Gazetta dello sport says (translation): passing the quarters of March would give another advantage. Reaching the Final Four in June would give Italy an extra lifeline in terms of the World Cup. Because, if the world qualifying group were to go wrong (the first of each group qualifies directly, the second goes to the playoffs), there would be the possibility of a repechage to the March 2026 playoffs, together with the second of the various groups. I am lost here. What do they mean? It’s Gazetta, it has to be correct but I don’t get the meaning!
Yep, 7 of the 8 goals we allowed in the Nations League came from set pieces, and someone pointed out Belgium hit the post from a corner kick play as well. Truly comical defending by us there, where elsewhere we are practically elite.
Who in the hell knows, lol. Honestly, I'm over the Nations League, I just want World Cup qualifiers to start! We finally look good and if we fix defending set pieces, we can truly be a menace.
This guy has it wrong. It's always been Group Winners. Just that in past editions there was no QF stage, the 4 group winners went directly to a SF and F. Leagues B-D Group Winners also had backdoor to the Playoffs as well contingent on how how higher rated teams did (ie; my Georgia example earlier).
Somewhere I read “the 4 highest ranked Nations League teams that had not gain the 1st or 2nd in their group”. Anyway we will win our group! This has to be our only thought!
Vice Ricci France are better than Belgium so context matters but Locatelli wasn't overly convincing. Can still be in the running but Rovella probably ahead of him. The more I think of Barella being played out of position and the Defending from dead balls, it's bothersome. 2 things that can be corrected but something tells me he will persist to pigeon hole Barella in this spot.
the good news is that it is something that can be corrected. it's likely the result of a new group playing together. if we can sort this out we should be able to become one of the best defensive unit in the world because the personal is there it's clear an issue with team defending not the individuals.
So our qualifying process starts in September 2025? If we don’t qualify for the Nations League final 4 is there a chance we start in June the qualifying process?
I prefer to look at these things with a glass half full mentality. A lot of errors in this game that should be learned from and not be repeated. The playing guys out of position and trying to shoe horn them into roles that aren’t there’s drives me crazy. I know Locatelli is a hero to some of you, but he’s not a regista. The same way Barella can contribute to attacking phases but he’s not a #10. If Tonali is there, one of Barella or Frattesi has to see the bench and it should be Frattesi. I don’t care about Frattesi’s goal record. We’ve made so much progress since the euro disaster. We need to stay positive. The field is telling us that the central mid role is very important to this team. Also we really need a good modern #10.
It will only be a blessing in disguise if lessons are learned. Any of those players that Vieri9 listed upthread about secondary punta's is an upgrade to what Barella can provide in a position not his. Does Inzaghi use Barella in such a role? So why would Spalletti do it? I'd even go far as saying that Pellegrini should be brought back in if Barella is the only option. If they want Ricci on, Frattesi has to sit. Lessons are not learned about conceding early so there are no guarantees they will be here.
1. Barella has to be used in his normal position. 2. Locatelli is not a regista. The same applies to Cristante too. They can play as centre midfielders, not in front of the defence. 3. Ricci is fundamental. He is our best regista. Rovella can be used there too. The other option in my opinion is Tonali. 4. If we have all our midfielders available, then Fratesi has to play in the second half as a super sub. 5. Donnarumma is a must! I can’t see anyone else playing. We saw what happened yesterday. 6. Calafiori is a very important player for us. He adds something different. I wish we could use Calafiori-Bastoni-Scalvini as soon as possible. The three central defenders must be central defenders and not right backs who can play as centre backs. 7.Behind Retegui/Kean/Scamacca etc. we need a support striker and not an attacking midfielder. We played against Belgium and France only with one attacker. A strong team must be able to use at least 2 forwards. We need a 3-5-2 system, not a 3-5-1-1. 8. I hope that yesterday Spaletti reverted to a 4-3-3 just in an effort to score a goal. Imagine if he has this system again in mind.
Interesting enough, Barella's post match comments said the same thing. Things are looking better now than they did 5 months ago. I believe it was Gigio who recently said that after each match at the Euro he was dismayed how they struggled to pass the football around. Teams are never as good or as bad as we think they are, this Italy is no different. If Kean scores on that shot in Added Time we'd be giving them plaudits for topping the Group. I'd rather be an Italy fan than a French one. Likeable group.
My takeaway from watching the game. at least 2 goals given up that can be avoided. I thought on both set pieces, our best zonal aerial threats to win headers were sagged way too far back and too close to Vicario. Defending corners/free kicks has got to be a priority. Vicario generally scares me defending corners, free kicks, and crosses. While none were his fault, optimally we shouldn't be marking territory right in front of the goalkeeper. Yet somehow this happened, and we had midgets trying to win the headers instead. Despite that, I think we get a better result with a different formation and players playing in better positions that suit them. I don't quite follow the change in the tactics this time around, but I am still convinced this will not deter our overall progress. At the end of the day, we honestly should have gotten a point or narrow loss in this game, mainly due to the admittedly horrendous set piece defending. Also, we had meaningful possession against France. This is a positive, but also not to be obsessed over. It's a nice blueprint.
Pot 2 team will get the First Leg. So next match is 20 March. Do wonder where they put the match. Big opponent is guaranteed so they are going to want to cash in and put it in a bigger stadium. Roma, Torino, Palermo, Bari. Doubtful they go back to Milano so soon.
We should be placing a player on each post for corner kicks if our defending is this bad. Speaking of which, go back and look as Israel's direct corner kick goal. Dimarco ran back to cover the back post where it went in but for whatever reason he had his entire body inside the damn goal, if he stepped up properly he prolly could've saved it. So much work needs to be done, and when you have Buongiorno (one of our best headers) getting beat in the air by Rabiot, there isn't much to say.
It was more of a whiff or it was too high for him. Rabiot was behind Buongiorno and Buongiorno was preoccupied with another player. Which is what prompted me to write that needed another player or two. Looked like Frattesi should have helped out but I understand he was protecting for a short corner. Whatever it was, needed at least 1 more in the box.
Damn young genes and their healing prowess. Scalvini already back to Training a mere 166 Days after he did his ACL.
No. Team Defence and it's fine. A Midfield that outposessed the opposition is not to blame for conceding 3 goals on dead balls.