damián, Mancini and Bastoni as the three centre backs, Bellanova and DiMarco as the wing backs, Barrella and Giorgino as the centre midfielders and then Zagnolo and Peregrini as the two behind the one lone striker of Giacomo Raspadori and this game
00:03:42
Speaker
From the point of view of defensive solidity and just cohesion of the team being more solid, this was a big, big improvement on Venezuela.
Italy's Midfield and Defensive Analysis
00:03:52
Speaker
Well, yeah, he played better players in better positions, more suited players, better suited to those positions. Midfield trio of Giorginio Barella and Pellegrini, which is essentially wasn't really three, four, two, one.
00:04:05
Speaker
For me, it was more of a 3-5-1-1, with Zagnolo going into the hole as well, and then Pellegrini obviously having more license to Rome. DiMarco on the left, Darmian Bastoni in the defense. Look, the players on the pitch were used to playing this style of football.
00:04:30
Speaker
And that's why, you know, I think they all look better and they all looked much adapted to the system as well. I think, you know, whether it's DiMarco or Udoji, it doesn't really matter. For me, as I've said continuously, I think Barilla, Georgiño,
00:04:55
Speaker
or is Locatelli or Pellegrini, those are the ones that have to play, like three of those four have to play. And I think as I keep hammering on on this podcast that the most important thing in the Spalletti system is the midfield.
00:05:11
Speaker
It's the transition from a 4-3-3 to a 4-2-3-1, or a 3-5-2 to a 3-4-2-3-4-2-1, or however you want to play with the numbers in the system. That is what's key here. That's where the magic happens in Spaletti's system, and it's been like that through his entire career.
00:05:33
Speaker
both spells at Roma, at Inter, at Napoli, and now here with Italy. And as long as you've got that, the rest will kind of work out. I thought Bela Novat, I mean, Darmian Mancini Bastoni looked okay. If Vacherbi, I think, had been
00:05:50
Speaker
had been called up, I think it would have been Darmeyana Cherby-Bastoni. Vicario was linked to Inter because of the characteristics that he has. Belanova played at Inter as a right wing back last season. DiMarco, I thought this kind of made sense, the system. And so I think he's testing different roles and different players, and it kind of really paid off because he has players that
00:06:19
Speaker
the players he chose for this game were better suited to this system and I think he pretty much spoke as much about it, about the inter-block and at the inter-block that he gets. Let's speak about that then, let's speak.
00:06:35
Speaker
Yeah, well, let's speak about the positives then of the game. And that is one of them for sure is that defensively, we were much more solid than the other night. And I think the inter block definitely helped there. I mean, I mean, Italy didn't concede.
00:06:50
Speaker
based really anything any clear chances in this game the odd kind of half chance here and there but nothing nothing major and i think that is uh that was definitely a big reason for that was the the you know this inter block you know that if you're looking at dada mian and pastoni in the back three and then both wing backs are basically
00:07:11
Speaker
I mean DiMarco and then Villanova spent a season playing for Inter last season so they understand the movements and that's something that was an issue that I spoke about and nobody understood any of the tactical movements. So when you've got a big block of players from one club, obviously you do understand the movements in conjunction with one another.
00:07:31
Speaker
It's not just about playing in a back three for your club. It's about playing in a back three with all the same group of players. And, you know, when you've got a load from one club, that obviously helps there. But yeah, I mean, if I look at some of the other positives from this game,
00:07:50
Speaker
positive individuals. I mean, Barrella was man of the match for me. He was a monster in this game. This was Barrella at his best. I mean, he was everywhere. He was hunting down every ball. He was winning tackles. He was really good on the ball as well. I showed a lot of class, fantastic finish. You know, that showed his class, the way they think that over the goalkeeper. This is the, you know, this is the Barrella that we need at Euro 2024. If Italy are going to have a good tournament and go deep,
00:08:20
Speaker
you know, Barela is maybe our, well, I think probably certainly is our most proven world-class player right now, I would say. Obviously hasn't always shown that consistency within the last few years.
00:08:37
Speaker
you know, when he's at his best, he's probably, you know, our best player now, you know, some would might argue Kiesa, but Kiesa, you know, hasn't shown any of those levels for for over two years, whereas Barela occasionally shows those levels, he's a bit inconsistent. But when he's playing like this, I mean, this is the Barela that we need that we have to see the euros that he was magnificent. And by extension,
00:08:58
Speaker
his I thought his chemistry with with Jerry Georgina was really good and I think these two in this game have established themselves as the first two names on the the team sheet in midfield when Spaletti is picking his midfield whatever that formation is whether it's a 4-3-3 or a 3-4-2-1 whatever it is I think these two have to be the first two names on the center midfield team team, Farello and Georgina of course Georgina will need games where he needs to
00:09:26
Speaker
He needs to be rested because he can't play all the time and then Nokotori will come in, but in an ideal world.
00:09:33
Speaker
Borrello and Giorginho will be the two Centumid Fielders and I thought Giorginho was really good as well tactically, positionally, the way he directs his teammates. I think that was important for the cohesion of the team having a kind of a manager on the pitch to point out, right, defenders move up here. Oh, you, you move over here. Oh, you, you just come over here. I must watch him in the game and see how he directs them. So I thought these those two, I thought the Centumid Field was definitely a big positive in this game as well as a
00:09:58
Speaker
I don't know if Georgina was the first name on the team, but I do think Barilla and Pellegrini have to be, because I think those two are the most important ones in this system. I think to the left there is only Barilla and Pellegrini, and to the right there's only Barilla because of what they offer. No one else in this squad offers what they do.
00:10:17
Speaker
uh... and in italy look much more balanced when they have them georgino of course is an incredibly intelligent player as a really really for high football i q which is that his entire career uh... and he's not getting you know he's not that's not going to get any you know less he's not gonna get any less smarter the older he gets it's you know that if anything the experience will that that he that he gains or has and and and and adds to every day will will only help in that aspect i still think that look at early
00:10:47
Speaker
can play Asarejista in that role. I think playing Rolo Catelli the other day in that role was wrong, for many reasons, which we discussed on the pod last week, with the players around him, I should say. But look, I think this is the way forward. I think, you know, Spaliti understands that he's what he's got around him and which players he's got, and he's trying to get the best out of them. And he knows, and he's such an intelligent coach, tactically, that he gets also that
00:11:18
Speaker
He has his identity of how to play, but he also realizes that the numbers game nowadays in football isn't really that important. It's more of where you want the players to be in both phases and how they are to line up and what you want to do with the ball in and out of possession or with possession and how you want to defend the ball when out of possession.
00:11:40
Speaker
when the opposition has it. So, I think it's- We have to highlight though, Nimr, just before you move on though, Nimr, we have to highlight Pellegrini's goal. I mean, that was an absolutely brilliant goal. Fantastic. What a strike. I mean, left footed, volley, I mean, absolutely magnificent. And
00:12:01
Speaker
He showed real touches of class in this game. Pellegrini did an amazing pass at the start of the second half. Just like it was only a big chance for Rasplore. It was more of a half chance with his head. But the way he scooped it, Pellegrini scooped it over the defender to create that chance out of nothing. I mean, he set pieces were really, really good as well and obviously just continuing
00:12:21
Speaker
the amazing form since that. Thank God for Danny Nederosi, for rehabilitating Pellegrini for Italy, as well as for Roma. And I think we've seen in this international break that there's no debate over Pellegrini versus Bonaventura. Not that there should have been anyway, but these two games, we've seen the difference between the two players, massively.
00:12:49
Speaker
No, absolutely. And I mean, if we're talking about good goals, Parela's goal was lovely as well. I mean, the team move or Salini great pass, but also the finish. No, it was really good. I liked, I liked Italy in this game. I think I still think that
00:13:04
Speaker
Belanova, I thought Belanova's a positive as well. As I said, I thought he was really good on the right. I thought he was really good on the right. And he is a good player. I mean, this is one of the reasons I was lamenting that Inter didn't sign him is because I think there is a player there. And I said, as we discussed this on last week's Thursday pod, if I'm not mistaken, we did a
Italy's Attacking Challenges and Spalletti's Strategy
00:13:23
Speaker
profile deep dive on him as well, which people who are not patrons can see on YouTube.
00:13:28
Speaker
But no, I really rate the play and I think he's really, really good in the system. You know, it's about putting him, you know, of course, all play all players have weaknesses and strengths, but all the strengths are his quickness and one on one, his weaknesses are his crossing. But if you put him in a position where he has more time to cross the ball, then then he will deliver.
