Italia: La Nazionale II

Rincon's lets forget about the NT tragedy look at the new U21 team.

The U21 Euro was this summer and concluded the cycle of that team. Even though Di Biaggio is a srcub, the kids played well, got important results and showed a lot of talent in this cycle.

Most players from that team are past the age limit and some graduated to the senior NT and Serie A sides. Notably:

Donnarumma, Bernardeschi, Rugani, Caldara, Romagnoli, Gagliardini, Conti, Benassi, Pellegrini and Berardi now have to transition.

The new U21 that started this fall has some leftovers from the last team plus come of the players that reached the semis of the U20 WC this year.

After a defeat in the first game in a friendly to Spain, they have won 4 games in a row vs Slovenia, Hungary, Morroco and Russia.

Some notable players from the new team:

The GKs looks promising, Meret looks like a top prospect, Audero has been very good for Juve's youth teams and Scuffet had the hype back then.

The midfielders have made noise in Serie A already, regulars, or starters, in their teams. Mandragora, Barella and Locatelli are there. Murgia and Depaoli are the more low key ones.

Forwards/wingers include Verde, Chiesa, Favili, Cutrone, Orsolini, Bonazzoli and Vido.

I don't know the defenders well enough to rate them. Only Romgna cause he was in the Juve academy. There's a guy called Lorenzo Dickmann, that deserves a mention.

Bolded some interesting ones form what I've seen of them. The three midfielders are familiar enough to all of us by now. Locatelli has the most experience at a high level while the other show top potential (and performances) in A. Meret was on the shopping list of top teams including Juve and Napoli. Cutrone and Chiesa are making tons of noise while Orsolini and Favili have been on the hype train their whole careers.

The clubs from the players in the previous U21 team that I posted above looks like this:
Milan, Juve, Juve, Atalanta(Juve), Milan, Inter, Milan, Fiore, Roma and Sassuolo

Big win that they have so far transitioned into top teams. This was a big problems with previous teams. Hopefully this new crop does something similar.

From a Juve perspective we have Orsolini, Mandragora and are on Barella (Cagliari). Favili himself is our former player (loan). Milan have Locatelli and Cutrone. Roma has Verde.

So there will be no new CT until a new FIGC president is elected as in theory Tavecchio is still in charge but he will not, and should not, make a decision.

For the next 2 friendlies vs England and Argentina in March Di Biagio, the U21 CT, will take over.

For the FIGC post Lotito thankfully ruled himself out so Damiano Tommasi, Gabriele Gravina and Cosimo Sibilia are the candidates.

Di Biagio picks his first training camp call up as the interim CT. Players from Napoli, Cagliari, Atalanta, Milan, Juve and Lazio are excluded because of match scheduling. So he just calls up new faces and young players form the U21.

GK: Scuffet, Meret

DF: Bastoni, Biraghi, Barreca, Bonifazi, Ceccherini, G-Ferrari, Venuti, Zampano

CM: Baselli, Benassi, Cataldi, Grassi, Mandragora, Pellegrini

FW: Berardi, Caprari, Chiesa, Di Franccesco, Inglese, Pinamonti, Politano

Italy's team for the Argentina and England friendlies.

GK: Buffon, Donnarumma, Perin

CB: Chiellini, Bonucci, Rugani, G. Ferrari

FB: De Sciglio, Spinazzola, Florenzi, Zappacosta, Darmian

MF: Jorginho, Verratti, Bonaventura, Gagliardini, Cristante, Pellegrini, Parolo

W: Candreva, Insigne, Verdi, Chiesa

CF: Immobile, Belotti, Cutrone

Chiellini's injury rules him and he is replaced by Ogbonna.

Bernardeschi and Romagnoli injured and miss out. Pretty weird that Caldara is not called up and Ogbonna of all people is there.

Balotelli should have been called up imo.

I guess something like this from the list

Like anyone cares about Italy NT right now lol.

Holy shit what is Buffon still doing there on the squad?

M99 wrote:Holy shit what is Buffon still doing there on the squad?

He changed his mind.

M99 wrote:Holy shit what is Buffon still doing there on the squad?

http://www.goallegacy.net/t40859-buffon-would-sooner-drag-juve-and-the-italy-nt-than-retire?highlight=buffon

Gianluigi Buffon has more caps (175) than 20 members of the current Italy squad combined (166)

Mancini the new CT. Good choice, I think. Balotelli will be back on the team.

Mancini officially quit Zenit. New CT

I thought Italy wanted to improve, I guess I was wrong. Mancini is terrible.

Mancini is a good choice.  Excellent deep lying midfielder and excellent no. 10 as a player.  Strong willed, won't let any player bully him.  Won championships in Italy and England.  Didn't he win City's first EPL championship in modern times?  He will improve Italy, for sure.

Conte would have done a better job, tbh.

October 2018
Far Oer - Italy 3-1
I can't wait

Mancini is a great choice, he wants it, he’s got pedigree and he’s a cup specialist. If anyone can fix Italy, its him.

He'll do well and I'm generally happy for him as he has always been vocal about wanting it. I just wait for the time that Ancelotti will be CT.

Italy Under 17 just beat Belgium 2-1 to get to the Euro final. They will meet England or the Netherlands who are playing in a few hours.

Quite the call up to be honest

30 players. I guess he wants to evaluate a lot in his first call up.

I'm optimistic about Mancini. I think he fits the profile of an NT coach very well. His weaknesses can be masked outside of club football. He always good at building a team.

1 extra left back (D'Ambrosio/Criscito)
2 extra CMs (Baselli/Mandragora/Marchisio)
1 extra TQ (Berardi/Politano)
1 extra CF (Zaza)

At least those numbers will be cut, with two extra ones.

Can't *bleep* believe we won't be in the world cup

Cristante over Pellegrini for me. Better fit with Verratti. Midfield needs some muscle.

The starting full backs also don't know.

Excited to see Balotelli again and see if he can function well.

There was also talk of Bernardeschi TQ with Chiesa to give width on the right.

I think Marchisio is the most surprising call up to me

Looking at that team though and then realizing we won't be at the World Cup is still heartbreaking

That's what happens when you elect a fool to lead you compounded by a decade of complacency

Look at some of those midfield options, I hope Marotta is watching

I'm happy for Mandragora, first full season healthy and he did well with Crotone, so much so that Mancini is taking notice

Was looking at that squad like "so, this is Italy's squad at the WC" and then I remembered.

Art Morte wrote:Was looking at that squad like "so, this is Italy's squad at the WC" and then I remembered.