Edited by. Lorenzo Bordiga - pupil of the Sports Press Officer Course by Sport Business Academy.
"We dedicate this victory to all Italians."
With these words were unanimously expressed by the technical commissioner Roberto Mancini and blue soccer players in the aftermath of the european triumph.
From that victory, the whole movement will be able to draw a strong boost of confidence and enthusiasm to try to bring Italian soccer, even in continental competitions reserved for clubs, back to the roof d'Europe.
And as far as the purely technical-tactical aspect is concerned, the revolution brought about by the Mancio since three years ago, that is, since he became technical commissioner, has been a topic of discussion among insiders in our country for a few months now. Because precisely the philosophy of play may be the most big change in Italian soccer, resulting from the European victory.
On the one hand, the faithful of the classic Italian game, where the bulwarks are the defense, the group and the restart; on the other hand, those who prefer a more "European" game, devoted to attack, with that construction from below that is so fashionable in these years, with the goalkeeper and defenders commanding the game thanks to ball possession.
Mancini has espoused the second philosophy, without, however, forgetting what is the Italian tradition, showing in some circumstances that he is also able to refer to the "old Italian school," as happened precisely during the European Championships in the challenge with Spain. This will not be an easy and short process, because it will surely see a great debate in Italian journalistic opinion, discussions moreover that have already begun, albeit in an "elegant" way. So, welcome the confrontation, and let it be as complete and articulate as possible because the European triumph represents a great opportunity for our movement, since the Italian national team has shown that with offensive soccer, where you always try to have the ball of the game, you win and you win well.
In recent years, we are already witnessing a slow revolution that has spread like wildfire across our soccer landscape-something that has moved and is moving thanks to a few clubs in our homegrown soccer that have shown planning and trust in coaches with European playing philosophies.
The hope is that from the European success, Italy will be able to pick up the revolution desired by Mancini to extend it as far as possible to the youth teams of the national team to all those of the clubs, giving confidence and courage to the game of soccer. Because after all, wanting to propose a perhaps somewhat far-fetched simile, winning the European Championship could become the Recovery Plan of the Italian soccer renaissance.
From the flop of club teams, to the blue boom. How can this opposite trend be explained?
For some, the level of the Italian league is no longer that expressed at the turn of the 1990s and 2000s, when in Series A sprouted champions. Of course, the economic crisis of recent years has not made it easier for clubs to invest. In reality, however, soccer has evolved and changed.
The philosophy introduced by Roberto Mancini to the Italian national team's game is a cultural revolution, even before it is a tactical one: in fact, the head coach has set aside the good old catenaccio once and for all in favor of modern ball possession.
Therein lies the explanation.
Club formations, once again this year, have disappointed the expectations of fans and critics on the big European stages. Of the seven formations in the starting blocks - four in Champions League (Juventus, Inter, Atalanta and Lazio) and three in the Europa League (Napoli, Roma and Milan) - only Roma managed to make its way to the semifinals.
The reasons? They are many. They range from pandemic to injuries, but the philosophical and qualitative problem remains the irrefutable one: in the Europe that matters, people run more and better, and the ball travels at a greater speed.
For the Italian teams, these were disappointments in series, albeit different ones: Atalanta and Lazio did what they had to, brilliantly overcoming the group and going out in the round of 16 of the Champions League against the battleships Real Madrid and Bayern Munich. It was a comparable path for AC Milan and Roma: the Rossoneri came out with their heads held high against Manchester United in the round of 16, while the Giallorossi smelled the final before being blown out (badly) by the same Manchester in the semifinals. Juve and Inter, on the other hand, have disappointed resoundingly: if the Bianconeri said goodbye to the Champions League in the round of 16 against Porto, the Nerazzurri sadly ended the qualifying round in last place. Just as Napoli disappointed, eliminated in the Europa League round of 16. That is why the success of Euro 2020 represents a real lesson: because winning in Europe requires a modern playing philosophy.
In 495 days, on November 21, 2022, the World Cup will begin in Qatar. How will Italy present itself?
"The team has grown so much, I think it can still improve." Thus the technical commissioner of the National Italian Roberto Mancini after the victory at Euro2020. And he is right: in view of the next World which will be played in Qatar in the winter 2022 Around the Azzurri there is an atmosphere of confidence, almost of enthusiasm. In 495 days the 22nd edition of the World Cup will begin, and the Azzurri are coming at it spring-loaded. Because in the course of the European Championship, Italy has shown that it has made great strides during the three years of Mancini's management, proving that it can face off - and win - even great opponents. The European triumph represents a breath of fresh air, without forgetting that the passage of time can play in the Azzurri's favor: the <> that has been created in Coverciano, in fact, will be able to amalgamate even more, leveraging the enthusiasm that can be perceived a bit everywhere in Italy today. Not only that: the youngsters who have just come into the international limelight will have more than a year to grow further, accumulating experience in their respective clubs where they will have the task of confirming their leavening. And then there are the nonconvened players due to injury: Pellegrini, Zaniolo and Sensi (but also Spinazzola), a mix of quality and quantity that can broaden the reach of the national team. Not to mention the nonconvened players, either because they are considered not yet ready or because they are still in the Under-21 squad: from Mancini to Politano to Tonali and Scamacca will be eager to carve out a space for themselves in the sun. And then there will be the novelties proposed by the upcoming league. As if to say that there is meat in the fire: you have to work on it and believe in it, with the knowledge that the base is already excellent.
So Italy will show up in Qatar young and beautiful, confident that with Mancini on the bench they will be in an iron grip. With a great desire to make a good impression to play their cards. Although this, of course, does not mean reaching the final or winning the World Cup. The goal will be to entertain the Italians and try to always manage the ball of the game; with the certainty that from now on no opponent will underestimate Italy.
Italy has perhaps the best goalkeeper in the world, Donnarumma, but he will play for PSG. What is the level of goalkeepers in Italy?
Italian history in terms of doormen has always produced guarantees, both in terms of defending the national goal and in terms of the level of foreign goalkeepers playing in our league.
The departure of Gigio Donnarumma from Milan has perhaps hurt the Rossoneri club more than the category of Italian goalkeepers. Because in our country will remain to play extreme defenders of a high level and certain reliability. Certainly, however, if the number of the national team had remained in his homeland, the level of Serie A goalkeepers would have been even higher. And the same applies to Pierluigi Gollini, the former Atalanta goalkeeper who will play next season in England, at Tottenham.
In the qualitative aspect, however, the blanket will not become shorter because the double farewell will be rebalanced by the arrival at Roma of Rui Patricio; and in addition to the number one of Portugal, among the leading national teams on the European and world scene, there will be the confirmation of the other Italian extreme defenders. It is no coincidence, in fact, that in all the top teams play goalkeepers who are part of the round of their respective national teams. On closer inspection, the only exception is Inter, since its current starting goalkeeper - Slovenian Handanovic - has retired from the national team. Not to mention that even in the so-called "small" teams militate goalkeepers of great reliability. That is why the situation of extreme defenders in our league seems to be comforting; at least at the national level because then, in the Europe that counts, the leap in quality to be made remains considerable.
However, it should not be forgotten that after Donnarumma's departure from AC Milan, no Italian team participating in European competitions will field a starting Italian goalkeeper. The only exception might be Napoli, which alternates Meret with Colombian Ospina. This is an alarming statistic for our country's school of goalkeepers; a school that has always been excellent as evidenced by the many examples of world-class number ones that have enriched Serie A in recent decades.