00:13:49
Speaker
and also he's very important in both phases because of his speed and how tightly he marks the opposition, the opposite winger or wide player, I should say. So no, I think overall, I think it was a good performance. I would like to see, I still think that Cambiazzo can play to the right. I still think that Di Lorenzo next to Acherbi and Bastoni could do really, really well. I think
00:14:20
Speaker
If I share these called up, of course, but, you know, regardless with those better players next time, I think you can do well. But the problem is, and that is what we're going to talk about now, the negatives and that is the attack. Yeah, let's talk about the negatives.
00:14:35
Speaker
Yeah, let's talk about the negatives, because I've got here written on my list. The biggest negative from this game was the attack, just not good enough again, apart from a few chances Italy had early in the game. And obviously, the goal was a goal, was a piece of individual brilliance, wasn't really a creative chance. Apart from those few chances Italy had early in the game, I counted, well, from around about the 15th minute or so, up until Barella's goal in injury time,
00:15:03
Speaker
over 75 minutes Italy didn't create a single chance, like good chance in this game. So I think that says it all again, that Italy's attack is just not
00:15:18
Speaker
not do it. It just doesn't have enough. They're just not dangerous enough. We just don't do enough in attack. Full stop. No, no, they don't. And it doesn't work. And also, Zaniolo Raspadori is not good enough. And I think he was testing it to see what he can do with Zaniolo in that role, because he needs to find a role for Zaniolo. He's found a role for most players, but he hasn't found a role for Zaniolo. And I think Zaniolo won't be called up as a result of it.
00:15:45
Speaker
unless we have injuries and other situations that, you know, knowing the Italian national team and Italian football, you know, you know, who knows who will be who will even be available for selection in five weeks time. God knows if anyone suspended or whatever it is, whatever happens. But having said that, I do think that he will understand that a refugee in this system with Raspadori next to him or kids or refugee. I mean, kids are refugee.
00:16:15
Speaker
Raspadori and Skamaka have to be the attackers because he was himself talking about Spaletti that, you know, I'm looking for different options. I'm looking for players who are versatile, but also players with different characteristics that allow us to play in different ways. And I think that's why he will decide on those four attackers come May, should they all be available and not injured.
00:16:38
Speaker
because they offer him different choices. I mean, you can play a 4-3-3, you can play this system, but also the characteristics of those players are very, very different and gives him options. But I mean, this was an experiment with Raspadori. I mean, Raspadori is not a number nine. He doesn't like playing there. He's more of a second strike. He likes to move about, likes to drop deep. He likes to link up.
00:16:58
Speaker
And he should do that. But then he should have players, you know, then he should have at least one prima punta ahead of him, in my opinion. Otherwise, he almost becomes like a false nine and Italy lack bite up front, which at times I think they did. Yeah. Well, he did play very well. Respiratory is a false nine in the four three three in a couple of games in the in the winter. Obviously, the Ukraine game, which, you know, took us through. He did, you know, I think he did pretty well. Whether or not
00:17:28
Speaker
A false nine can work in a back three, in a three man backline system, like three, four, two, one, or three, five, one, one, or whatever you want to call it, whether or not respiratory or any false nine can work in that system. I'm not sure. I'm not sure if it can, to be honest with you.
00:17:46
Speaker
But regardless of that, Raspedori, yeah, he was very poor in this game. Retiki comes out as a big winner, of course, having done so well in the first game, scoring two goals. And Raspedori puts in a performance like this. And then, yeah, as you said, Zaniolo, he was involved early on. He had the chance. But yeah, in general, just not enough. And that's just the way you sum up Italy's attack in general, in both games. Just the attack.
00:18:15
Speaker
Our attack, from what we've seen in these two games, and this is what we've been saying all season, our attack, do we have an attack that's good enough to make us have an impact deep into the Euros? I mean, remember, this is Ecuador and Venezuela as well we've played. These are two average teams we've played. And the attack just doesn't look even near the level required for these teams. Is our attack good enough for us to go deep into the Euros?
00:18:44
Speaker
I think the answer's no right now. It doesn't mean we can't go, can't somehow work our way through to the euros, through to the latter stages of the euros with a weak attack. It'll be a lot harder though. It's going to be a lot more difficult trying to go far in the euros when you've got an attack that plays like this and with these options.
00:19:06
Speaker
It's a problem. It's a big problem for us going into the Euro's R attack. No, it is. There's a problem. And I think it doesn't matter which formation we play, whether it's a 4-3-3 or 3-4-2-1, our attack doesn't matter which formation we play. The attack is a problem.
00:19:25
Speaker
No, it is. We know that. And it has been for a long while. And it will be. And it's going to be. And that's why you have to mitigate for that. And to be honest with you, I'm really happy that it's Spaliti there because
00:19:42
Speaker
Spaletti is so intelligent and he's so good at man management and has shown so throughout his career that he knows how to mitigate for issues of players' deficiencies and weaknesses and try to get the best out of what he's got. And I think he will do that. So I'm actually not too worried. I was very happy to see that he didn't give up on the 3-4-2-1 or the back 3-5-2 or whatever you want to call it.
00:20:10
Speaker
I'm really happy he continued with it. I'm really happy that he that the players that he played showed that they could play in this system. And now he's got the answers he needs because I mean, the four three three, they all know how to play in it. They won the euros in it. So it's not going to be a difficulty for them to adapt to that in terms of balance. However, when it comes to this, there are players that won't work and other players that will work if they're played next to other players. And it becomes a kind of like a puzzling, a tactical puzzling. And I think Spaletti has gotten the answers he wants.
00:20:42
Speaker
And as he said himself, he will want to be very versatile in the Euros, and he believes that we have a block of inter-players who play really well in a 3-5-2, and we should look to emulate that as much as possible, or not emulate, but draw inspiration from that.
00:21:01
Speaker
Obviously, Spalletti is his own coach and he has his own style. And I think that's the right way to do it. I mean, when Conte did it with Italy in a 3-5-2 with the Juventus block, with Buffon and BBC,
00:21:16
Speaker
in defense. That was the right way to do it. You have to do that. It's national team football. You have to look at the team that is leading domestically and who's producing the best players, and you have to look at the players you have and how they play and get the best formation. And then, of course, you have your own system and identity.
00:21:39
Speaker
But yeah, you know, it becomes a little bit of a puzzling, a tactical puzzling. And I think Spolety is the right man to do exactly that. So yeah, yeah, I don't doubt the manager at all. There's no doubt there. It's just whether we, you know, if you don't have the quality, sometimes you just don't have the quality. And that's that's unfortunately, you know, when we when we discussed in a soon we'll discuss the squad, we will the attack will be the most difficult
00:22:09
Speaker
part of the department of the field to choose who we're going to take with us. So we'll expand on that there. And when we discussed what our starting 11s would be, the final negative though, from this game, for me, Nemo, was our passing. Way, way, way too many misplaced passes, unforced passing errors in this game. Number one to blame was Locatelli when he came on. His passing was atrocious at times, which was really disappointing for a player of Locatelli.
00:22:34
Speaker
naturally such a good passer and passing range that he has medium, short and long range passing. He's got it all in his locker. Very, very disappointing. So yeah, we have to pass better. We have to keep the ball better. The second half especially, we kind of invited pressure. We never really looked like conceding, to be honest, but we have to pass better than that going forward. Just before we do discuss the squad,
00:23:01
Speaker
What system does Spoletti use? Not what system would you use, what system does Spoletti use? Do you think he goes, he sticks with a 3, 4, 2, 1? Do you think that the friendlies before the tournament will decide that? Do you think he wants to use a
00:23:18
Speaker
A mixture of both, a 4-3-3 and a 3-4-2-1. In his mind, what do you think he's thinking?
Predicting Italy's Euro 2024 Formation
00:23:25
Speaker
For which system he will use. I think he's going to play with it. I think he's going to try to look to playing into a three, like start the tournament playing a 3-5-2 or a 3-4-2 on how you want to play with the numbers from then on. But a back three is what I think he's going to go with.
00:23:46
Speaker
Because I think he and this result of this performance I should say against Ecuador with the inter block showed that he does have the players to play like that. These are players who are used to playing like that, the core of the team.
00:24:01
Speaker
You know, if it's, if it's Darmiana Cherby Bastoni or Di Lorenzo Cherby Bastoni, if it's Belanova Cambiaso, they work well with Barella Georgini or Locatelli, and then you've got Pelligrini, and then who we know works well with Barella, and then you've got Di Marco Udoji. I mean, for me, these are like, it just, it kind of, the team kind of almost picks itself, or the formation, I should say, rather, it picks itself.
00:24:26
Speaker
Then with who you've got up front and who you play wide, depending on the opposition, is it a team that defends deep with long, with tall defenders? Then maybe Seamaka is the right guy. Is it a team that you want to pull out of?
