[Nero]

France has a lot of deadweight in midfield, they need a clear-out. Deschamps has to start making some adjustments, there are too many talented French players available for him to keep selecting the same broken midfield which is struggling.

Italy on the other hand, making the most of everything it has currently. Tonali was a big upgrade, let's be honest, we're fortunate to have him back in the team. Cambiaso had a hand in the build up play for 2 of the goals, he's become somewhat of a makeshift register from the flanks. Retegui played very well, we may finally have a decent striker up front. Calafiori continues to be great, sucks to not even see him starting at Arsenal for some reason.

I know right now France is in a bad place, but regardless it's impressive to beat them this comprehensively on their turf.

 

[camelface]

I missed the game. Can anyone explain what Udogie's role was when he replaced a central mid?

 

[The Noun]

Toni's approach is the correct one. Never be too happy until we win something big. France has been on the down swing for some time.

They did not impress me in the Euro's. Still they have MBappe, Barcola and most importantly Di Lorenzo, so anything is possible.

 

[The Noun]

I missed the game. Can anyone explain what Udogie's role was when he replaced a central mid?

Same role, until Califiori went out, then he dropped back somewhat.

 

[mali]

congrats to italian squad, they show us how to play collectively and how to use midfielders and wingers. hat down.

 

[camelface]

Same role, until Califiori went out, then he dropped back somewhat.

so he was playing central mid?

 

[camelface]

congrats to italian squad, they show us how to play collectively and how to use midfielders and wingers. hat down.

thanks mali, the italians have suffered so long

france has the highest number of top players compared to any nation but they are missing replacements for giroud and griezmann.

 

[ToniSamp]

congrats to italian squad, they show us how to play collectively and how to use midfielders and wingers. hat down.

Yep, the way most of teams could. If I was French I'd be worried and if I was the chief of the FFF I'd consider the option to replace Deschamps with a new manager. A manager of the NT should never stay for so long anyway.

 

[ToniSamp]

Toni's approach is the correct one. Never be too happy until we win something big. France has been on the down swing for some time.

I don't consider this win much more than I'd consider a win of Sassuolo on Inter or Juventus. The last result I trust is the ugly defeat with Switzerland and a win on any opponent in the international equivalent of Trofeo Birra Moretti won't change my opinion... Frattesi and Raspadori in fact remain Sassuolo material. The qualification to the next world cup will be the next step to gain back some dignity. I leave the celebration of a win on France (with obvious problems) in the Nations League to the fools.

 

[mali]

Yep, the way most of teams could. If I was French I'd be worried and if I was the chief of the FFF I'd consider the option to replace Deschamps with a new manager. A manager of the NT should never stay for so long anyway.

and zidane is knocking at the door

 

[camelface]

I have to give kudos to Spalletti, even if France are underwhelming. Italy needed a victory that could give them some morale and confidence to work with. They needed something to build on. It's clear that returning to the 3-5-2 in the end payed important dividends. Our defenders and midfielders are more comfortable in that formation, and lots of Italian clubs play a modern brand of football with formations similar to this one, with the midfielders able to attack without too much worry due to the defensive cover provided by the other midfielders, wing backs and defenders - same can be said about our wingbacks who can attack more freely.

Spalletti made some important changes that allowed the team to develop some independence from certain players, such as Chiesa, Cristante, Barella, which were up to now thought to be indispensible (yes even Cristante, judging by how often he was starting). Instead, the team is developing a style of play and Spalletti can plug-and-play. Also, with this system, Italy is less dependent on physically strong, athletic wing forwards (which are generally of African descent in the football world), which it does not have, and focus on its own brand of football.

I loved also at the end seeing the captain Donnarumma hug multiple players at once with his long arms. He is developing into a real leader for this team.

We do need a vice-Raspadori though. This country does not really produce seconde punte anymore. Closest available would maybe to play Pellegrini as AM as Spalletti did, or Zaccagni in a role with more responsibility, which I doubt he can do. Chiesa is too unidimensional for that role I think.

Bravo also Retegui, a player with a mental strength that is incomparable to Scamacca's, who might as well be dropped after his performance in the Euro 2024.

 

[The Noun]

However one feels about Frattesi is their prerogative. There's, perhaps, some reasons to not consider him, but from a production point of view only 1 goal off of Totti's 9 in 57 games with 8 in 21, is something I will take any day from a player that is not at the calibre of Totti. If a Totti'esque player was available, I take him over Frattesi any day of the week, but honestly if that were to be the case on this team there would be room for both as a Totti like player (which we do not have) would be a second striker, or false 9 anyway and you want a Frattesi in the mold of a Simone Perrotta is very useful. For me Frattesi is in that mold, also like a Di Livio. While not a winger, he's a grinder who gives everything and that cannot be understated when you have gifted strikers of the past like a Balotelli who gave little, and currently a Scamacca who walks. We need those high energy and work horse players to round out the team and like I said, I'll take those 8 goals in 21 games any day. It's better than our current crop of strikers, so if he keeps slamming balls into the back of the net, I won't complain.

I also think we need to reconsider where Raspadori is useful. He's not a #9, he never has played that way well for Napoli or Italy, but when in support as a seconda punta his runs confuse defenders and open space. Case in point yesterday. That pass by Udogi was for Retegui but Raspadori read the play and sprinted 15 meters to intercept it, lightly touch it around the defender, turn on a dime (low center of gravity) and score. That's where he is useful. I was hoping to see Pellegrini dropped for him in the first, and finally Spalletti is listening and it paid off. When the focus is on him, he's not as effective, but behind a proper #9 which is what Retegui is, he's very useful because he makes a lot of diagonal and vertical runs into space and that pulls defenders apart. Watch for it. I think Conte will continue to use him in this role as well. I expect at least 7-10 goals from him this season which is not extraordinary or out of his reach, but the other intangible that he brings are his runs to open up pull defenders out of their shape. We don't need a team full of world class players, some of them have to be role players that dig their feet into the ground and muck it out. We won a Euro without a proper strike force also due to timely goals and plays from these blue collar type players like Pessina. I have no problem so long as they know their role and shape.

