So with the groups getting drawn, the one that really stepped out was Sweden and the Irish getting lodged in with Belgium and Italy. Some may view Ireland as being without any superstar, and thus should be the whipping boys as they were in the last Euros. But they're Irish, and they want some sweet revenge. And Sweden may have an ageing Ibra, but if ever there was a time for him to make one final international statement, this would be it.
Let's talk about the Talians.
Italy really ought to top this group. They may play out a draw with Belgium, as our Italian friends are known to start off slowly and gradually grow into tournaments. So it could end up being based on goal difference, or the "new" head-to-head to decide whether it's them or Wilmots kids to finish top of the group. But for Italy to even do well in this group and at the Euros, they need to pick the right players.
The defense and midfield are all sorted out with no questions asked. But the real question is going up front, because Pelle, Eder and Zaza are several levels below Baggio, Inzaghi and Del Piero. Say all you want about Balotelli, but I would always take him. That doesn't mean I'd start him, but you need to go into these tournaments with squads, and Balotelli has that in him to produce something crazy out of something. He's one of very few players who can pick the ball up, forty yards out, and rocket it into the top corner when his team have been outplayed. That's just the kind of player you want to bring on with fifteen minutes to go and the game drawn.
You've also got Rossi who's another one who prefers living in a clinic than playing on the pitch. It's the very annoying same old story of a really good player whose had the curse of the injury. But I felt it was a bad decision to not take the risk with him in the World Cup. If Prandelli could turn back time, I'm sure he would have taken the boy Rossi. He may have ended up getting injured again, but if he hadn't, he could have helped them to beat Uruguay in that group game and possibly even Colombia. It was worth taking that gamble.
With Conte in charge now, I would advise him to take both of these players who don't seem to be in the frame. Goals win games, and the attackers that should already have their tickets booked for France are not clinical enough or haven't proven that they can do it when the bright lights of international football shines down. And I'm not talking about matches against Georgia or Kazakhstan.
2006.
Italy won the World Cup without a striker really guiding them through the matches. Unlike 1994, where Baggio almost single-handedly won them the trophy, 2006 was more of a team effort. It was really Grosso who was the one that shone for the Italians rather than any striker. So in that sense, perhaps Conte wants to emulate that unit and get everyone to chip in rather than build the team around a finisher. And it could very well work. Conte's management has always been more team-oriented rather than bowing down and catering for a superstar. That was the foundation upon which his success with Juventus was built upon in the aftermath of their hero, Del Piero. If Italy end up either winning the Euros or getting to the semis, then nobody would complain that he didn't take Balotelli or Rossi.
This is not the easiest group for Italy, but it's not really too hard. They easily spanked Ireland when they played them in the last Euros, and Conte will have a plan to nullify Sweden's only threat, Ibra. Then it's about Belgium, and I'd actually put money down on the Italians who have that highly knowledgeable defense, and a better tactician who could find holes in the younger and maybe brash Belgian crew.
Remember the last time nobody gave Italy a chance to win a tournament...
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HH