00:24:45
Speaker
that the defense that plays pretty high up, the defense high up in a defensive line, and either space to attack them, then maybe playing with Rehtegi and Raspadori or Chiesa or whoever is the right one. I mean, I think those are more just depending on who they play, but I think that
00:25:00
Speaker
I think he's going to primarily start the back three because of the fact that the players are available to him and his disposal are the ones best suited to play in a back three. And that's what I've been saying for like two years now.
00:25:18
Speaker
Nowadays, football isn't that formation tide. At the end of the day, the formation is more about the means of how you get there, the style of play, the identity. That's different. Some would argue more important. And Spaletti's football, we know what he wants to do.
00:25:34
Speaker
So the question then becomes, how do we reach that? And which formation do I use to help me reach that based on what I've got available to me? And I think he's so smart and he's so tactically astute that he sees that a 352 or 343 or whatever is the best way to get there. To be honest.
00:25:54
Speaker
Yeah, I think that Italy have two friendlies before the Euros. We're playing against Turkey on June the 4th in Bologna and then Bosnia and Herzegovina in Empoli on June the 9th, which is six days before Italy's first Euros game against Albania, June the 15th in Dortmund. So
00:26:16
Speaker
Yeah, we'll see, of course, what system he plays. I think if he uses a 3, 4, 2, 1 in both of those games, then I think we can probably safely say that he's going to start the tournament with that. But then I think we'll get our answers also with the squad, because the squad will decide who he picks in the squad will also give us clues as to what system he's going to use. And that's what makes
00:26:45
Speaker
For me, what we're going to do now is we are going to be Luciano Spoletti and we're going to choose our squad for the Euros now, NIMA, both of us. What makes it so difficult choosing a squad is I don't know myself if I'm Luciano Spoletti, whether I go with a 4-3-3
00:27:05
Speaker
or a 3, 4, 2, 1, because for me, it was a certain no after the Venezuela game. I was like, there's no way we can use a 3, 4, 2, 1. There's not enough time. But then they were more cohesive. They were more defensively solid against Ecuador. But there are still clear weaknesses in both systems. The attack remains not good enough for both systems.
00:27:28
Speaker
But I do feel like if we are going to use a back three, just use the entire inter-block, Dalmi and Achebe Bastani, and then, you know, like I said, the wing backs, maybe even play Ben over as well on DiMarco. You've got Borrello in midfield. I mean, that's six of the seven first outfield players are inter, inter-easty. So the squad, it will depend on what we're going to go for, basically.
00:27:52
Speaker
But let's go through it then. Let's choose our squad, our Italy squad, for you really, 2024. Let's start with the goalkeeper, the goalkeeper department, and this is probably the easiest one to do. So I'm going to read out the shortlist first. The shortlist of goalkeepers are Donnarumma, Nicario, Meretz, Provodel, Kanesaki, Di Gregorio at a stretch. We have to pick three. My three are Donnarumma,
00:28:20
Speaker
Victoria and then the only debate is who you take as your number three i'm taking kana secchi the only reason for that is the number three goalkeeper never plays in any tournament i rather take a goalkeeper that can gain a bit of experience or you know could be in ten years time but it's good to have some experience uh gain some experience rather than an older one that's well what's the point
00:28:41
Speaker
No, I tend to agree with that. I think that's usually what people do, don't they? They bring two established goalkeepers and they bring a young one so that he's used to having
00:28:57
Speaker
you know having been used to for the future should he continue having a great career that he's been to a tournament already and knows what it's about and can draw on that experience. I'm happy with that I mean let's remember it's not a twenty six man squad it's a twenty three man squad.
00:29:13
Speaker
Um, so it's, we can't have four goalkeeper. So yeah, three for me, uh, I'm okay with that. I don't have too many, like, I don't have too many bother, but you know, too many issues with that. Although I would like to say that someone like Provedel probably deserves to get called up as well, given how well he's played. Um, so yeah, I mean, De Gregorio has been outstanding. If we're going on form, um, he's had a fantastic season. I mean, I think, you know,
00:29:42
Speaker
together with some men, I mean, I think no one would disagree that they've probably been the best call keepers in the Syrianity season. But so, I mean, yeah, I mean, I'm not too fast, really. Dona Ruma Vicario, then Provedel, Carmen Ecequi, Di Grigorio, take a pic. Yeah, yeah, agreed. Defenders, defenders, now, usually,
00:30:09
Speaker
when picking squads for a World Cup or Euros, usually teams will pick
00:30:16
Speaker
and eight players or usually nine players in defense, but obviously the formation comes into it here. And this is where it's difficult because if you're picking a four man defense, then, you know, if you're playing a four man back four, then you might be okay with even picking four center backs because if one of your full backs can also play a center back as well, for example, in which case you could probably pick eight, but then if you're playing a back,
00:30:46
Speaker
If you're playing with three sensor backs, then you're going to need five. You're going to need definitely going to need five sensor backs, and then you're going to probably need four wing backs, unless some can double up on either side, like it can be us, it can. So it's going to be difficult, but if we assume
00:31:07
Speaker
Let's just, I mean, this is difficult. Let's, let's assume that we're going to pick two right back slash right wing backs and two left back slash left wing backs. Let's start with the right. Who are your right sided defenders? We're not talking center backs here. We're talking full backs or wing backs. Okay. Wing backs. It's, uh, for me, it's Bella Nova and it's, uh, Cambia. So those are my two.
00:31:32
Speaker
Okay. And you're not picking De Lorenzo or you put him as the partner center back? He's the right center back for me. Okay. All right. Yeah. This is so tough of me. I really don't know. There's De Lorenzo, there's Darmian.
00:31:51
Speaker
There's Cambiaso, there's Belanova. Now, Darmian, I have to pick because I want the inter-block. So Darmian has to be in it, whether he's part of the center back or whether he's part of the right, Darmian has to be in it. Di Lorenzo, I just find it inconceivable that you can't say Di Lorenzo as bad as his season's been. So I'm going to take Di Lorenzo, Darmian, and then it has to be one between
00:32:14
Speaker
Belanova and and Cambiezo, Belanova's performance. And I mean, if if we're going for a three, four, three, four, two, one, then I'm almost edging towards Belanova because he's so devastating. So I'm going to go. I'm originally was going to Cambiezo. Now I'm going to go Belanova. So dealer and I'm going to pick three, three right backs, three right wing backs dealer, Enzo Darmian and Belanova.
00:32:45
Speaker
Left backs. Left wing backs. It's Udo Jidi Marco. There's not really much to talk about. It's Udo Jidi Marco. I'd probably bring in, if Spinazzola's fit, I'd probably have him as well because he can play on the right, he can play on the left, and he's very good, and he's got experience. But it's a 23-man squad, and I'm going to keep that spot open for
00:33:10
Speaker
for when I know exactly like how many numbers, if I got anyone over, got anyone left over.
00:33:16
Speaker
Yeah, the other options on the left are Spin It Sailor and Biraghi, really. Palizzi's not in the record now anymore, he doesn't play, so it's really out of those. And then Cambiazzo as well, you know, who you can put there, but I mean, I think it has to be Udoji and DiMarco, and there just isn't room to pick anyone else. Censorbacks, so the Censorback options are Bastoni, Achebe, if he is available, Bonjour, Nos, Galvini, Mancini,
00:33:42
Speaker
Calafiori, Gatti, Romagnoli and then well you're you're you're including Di Lorenzo and I don't assume at Darmian as well in the centre backs because you're you're selecting yours I'm assuming you're selecting yours as part of the three man defense and so who are your who are your centre backs? Right centre back, Di Lorenzo Darmian, centre centre backs, Acherbi Buongiorno, left centre backs, Bastoni Calafiori.
00:34:11
Speaker
Yeah, I would go for, did you not, did you pick a chair? But you said, yeah, I said a cherry. Did you say, yeah, I said a cherry. He said a cherry. Right. So we're assuming he's assuming he's available. Yeah. So I'm going Bastani. I want kind of fury. Yeah. I want kind of fury.
00:34:33
Speaker
I want someone, I want someone with some pace. I'm going to go Bastoni in Califuri is my left centre backs, my centre centre backs. I'm going to go for a chair B.
00:34:50
Speaker
I'm kind of torn now between Bonjourno and Mancini. After that Bonjourno horror show, I'm torn between Bonjourno and Mancini. What I can say is that Scalvini now, he's not in my squad, nor is Gatti, nor is Romagnoli.