I still maintain that if Spalletti used a proper lineup vs Switzerland and that would have been the 3-5-2 with players in their proper roles (like Darmian NOT on the left) and bench the loser who cost us the two goals (he who remains nameless for now) + keep the players that have been performing in, we could have won that game and given England and Holland good games, possibly even making a run to the final. He had to realize during the Croatia game what his best lineup was. He made the mistake of thinking that because they recovered a 1 goal deficit vs Albania with some high energy play and class, that we could take it to Spain with the same dificiendo in defense and was proven wrong.

That's when you correct the problem and don't look back. It was almost corrected vs Croatia even if that same nameless player was the culprit for the Modric goal.

At the end of the day Spalletti has vocalized he understood his formation error, but will he get rid of the problem on the right?

Time will tell. Some say when Scalvini is ready. I would go as far to say that Buongiorno can make the transition to the right easily enough now. I'd like to see it Monday. So long as Conte keeps the faith in the nameless one, then I think we'll continue to see him and will have to pray that everyone else covers for him, like Cambiaso did on a number of occasions.

 

[The Noun]

I have to give kudos to Spalletti, even if France are underwhelming. Italy needed a victory that could give them some morale and confidence to work with. They needed something to build on. It's clear that returning to the 3-5-2 in the end payed important dividends. Our defenders and midfielders are more comfortable in that formation, and lots of Italian clubs play a modern brand of football with formations similar to this one, with the midfielders able to attack without too much worry due to the defensive cover provided by the other midfielders, wing backs and defenders - same can be said about our wingbacks who can attack more freely.

Spalletti made some important changes that allowed the team to develop some independence from certain players, such as Chiesa, Cristante, Barella, which were up to now thought to be indispensible (yes even Cristante, judging by how often he was starting). Instead, the team is developing a style of play and Spalletti can plug-and-play. Also, with this system, Italy is less dependent on physically strong, athletic wing forwards (which are generally of African descent in the football world), which it does not have, and focus on its own brand of football.

I loved also at the end seeing the captain Donnarumma hug multiple players at once with his long arms. He is developing into a real leader for this team.

We do need a vice-Raspadori though. This country does not really produce seconde punte anymore. Closest available would maybe to play Pellegrini as AM as Spalletti did, or Zaccagni in a role with more responsibility, which I doubt he can do. Chiesa is too unidimensional for that role I think.

Bravo also Retegui, a player with a mental strength that is incomparable to Scamacca's, who might as well be dropped after his performance in the Euro 2024.

Liked everything, but I think Pellegrini was underwhelming as seconda punta. He was kissing the grass and moping way too often for me. I see what Roma fans have been complaining about for a long time. He's soft. Skilled, but has a shit attitude when he's played physically. I think Zaccagni is most useful on the wing, but if the second striker plays wider (though why would they need to in a 5 man midfield) then he could be useful. He's possibly a sub for Dimarco on that side if Udogi is used on defense on the left side. I don't know. I like his energy too and I think we need high tempo energetic players to keep the pressure on the other team because that's when I see more opportunities arise, rather than trying to tiki taco it around the field. No to that. That's not who we are. The direct play I saw yesterday I like much more and I think it's much more exciting. Build on that!

 

[The Noun]

I don't consider this win much more than I'd consider a win of Sassuolo on Inter or Juventus. The last result I trust is the ugly defeat with Switzerland and a win on any opponent in the international equivalent of Trofeo Birra Moretti won't change my opinion... Frattesi and Raspadori in fact remain Sassuolo material. The qualification to the next world cup will be the next step to gain back some dignity. I leave the celebration of a win on France (with obvious problems) in the Nations League to the fools.

There's a middle road you could consider and that is, celebrate the victory, then look forward to the next game and never be too satisfied, and I understand that because why would we be? Missing a world cup and a round of 16 finish is far from anything to brag about. Beating France at home, and while they were not impressive they did give effort, you could see it on their faces, is...in that game...worth celebrating, then the next day you drop the celebrations and realize you still have A LOT to prove.

 

[The Noun]

Pick one but watch till the end first 😂

or

 

[The Noun]

Calafiori out of the Israel game with a bruised calf, going back to club. Buongiorno will start. I expect likely Udogie will start as well. Hopefully Bellanova gets a look too.

 

[stefan9]

The best thing about the game was spaletti finally playing a proper 3-5-2.
Too early to say too much else.

 

[Eugene Ravdin]

Guys, what's the general disposition towards Spalletti among the Italy fans? He failed at EURO and reportedly allowed the federation to dictate line-up decisions, but then he's beating France 3-1 on their turf... So what's the bottom line now? Just wondering.

 

[camelface]

I like this probable lineup. It means Gatti, Buongiorno, Udogie, Kean get a chance from the start.

Italy (3-5-2): Donnarumma; Gatti, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Cambiaso (Bellanova), Frattesi, Ricci (Fagioli), Tonali, Udogie; Raspadori (Brescianini); Kean.

Fagioli should not play. I don't think he is good enough for the NT.

 

[The Noun]

Frattesi again getting on the end of a cross, he had a few other dangerous runs into the box. He's making a difference. Aside from holding up the ball to start the play that led to the goal, Kean hasn't stuck out for me. I'd like to see Retegui back in the second and maybe give Udogie a run out too. I'd like Retegui, Frattesi and Raspadori to continue to build chemistry. Seeing Di Lorenzo on the bench is fantastic.