00:35:06
Speaker
I think we have the same defenders. I think we have the same squad in terms of that. The only debate for me is whether I go with Bonjour or Mancini. That's my only difference between the two of us, whether I go Bonjour or whether I go Mancini. And I'm not sure. Plus, I'm very
00:35:27
Speaker
wary that i think we've selected 10 defenders i believe and that's too many like one of those is going to happen no not necessarily we won't fit in 23 players not necessarily because i mean i've counted it's 10 and then plus three that's 13 that means you've got 10 players left for midfield and attack uh and i'm not
00:35:47
Speaker
Okay well let's do the midfield attack and we'll come back and we'll name our 23 at the end because this is a juggling act and it's very very difficult getting the numbers down remember that in Euro 2020 there was the squads were 26 was it? They increased the numbers because of Covid and that made it a lot easier to get all the numbers in and now we're down to 23 and it does become a juggling act.
00:36:08
Speaker
So, midfield, the short list here is, and we really, our midfield depth is really not as big as it used to be. It's actually quite not much depth at all, actually, in our midfield.
Italy's Squad Selection Dilemmas
00:36:18
Speaker
So, we are one or two injuries away from disaster in midfield. We need to pray our midfielders stay fit. So, we've got Locatelli, Giorginio, Cristante, Barella, Fratazzi, Bonaventura, Pellegrini, Folarunsu, Colpani, Pesina, Verratti, I'm still, I'm including them in the short list, even though it's unlike Casade,
00:36:37
Speaker
Fabian Bove. So five or six midfielders, really, we have to be picked.
00:36:49
Speaker
maybe five, but we'll see. Who are you going for? I'm going for six midfielders and my right mid-cinemid, Fratese, Baralla, left-cinemid, Pellegrini, and Pesina, and Regista, Locatelli, and Giorgino.
00:37:15
Speaker
I mean, yes, I'm in agreement on the right, I go for the same as you, Borrello and Fratuzzi, the logistas the same as you, Locatelli and Giorgino, Pellegrini agreed, then it's a difficult one for me. Do I go Persina? I agree, I'm not going to include Bonaventura. Do I go Persina and go for another more kind of attack in midfielder?
00:37:40
Speaker
Or do I go Cristante and bring a holding midfielder, like somebody that's more of a destroyer, which we don't really have any of those in our current midfield at all, because Giorgino isn't nor is Locatelli, they're ball-playing the Gistas, whereas do we want to pick a hardman? I'm not a fan of Cristante, but you think you have to bring one
00:38:05
Speaker
Usually you would bring one and I think in Spoletti's mind, maybe he does bring him, but with I bring him, I don't know. I think Barilla has played there. I'm looking at the maths. Barilla has played there for Conte when needed to. So he can do a job there if needed. We're talking like towards the end of games, if you're looking to defend the lead kind of thing. And I would play, you can play Barilla there. He's done it before.
00:38:28
Speaker
Okay, well, in that case, then you won me over. I'll go Pacina if I'm going to go with a six, but I might have to chop Pacina if if the numbers don't add up at the end, because it's, again, really, really difficult getting down to 23. So provisionally, I'm going to go Pacina as my six centimeter fielder. That brings us on to the forward list. This is an absolute nightmare trying to pick the trying to pick a bunch of attackers from here. So I'm going to read out the shortlist. Most of them as bad as each other. So here we go.
00:39:01
Speaker
Now before I ask, first of all, again,
00:39:17
Speaker
Spiletti is going to have to decide before he picks his squad. Am I going with a 3-4-2-1? Am I going for a 3-5-2? Am I going for a 4-3-3? Because that is going to determine who he picks and also the number of players that he picks. Because if he's going for a 3-4-2-1, then he probably doesn't need any more than five forwards. He could even argue four if we include him. Pellegrini is one of the, or even, you know, Pacino, or even, but,
00:39:47
Speaker
Fraterzi as one of the two behind the one. Do you know what I mean? So this is where it kind of the formation is important. And to be fair, Kiesan Raspadori, Kiesan Raspadori can play on the wings wide if you want to play a 4-3-3 in certain games.
00:40:04
Speaker
And Raspadori can play center as well, yeah. Yeah, and Skamaka Rettegi are more prima punte. So it's my fault that Raspadori's Skamaka Rettegi are more prima punte. So it's my fault that Raspadori's Skamaka Rettegi are more prima punte. So it's my fault that Raspadori's Skamaka Rettegi are more prima punte. So it's my fault that Raspadori's Skamaka Rettegi are more prima punte. So it's my fault that Raspadori's Skamaka Rettegi are more prima punte. So it's my fault that Raspadori's Skamaka Rettegi are more prima punte. So it's my fault that Raspadori's Skamaka Rettegi are more prima punte. So it's my fault that Raspadori's Skamaka Rettegi are
00:40:23
Speaker
So I'm not too worried about that, to be honest. And also, if you're playing a 4-3-3, remember when Mancini played Pellegrini as an inverted-wide player in a 4-3-3, which worked, and he was rather good in that as well, in that system. So I'm not too worried. I think this is the squad I would go with, these 23 players. The three in goal, which I mentioned, Donnarumma... Okay, hang on, hang on, hang on.
00:41:08
Speaker
That's it. Then I want to see the last two months of the season. I want to see who finishes the season well, who's fit as well, who finishes the season well. And also, hopefully by then it becomes a little bit clearer as well, what formation he's going to use, even though I agree with your reasoning. If I had to pick my attackers now today for the Euros tomorrow,
00:41:14
Speaker
Yeah, let me let me let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me just let me
00:41:33
Speaker
I'd probably go Kiesa. I would go Raspadori because I think he understands what Spelletti wants from him and I think that's important.
00:41:45
Speaker
I would go Wilfred Nyonta. I don't trust any of the others. Nyonta is playing really well for Leeds. He's been maybe our most informal attacker in 2024. I know it's the championship, but the championship is a high level now. Nyonta I would have in.
00:42:04
Speaker
If Moisakine plays the number of games he played between August and November before his injury, I would trust Moisakine over all the other number nines, honestly, because I like the fact that he's got pace, he can hold the ball up, he's physical.
00:42:23
Speaker
and I think he and Spelletti really likes him the only problem is I don't think he's going to get enough games between now and and the end of the season so he for that reason he probably won't get in but if he did get enough games I would I would trust him over the others
00:42:40
Speaker
And then in Skamaka and Rettigui, I don't know whether you can take both of them. If you're going to take Raspidori, can you take Raspidori, Skamaka and Rettigui? I don't know. I think it's going to be one of Skamaka or Rettigui. I don't understand why, but they're different kinds of players. I don't think he's more of a fox in the box and Skamaka you can use more. Because you can only play one or the other. Yeah.
00:43:05
Speaker
You need to have different roles and to play in different formations. I think, you know, Skamaka, he's a target man more. Rehtagi is more a killer in the box. So you don't necessarily, you can play them together, but you don't need to. Raspadori and Skamaka we know can play fantastically well together.
00:43:25
Speaker
So, that already is a combination that works. And Kiesa and Rettegi, if Kiesa stops sulking and actually tries to do something, you know, and listen to Spaletti and what Spaletti wants, otherwise, I don't see the point in bringing Kiesa, to be honest. At this point, if he's going to continue this attitude that he's got,
00:43:50
Speaker
and sulk and demonstrably disobey instructions, then I'd leave him out, to be honest, because it's pointless. The problem is that you have to gamble on Kieser because you need to have one attacker that you know has the ability to be a difference maker. At some point, Carlo, I agree with that, but at some point it becomes a situation where you can have all the talent in the world
00:44:14
Speaker
But if you're not going to if you go in if you're going to actively disobey the tactics of the coach because you're unhappy with playing being played in a position that you don't want to play in then why then then you know just stay out of it like it is best for everyone if he doesn't come.
00:44:33
Speaker
because it's ridiculous, because no one stands to gain from this. Italy stands to lose only if Chieza is called up and insists on sulking and not doing what Spaletti wants him to do in a 3-5-2. It's a complete waste of everyone's time.
00:44:53
Speaker
Yeah, well, that's that's a conversation. The two of them are going to go going to certainly going to have to have. But yeah, I'm going to go Kiesa, Nianto. I'm going to pick Zanyala. I'm going to provisionally pick Keene. I know that will sound absolutely mad right now, but that's on the proviso that he plays enough games. Otherwise he's out. I'm going to go Raspadori as well. And then I'm going to pick.
00:45:16
Speaker
one of schemaka or retiki depending on who who wins the season who wins the season better that's six that's six players um but you know again i might have to lose might have to lose one of those players depending on you know who who ends up getting picked so go on then you do your 23 this is this is so try your best so don't know roma vicario uh providel those three uh and then
00:45:45
Speaker
acherbi, bonjorno, bastoni, calafiori, that's together with three of six, that's nine. Then you have cambiaso, bellanova, dimarco, udoji, that's 13. And then in midfield it's locatelli, giorgiño, barrella, fretezi, pellegrini, pesina, that brings me up to 19. And then the last four,
00:46:15
Speaker
If Kiesa stops sulking like a child, Kiesa, and Skamakka... Like a Bimbo Minka. Bimbo Minka, yeah. I mean, it's big time Bimbo Minka attitude right now with him. Kiesa, if he stops being a Bimbo Minka, then Raspadori Skamakka Retegi. So Raspadori Skamakka Retegi, Kiesa... I want to call up Kiesa, because I think he is a fantastic player, but he needs to stop sulking and demonstrably
00:46:45
Speaker
Not doing what Spaletti wants him to do with with a you it's a different situation with a leg because we don't know what's gonna happen there But Spaletti ain't going anywhere. This is a tournament. You need everyone with you And if Kiesa feels that he has nothing to prove and he wants everything to be built around him then Spaletti is just gonna have to chop him off like he can't you can't come or if Kiesa is willing to sacrifice himself and actually
00:47:07
Speaker
not sacrifice himself more, but actually give himself to the system and say, look, actually drop everything that's happened at Juva. This is Italy. This is a short tournament. This is the system we want to play and understand what he wants him to do and really apply himself to do that. Then I think he could have a not just a starting role, but a starring role in this Italy.
00:47:32
Speaker
Okay, right. I'm going to try and do mine now. I might have to remove somebody at the end. So, Donnarumma, Vicario, Kanasecki, my three goalkeepers. Then, right backs, Di Lorenzo,
00:47:48
Speaker
Darmian, Belanova, that's six. Censobax, we've got Bastoni, Acherbe, Calafiori, and he was the other one.
00:48:14
Speaker
Let's go Mancini. Mancini over Buongiorno. And then left-backs DiMarco and Odorce. How many is that? I wasn't counting. That's nine. Is that nine? I was counting myself when I was doing mine. I wasn't counting yours. For goodness sake. Right. So three goalkeepers, Di Lorenzo, Di Lorenzo, Damián, and Bellanova six.
00:48:41
Speaker
Then my left back's a dodgy in DiMarco, that's eight. And then centre backs, Bastoni in a chirpy, and Bonjour, no, Califuri and... Mancini, you said. Mancini. No, I'm going to go Bonjour, no. I'm going to go Bonjour, no. I'm going to go Bonjour, no. So that's 12, got 12 players. Then midfielders, Locatelli,
00:49:10
Speaker
Giorginio, Varela, Fratazzi, Pellegrini. That's 17.
00:49:22
Speaker
17, that's five, isn't it? 17. I'm not going to pick, I'm not going to pick Christante now. Sorry, Pacina, I've changed my mind, because the dodgy can be used as a, as a set in the field, I feel really, really desperate. So I've decided that I'm going to use him as a kind of a wild card. So that keeps me on 17. And then attackers, I'm going to go Kiesa, Zaniolo,
00:49:57
Speaker
I've got three more spaces. I've gone for six attacks.
00:50:13
Speaker
which might be maybe is one attack, but I want to have enough. I want to have enough that can play for a fourth that can cover a four, three, three and cover a three, four, two, one. You know, I know there's weaknesses in mind, but I mean, if I could have one critique in your selection, Nima, I would say that, you know, you've picked four forwards.
00:50:32
Speaker
If we were to want to use a four three three say that three four two ones working disaster in the Greek and we we have to go back to a four three three so we get hammered by Spain for example it's like oh we can't use this three four two one anymore we want to go to a four three three I'm like do we have enough play we do because Pellegrini can play because Pellegrini can play as an inverted
00:50:51
Speaker
winger, which Mancini has had played him before when they've had Spinazzola marauding down. But then you're short in midfield. No, not really. You don't need to do that at all because you can. Well, then you don't have him in midfield. If you play him in attack, you don't have him in midfield. But you can still play. I mean, you can mitigate for it in a 4-3. What I'm saying is that we've had Pellegrini in a 4-3 as an inverted winger when Spinazzola was marauding down the left.
00:51:16
Speaker
So we know that he can do that. And then because he got DiMarco there and he got Udoji there, Di Lorenzo will obviously have to be the full back to the right and he knows how to invert as well. You've got Cambiazzo in the squad regardless who can play in many roles. No, I'm not worried at all. I'm not worried at all. And in midfield... See, I think this is part of the problem with...
00:51:35
Speaker
This is part of the problem with us not knowing what our formation, or guaranteed what our formation is, and not being ready, or not having a clear system that everybody, that we know, that we're confident in, you know, long time. You could play, actually, what you can do, then you can play, if you're going to have Pellegrini as an inverted winger, you can actually have Locatelli Barilla and Giorginio all playing in a midfield three.
00:51:58
Speaker
like it's not gonna harm Italy. So yeah, I mean, you could. So I'm not worried. I'm not worried. I think this squad that I've picked is the one that allows you to choose and the formation change as much as possible. Again, it's the identity of play that I'm looking for. And I think Spalletti
00:52:20
Speaker
is the identity he wants to have is crystal clear. And so I've picked players that suit the identity and then also offer the versatility and formation. So that's what I've... Yeah, for sure.
Italy's Euro 2024 Strategy and Expectations
00:52:35
Speaker
Let's pick our starting 11 now. First game of the tournament against Albania right now. What's your team? What's your formation? What's your team? Um, 3-5-2. And it's Donnarum and Gol, you can't not have him.
00:52:48
Speaker
He has to start, he has to be the starting keeper. And then Di Lorenzo, Acherbi Bastani. Given that it's Albania, I'd probably go with Belanova because I want to beat them wide. I want to have one flank where I have a player who beats his man.
00:53:06
Speaker
And Bela Nova's good at that. So Bela Nova to the right, my midfield trio is Giorginio Barella and Pellegrini. My left is Di Marco, and then up front, because I think Albania are going to be very, very low block, I'd have Skamaka.
00:53:22
Speaker
And I probably have a rehtigin next to him. I have two strong players playing off each other. A proper 3-5-2. Because it's Albania. Against Spain, I would probably play a 3-5-1-1. But against Albania, I'd go full-on 3-5-1-1. The twin tower. The twin tower. Brexit style. Yes, because Gamaka is a target man. And I think he's a killer in the box. So I played them together. Okay.
00:53:51
Speaker
All right, for my team again, I'm so torn right now on whether to go with 4-3-3 or 3-4-2. And I'm just generally confused right now with Italy. I really don't know. I'd hate to be Spoletti. I really would like try to decide what to do because I really don't know. But I'm still leaning towards 4-3-3 right now. So if I was going to pick a 4-3-3, it'd be Donna Rimmering goal.
00:54:14
Speaker
it'd be Di Lorenzo and Di Marco as the fullbacks, Acherbi and Bastani as the two centre backs, Midfield three, Barrella, Giorgino, Pellegrini, then my attack would be Nianto and Chiesa on the wings,
00:54:31
Speaker
could be either. They could switch as well. They could probably rotate from side to side during the game. That'd be my two wingers. And then my center forward, again, it's really difficult to know. But I agree with your reasoning in the sense that I think they will play a low block.
00:54:50
Speaker
And in that case, maybe Schimacher could be the right man, could be the right man. But then again, if, like I said, it depends on who finishes the season stronger as to who I would go out of Schimacher or Reticri. If Reticri's in the squad, he could be the right man, putting him crosses for Reticri. He's very good in the air, so he could be. But then again, Raspedori could be the right man as well, pulling them out of position in a low block. So the center forward is take your pick.
00:55:18
Speaker
But the rest of the team, that's what it would be. If, though, if we, you know, we do those two friendlies before the tournament and we play the three, four, two, one, it's clear, you know, that's going to be our team and that's who he's picked the squad to cater for. Then I think the key thing for me is that we go with the interblock because of what I said on the last show about, you know, having the lack of time to to work on this system together with the new players, you know,
00:55:43
Speaker
Donna Rummer in goal, but Darmiana, Cherby and Bastoni complete three man into centre backs. Then, you know, I would even be open to dropping Di Lorenzo altogether and going Bella Nov and Di Marco as the wing back to two more into East D.
00:55:58
Speaker
Barrela also sends him midfield and there you've got six of your six players of your out six of your foot of your Back seven outfield players are all into players. I mean the the understanding is going to be fantastic there Georgina being the other player in sense of midfield and then you know Then I'd be a lot more calmer knowing that you know, these guys are going to understand the system Well, so I might even you know, I would if we are going to go with a back three
00:56:24
Speaker
then that's what I want us to do. And then the two behind the one, I think that, yeah, if we can get Kiesa willing and a little bit better drilled into the system, I think you have to have him and Pellegrini as the two. And then an attack, again, as I said on the 4-3-3, the same reason. You could really take your pick depending on how you want to play the game.
00:56:54
Speaker
No, for sure. That's my team. But there's a long way to go. There's a long way to go. This is Italian football. Who knows who's even going to be available for selection? Who's been suspended? Who's been injured? I don't know what. Well, there's bound to be something else. Something else is bound to have happened. The financial police will raid someone's office and ban everyone. Something will happen. It's just guaranteed, isn't it? It's so exhausting, isn't it?
00:57:23
Speaker
A chirpy will get off the racism storm, but then somebody else in the Italy team will say something against Jesus and they'll get banned for the season and they'll miss the Euro. Yeah, for blasphemy. That's the only thing we haven't covered. We've got gambling, we've got racism, we've got all forms of illegal things, but the only thing we haven't got is blasphemy. That's the one we're missing.
00:57:49
Speaker
We need someone to get suspended. That's the biggest crime in Italian football. I know, I know. Blasphemy and illegally streaming football games. They're the biggest crimes in Italian football. Forget racism, forget corruption, forget money laundering, forget all that stuff that goes on.
00:58:10
Speaker
Blasphemy and streaming. It'll come out, I don't know, it'll come out then, I don't know. Georgina is co-owner of a company that illegally streams football games or something. Do you know what I mean? Because he invested in his cousin's company like eight years ago and didn't know what was going on and had nothing to do with a company or some shit like that. Something stupid like that will happen.
00:58:33
Speaker
bloody hell. They really shouldn't play for themselves entirely. I want you to play. They should they should play that that the theme tune to curb your enthusiasm instead, like literally like might as well. I mean, just the chaos surrounding the Italian national team or Italian football for the last year or two is just oh, God.
00:58:57
Speaker
Well, we usually do well when there's a scandal around the squad. So why not? Just before we finish the show, let's again, we'll do this properly before the tournament and I'll preview the tournament and there is a long way to go.
00:59:14
Speaker
how far can Italy go in this tournament and how do the main contenders look? Italy's got their strengths, they've got a lot of weaknesses, but so have everybody else. Let me start off here. I've been watching a lot of games in this international window because I've wanted to have a look at all the other teams. First of all, I'll say that
00:59:37
Speaker
I think we will go through our group as half of the third place teams go through. So it's actually quite difficult not to go through your group. It would have to be a real disaster of a group for Italy not to go through. We'd probably have to lose two of our games to go out. So that would be a real disaster. If we were to lose two of our group games, that would be catastrophic.
01:00:05
Speaker
we should go through. Then if we go through, it depends on the route really as to kind of what is realistic for us. I think if we come top, I've worked out the route, if we come top of our group, Group B, we will play a best third place.
01:00:22
Speaker
and you know so that you then think obviously you never know who's going to finish first second or third but you think that that puts us in a good position to then at least get to the quarter finals then we'll probably play Germany in the quarter finals we come top of our group and Germany come top of their group will be on the same path to meet Germany in the quarter finals obviously as the host that'll be a difficult game so if we come top we'd be in a good
01:00:46
Speaker
you'd back us to get to the quarterfinals. If we come second in our group, we will play the runner-up of Germany's group A in the second round. So assuming, again, that Germany come top, Germany could come second, we can meet them in the second round, but assuming Germany come top of their group, that would mean we'd play Switzerland, Scotland or Hungary, which, you know, for a last 16 game is pretty decent. The problem with that is that we would then play
01:01:14
Speaker
England in the quarterfinals, assuming England come top of their group and they've got such an easy group, and France in the semi-finals, assuming France win their group and then keep winning. So the key point here is coming top
01:01:30
Speaker
of our group would likely see us miss France and England until the final. If we come top of our group, France and England come top of their groups, we cannot meet France or England until the final. Now, that is absolutely huge. If we want to have a realistic aim of going all the way and winning the tournament, which I know it seems unlikely now, but if we want to aim for that,
01:01:56
Speaker
winning our group would be so crucial for us having such a better chance of going deep. Because for me, and I think you agree with me, England and France are the only two teams who are on paper, and the game isn't just played on paper, but on paper, they're the only two teams in the tournament who I would say are significantly better than us right now. And if we can miss them until the final,
01:02:18
Speaker
then that's fantastic for us. I mean, that gives us a chance of, you know, playing our cards against, you know, I think we'd have a chance against, I think we'd have a chance. We might not be favorites to win all the games against everyone else, but I think we'd have a chance, you know, of really, you know, of beating all the other teams. So that's where the draw is crucial. If we come third and qualify, don't even ask me what the route will be. It's impossible to predict. So the bottom line is,
01:02:45
Speaker
We need to try and win the group, never. Yeah, I mean, that's obviously the ideal solution. But Italy aren't going to win the Euros. I don't expect them to. I expect them to get to a quarterfinal. And then I expect them to bow out against whether it's Germany, France or England, who they play. So for me, it's about, yes, of course, ideally win the group. But then you have to what, you got Spain and Croatia that you have to, you know,
01:03:13
Speaker
You have to win two of those three games and draw the last one, ideally, which is doable, of course, but it's going to be difficult. But for me, I just don't see, you know, it's a quarterfinal at best. And again, I don't really care about the Euros as much because Italy won it just
01:03:35
Speaker
three years ago. And this for me, the way I look at this, and I hope that Spaletti sees this way too, this is about building something, a structure to build on towards the World Cup. Italy have to come to the World Cup and not just reach the World Cup, but have to get far in the World Cup. It's been, well, by the next World Cup, it's what, 2020, when is it, 28?
01:04:00
Speaker
26. 26 is the next World Cup. That's 20 years then since Italy last won it and it'll be 20 years since Italy last went through from the group stage.
01:04:15
Speaker
and they didn't even fail, and they failed to reach the two of those World Cups. So the World Cup... Yeah, it's 12 years. It'll be 12 years since we qualified. Yeah. So Italy have to target the World Cup. What I want to see in this Euros, I want to see Spaletti do what he does best. Unite the country, unite the team, unite the country around this team, which all automatically means unite this team like Mancini did.
01:04:43
Speaker
And I want them to do themselves justice and go as far as possible, of course, preferably win it, of course, if that's possible. But if not possible or not probable, I should say, then I want to see something put in place for him to do something at the World Cup in 2026, because that has to be the target.
Analysis of Euro 2024 Contenders
01:05:09
Speaker
Yeah, okay. Let's have a look at the contenders then. Favourites to win the Euros are England. England are the favourites. England are the favourites. Well, with the bookmakers, it's England. England are the favourites with the bookmakers, three to one. Now,
01:05:27
Speaker
Their strengths are clear. I mean, their attack is fantastic. So many goals, so many top-class players, world-class players in attack. They have the experience, tournament experience, you know, final of the past Euros, semi-finals of the past.
01:05:42
Speaker
a semi-final and a quarter-final of the past two World Cups, you know, lots of caps and they've got the experience. They've also got an easy draw, as usual, and a pretty good route. It deepens the tournament as well. So they're well set up. But weaknesses, I think, you know, defence is not impenetrable. The goalkeeper's average, Pickford's average, the left-back is a bit of an issue because Luke Shaw's
01:06:11
Speaker
barely played this season. I think he's only going to be back just before the Euros. He's not going to be fit. Chilwell's been crap this season, and they don't really have anyone else. So I think in defense, there's some issues. And I think the biggest weakness of England is Gareth Southgate, the manager. I think he's the biggest person holding them back. I'll just combine this with France, because I think these two are ahead of the rest.
01:06:38
Speaker
France, like England and France, they're just stacked with quality and goals, especially in attack. I mean, there's goals everywhere. They've got the best player in the world for me, Gillian Mbappe. Again, they've got the experience. I mean, two World Cup finals in a row, one of them they won. I think they've got the hunger as well to win this tournament because this generation is the only thing they haven't won is the Euros. I think they'll want to win this tournament.
01:07:00
Speaker
But their weaknesses, I think, again, I think Didier Deschamps, I know it sounds crazy for a coach that's been to three finals and won one, including the Euros final. I don't think he's a great coach. And I think that there's just an arrogance about this France team that they can have kind of brainfarts in games like we saw against Switzerland in the last Euros and where they just, you just think where their minds just go.
01:07:28
Speaker
and they just don't seem to be there and they can just have an off day. France are just weird like that. They've always got an off game. They've always got a horror performance in them, just out of nowhere you think, where did that come from? I think that's their weakness, France. Also, they don't have a natural right back as well and they're a bit imbalanced, full stop.
01:07:51
Speaker
Yeah, they have weaknesses, but you think in England or France to win it or maybe Germany, one of the three favorites are those teams. It's England and France, England, first and foremost, then France, then Germany, Germany at home and Germany after they've had crises. I just I don't know. They they always do well in tournaments at home, whether or not they win it is that's I'm not sure Germany are quite there yet.
01:08:23
Speaker
They've got a great midfield, Cruz is back, Tony Cruz is back, and they've got a fantastic midfield now, Gundegan, Cruz, Musiallo is amazing. He's probably the most informed player in Europe right now. So much creativity. And then they beat France in Paris, which I think will give them confidence. Remember when Italy hammered Germany before the World Cup 2006? That gave them so much confidence. No, Germany are a qualitatively fantastic side. The problem isn't that. The problem has been the organisation and the identity of who Germany is.
01:08:42
Speaker
but they will go to the latter stages.
01:08:52
Speaker
as a team. That's been built pretty much on a downward spiral since they won the World Cup. I think there's going to be pride involved and Germany will come together and want to absolve themselves from the embarrassment of the last few years.
01:09:11
Speaker
So, I expect them to reach a quarterfinal, semi-final minimum, semi-final minimum. England, I think... They do have... Yeah, sorry, they don't have a natural number nine, Germany, which I think is a weakness, and their defence has been an abomination for years, really. So, you know, they've got weaknesses as well. They do, and that's why... So, just on England, I know you were coming to...
01:09:32
Speaker
That's why I don't think Germany are going to win, because I do think they're not quite ready yet. But for me, in a tournament like this, you're looking at complete squads, not just in terms of where the players are, but the starting players, but overall as a squad. And for me, England and France are just head and shoulders above everyone else.
01:09:51
Speaker
um and and and so it really is a target although i watched england against brazil yeah i watched england against brazil the other day without harry kane let me just tell you this england without harry kane are an average team he he ties everything together because scarif self-gate is not a very good coach he has everything that i criticize listen i'm not comparing self-gate to legroom before you start before you start going off on one lima but but
01:10:18
Speaker
The criticism I have of Allegri is that he doesn't create any patterns of play. He just leaves it up to the players to kind of work it out in terms of attacking. Scarif Southgate is exactly the same in terms of he cannot create patterns of play with England. He's a sub-par coach, to be honest. Now, what Harry Kane does is Harry Kane
01:10:38
Speaker
all the patterns of play that England will have will be thanks to Harry Kane because he is such a genius in the way that he comes deep, the way that he comes into space and he opens up the passing lanes and he plays the wall and players run off him and all the patterns of play are thanks to Harry Kane opening up the space and opening up the field for England. When Harry Kane isn't there,
01:11:03
Speaker
England's attack and England's just passing patterns. They just disappear. We saw that against Brazil. They were just horrific without Harry Kane against Brazil. And they should have lost three or four nil in that game. They got completely, you know, they didn't create nothing. They had one good chance in the whole game, Watkins. Brazil had about three or four sitters in the game. They got picked off on the break. So England are a Harry Kane injury away from, I don't want to say disaster. They've still got lots of quality. But
01:11:28
Speaker
They're a Harry Kane injury away, I think, from not winning the tournament. I think they are really reliant on Harry Kane. He's the key man for England. There's no doubt about it. Harry Kane is so important for England.
01:11:44
Speaker
The rivals, England's rivals will be hoping that Harry Kane gets an injury or something. But in terms of quality, Nemer, sorry, were you going to say something on England? Yes, I think England, this is it for England, I think. This is now, although they're going to have to wait.
01:12:00
Speaker
again because it really is. I'm looking at the England side. This is by far the best England side that had qualitatively on paper in my lifetime. I think overall the attacking firepower they have, the midfielders they have in my lifetime
01:12:19
Speaker
England have never had a Ballon d'Or level midfielder. They have that in Jude Bellingham. They have a Phil Foden who can do whatever he wants with the ball. They have one of the best wingers, if not the best winger in the world in Bukayo Saka, who is just unbelievable. Declan Rice, people, you know, he's not worth a hundred million pounds and he's not exactly Pirlo, but what he does do, he plays simple football. He wins the ball. He covers the defence. He does that important job.
01:12:43
Speaker
keep helping out defensively wins the ball play simple passes you're going to need to do that and and i think that mitigates a lot for the for the deficiencies in defense which exist i think they have a d they have a decent bunch of group of goalkeepers uh... like of any martinez level if you know what i mean not world-class but
01:13:06
Speaker
good top quality. And I think this is a group of players now that are so mature in experience in international football. They've been to a couple of semi-finals. They've been to a final of a major tournament. This is it now. I expect England to win. And also being England,
01:13:25
Speaker
this is also played in Germany. The English mentality that only Germany has stopped England from winning every tournament since 1966, that exists.
01:13:39
Speaker
So they'll be able to change their song now, won't they? It won't be two World Wars and one World Cup. It'll be two World Wars and one World Cup and one Europe. No, but this is true. I mean, you know, that's just, you know, every country has a mentality in footballing-wise. And for England, Germany is their main rival. And to win a tournament
01:13:59
Speaker
the Germans, and to win a tournament in Germany against the Germans would make these players, and it would probably have Gareth South get knighted.
01:14:15
Speaker
I think you'll get knighted anyway, even if they get to this final, you'll get knighted before the final, don't worry. No, no, but I think on that point, I really think this is it for them. Like, this is the time where you have overall the average age of the squad, the key players are in the right age, the young players are really good. It's now or never a little bit for them to win the tournament. And I think they will win it. I really do. I think it's going to be England winning.
01:14:44
Speaker
I think they've got, I think they've got young enough players to be around for another, for another tournament or two. But, but yeah, I mean, if they're not going to get, you know, the team is ready, put it that way. It's ready now. The only other team I want to say is a bit of a kind of a, not a dark course, but the team that has the quality, I think to win it. And that's porch. I was just saying that.
01:15:04
Speaker
I was just about to bring them up. Yeah, they have they have the quality. They've got the quality to win it. There's no doubt that they've got the goals in their team. You know, Ronaldo, if some might say he's too old now, but you know, the goals there, Rafael Liao, Bruno Fernandez, Bernardo Silva, Gio Cancello, I mean, there's others as well. Ramos.
01:15:22
Speaker
There's lots of goals and attacking options and even some really good defensive options and they've got experience as well. I mean, they've got a 39 year old and a 41 year old is deploying Pepe still for 41 Pepe is incredible for 41, you know, so they've got they've got the quality and
01:15:40
Speaker
they they yeah they're they're sort of they can put it together maybe Roberto Martinez I'm not sure about him as the coach but they've got the quality there they can get it together the others no Belgium no Netherlands no Croatian no they're there I don't see them being realistic challenges to to win it but they can always be dangerous on on their day
01:16:01
Speaker
Okay, right. Let's leave it at that. I just wanted to just add to that. My favorites are England, France, main favorites, secondary favorite Germany, and then I have Portugal and Italy as dark horses with Croatia as well. That's kind of how I'm viewing this.
01:16:19
Speaker
We didn't mention Spain by the way. Spain are actually second, third, fourth favourites. Spain are actually fourth favourites, which I think is a little bit generous. I don't want to jinx them before it's decided. Oh, stop. Don't start with jinxes. You don't get to do jinxes in international football in March. Like, I'm sorry. You get to annoy me during the tournament. I don't care. You get to annoy me during the tournament, but you don't get to start three months in advance. I'm sorry. You just don't.
01:16:44
Speaker
I'm happy. I'm happy. I'm happy. You've said that Italy don't have a chance to win it, so I'm delighted. I also said Italy were going to win it when Mancini was appointed before the whole hype looked. I looked at the under 21s and I said, I actually believe that Mancini will win something with Italy because of the golden generation that Italy had and came through with. So put that in your jinxing pipe and smoke that.
01:17:08
Speaker
Okay, okay. You also said he thought he was going with the fighter and I was delighted about that.
Euro 2024 Tournament Preview
01:17:15
Speaker
I mean, what do you want? How close can they get? It just goes to show that it's got absolutely nothing to do with it. No, no, that's fine. I thought that's it. I know. Well, for me it tells me. Oh, God. It tells me that it's a bit of my existence.
01:17:33
Speaker
Well, plenty of time for that. Don't worry. Before the tournament starts, we will do proper preview of the tournament and there will be, yeah, it was going to be a, well, we hope it'll be a great match. Yeah. I wanted to need to go through. Okay. Right.
01:17:47
Speaker
Of course. Yeah. Yeah. Well, we're back later in the week, guys.
'Badjo' Segment and American Tour Humor
01:17:51
Speaker
Seria, of course, back this weekend. So no, no, no, wait, we need to do setting up. We need to do premier prime face Seria and badge all the week because I've got. Oh, yes. I've got quite. I've got. I've got good ones. Oh, go on then. Take it away.
01:18:09
Speaker
So now it's time for Badjo. Badjo. Badjo. Badjo will go, usually go Pellegrini for Badjo. Yeah. Yeah. Or Retsuki. Yeah. Retsuki and Pellegrini. I'm going to go with Pellegrini because I thought that girl was stunning. So yeah. Badjo is that. Okay. Then we have Premface. Premface. It's not, I have to bring up because this is
01:18:38
Speaker
like this entire like the organization surrounding Italy in Italy's little American trip is is is summed up by I don't know who it is I've been desperately trying to find out who it is but most of the people who listen to this pod are from either America or North or Canada and they've
01:18:59
Speaker
this actually happen i'm scrolling down my feet cuz i was laughing uncontrollably yesterday because of the put a commentator on.
01:19:10
Speaker
who had no idea who any of the Italy players were. And when I say that, I mean that. Listen, the TLN, whoever commentated the game, called Retegi Restegi, or Regetti, he called Barella Barello, he called Locatelli Barella, he called Immobula the Napoli striker, referring to him as a zero. And when Barello scored, he said it's the third goal for the Argentine striker Regetti.
01:19:43
Speaker
I doubt it was in North America. And this is the direct quote for the third game, for that second goal, sorry. Matteo Reggetti is the striker former manager Alberto Mancini was looking for. During the Euros, the main man was Ciro Imobula, the Napoli striker.
01:20:03
Speaker
That's a direct call. Sounds like something that's been put through AI, you know, some AI program, because it's create a script or something. It's just, it's just, you know, and I mean, that is just fantastic from Phase 3 and apparently went on like this for the entire game.
01:20:25
Speaker
And that's brilliant. But if you also take into consideration what happened to... This was told to me by a friend of mine who lives in New York now. He went to this meet and greet that the Atsuri were going to have in New York.
01:20:45
Speaker
And they, the meet and greet, you know, usually meet and greets, I mean, they're, they're at least a couple of hours, like four, five, six hours, and they let lots of people in. And so they can meet with the players. Lots of people were there from like 5am outside of this store. I think it was Adidas store. I'm not sure. And then people standing in the rain for, and the, and the players turned up for two hours. They did a first come first serve.
01:21:14
Speaker
where they only let in 40 people and they were there for the whole two hours and then it was also so badly managed that some journalist didn't even get in to cover the event. And it was just it was complete and out of care so I'll read my friend called he said it was a total disaster.
01:21:36
Speaker
And it was like he was laughing. He was saying he was supposed to have a damn wristband. And if you didn't have a damn wristband, you wouldn't get in. And they only gave it to like 30, 40 people. The players were there for two hours. And they only let in like 30, 40 people who were there for the full two hours. It was just complete and utter chaos. And I was just thinking of you saying, you know, life jackets, Titanic. It's just it was just complete madness.
01:22:04
Speaker
It was a good job they didn't travel to America on a ship, is it, otherwise... Jesus Christ, it was just completely, completely... One person, I'm reading on Twitter now...
01:22:20
Speaker
A woman named Alina, absolutely vivid, saying, don't advertise a first come first serve event and then only give out 40 tickets. The only way you could get in was if you had a wristband and the wristbands only got a group photo quickly. The team was in and out of there in 30 minutes.
01:22:39
Speaker
So who organized this? I do not know. But I do know that, you know, they they they had a gala dinner, you know, somewhere in Manhattan, where with a giant cake until Piero was there. Yeah.
01:22:54
Speaker
I saw the cake. I saw the cake. My dad showed me the cake. My dad was my dad was. I'm sure he was. He was. He actually said he was. Yeah, he said he said he said the cake was brilliant. I'm sure the cake. I'm sure that whoever baked it was really good at his job. And I'm sure they all enjoyed themselves when they stood there and at that event. But the fan event that was supposed to, you know, why travel to the United States if you're not going to grow the brand and all that stuff, that was complete chaos.
01:23:23
Speaker
Well, no, this is yeah. I mean, listen, we know what it was. It was it was a PR exercise. And the whole trip was a PR exercise.
Listener Experiences and Show Wrap-up
01:23:32
Speaker
It wasn't done for footballing reasons at all. And it seems judging on what you're saying here, that's a it wasn't a PR success from a point of view. I've seen on my timeline from people I don't know, absolutely fuming with anger, waiting all day of people I've spoken to.
01:23:52
Speaker
that who have who were there were either people who know how Italian football are disorganized or are Italian and had no expectations whatsoever and yet we'll retweet them let's retweet them let's let's retweet them you send in your tweets to us yeah we'll tag us in yeah about your experience and we'll retweet them because there's nothing we love more on this pod than than uh highlights in the incompetence of yeah so please do yeah if you were there if you're listening to this pod please tag at ita foot pod
01:24:19
Speaker
And myself and Carla will retweet that and we'll retweet on the account because it was just complete chaos. And I saw video as well. It was just horrible the way that this was organized. And then, of course, afterwards, like it's so funny to me. A guy I know who's a UVA fan, he had his kid there.
01:24:41
Speaker
And they were waiting outside and his kid was sixty six seven years old and he was very excited and he was yelling. And I mean, you know how when children get too excited and they shout at the top of their voices, right? That's how I say this. And the kid, he is that excited.
01:24:59
Speaker
Lo que te lí, para ela, you know, just yelling names, quieza, like, do you know what I mean? And everyone was, you know, because the guys just came out, it was raining, so you could just tell how the players did not want to be in America, they didn't want to do this trip. Like, all of their faces screamed that, right? They were not happy about this. But most of them managed to kind of suck it up.
01:25:24
Speaker
except for Gianluca Mancini, who gives a look to this kid. I can't stop laughing. It is so funny. He looks at this kid with the utter contempt of someone who farted in the room kind of look, just looks at him like he just absolutely is disgusted with him. And it's so funny that of all people, it's Mancini of all people who does it.
01:25:54
Speaker
And it was really, really funny because, you know, everyone looked at the kid like a bit, you know, but Locatelli came back and sucked it up and, you know, but Mancini just looked at the look of contempt.
01:26:16
Speaker
I was actually thinking that to myself. I think keeping Manchini away from kids is a good idea. It's so funny to me. The way he just comes across this kind of
01:26:31
Speaker
cartoon character of an evil person, like Dr. Claw or someone like that. It's hilarious to me, the character he is. It's so funny. It's like a Bond villain. It's absolutely hilarious. But then to his credit, they had a Roma Club New York event.
01:26:53
Speaker
which they took him in Pellegrini took photos and he was smiling and he was enjoying that. Barela Ambastoni, obviously, Barela having a million kids, he's used to shouting children, so he doesn't get stressed by that. There was a kid who ran into the pitch and Barela being a dad, he just reacted.
01:27:14
Speaker
He's got so many kids, he's probably one of his kids. I think also when you are a father, you react instinctively differently when you have children, right? When you see children, I think it's just one of those things.
01:27:29
Speaker
So he told me, my friend, that everyone was lovely. Yes, my kid was very excited and yelled, just screaming at the top of his lungs. That's what happens with children when they meet their idols. That's how it gets. But to me, I'm not criticising Mancini as such. I just think it's so funny to me that he plays the character of the Bond villain so well.
01:27:55
Speaker
Like any, any, and just the look of utter disgust on his face. Well, maybe he is, maybe he is playing, maybe he is playing the character. Maybe this isn't really him. Maybe deep down, he's a little bit of a person. Yeah, wouldn't surprise me. Maybe he's an actor. Maybe he's, by the end of his career, he's going to say, hey, everyone, I got you. Yeah. It wouldn't surprise me, but it's just the look of disgust on his face towards a child.
01:28:18
Speaker
I've never seen that. It's just, oh, it was so funny. It was like one of those, like, you know, like you, like a, like one of the people in like Charles Dickens, Oliver Twist, like one of the older people, like in the orphanage, like that kind of evil, do you know what I mean? Like that look, it's just so, it made me kiss my pants. I couldn't stop laughing.
01:28:39
Speaker
So yes, yes, yes, it's just fagin or just someone like just like a like a like it's like it like an evil character from a story. It's so, so, so entertaining. And it was very, very, very funny. And to be fair, to be fair, look, I tell you all of them, if you freeze frame them, there's this
01:28:59
Speaker
There's this freeze frame where all of them have just come out. Kieza, Locatelli, Mancini have all just come out of the building and the kid is yelling. And they're all a bit like stunned. What's going on? Who's screaming and why? But none of them have the look of utter contempt. It's very, very funny. Very funny. And the fact that it's Mancini as well just makes me laugh.
01:29:25
Speaker
Brilliant, brilliant. Yeah, it really was funny, right? We have to wrap it up now. Thanks everyone for listening. As I said, we'll be back later in the week. Have a great week, everybody. Ciao, ciao.