Italia: La Nazionale II

So there's a game on

PL Pelle has to carry the Serie Z comrades

Gigi honoured for winning his 150th cap for Italy against Bulgaria

DAT italy team lmao


Florenzi----parolo----marchisio----Candreva
-----------Pelle------Eder------------------

Bonucci

Bonucci and Chiellini need to retire

But does Conte hate Bonaventura ? ..

I doubt he'll even be in the 23 man squad tbh, Conte has been reluctant to use him or if he has it was sparingly

Friendlies coming up against Spain (march 24th) and Germany (march29th). Looking at the best performers that are not assured of a starting spot, how do they fit?

Some of the best players this season are Bonaventura, Insigne, Jorginho, Vazquez, Florenzi, Soriano and Eder. Berardi and El Shaarawy after them mostly because they are talented. Adding the usual suspects: Juve's BBC, Marchisio, Buffon, Verratti, Candreva, De Rossi, Parolo, Darmian, etc.

Its hard to make those players fit without leaving out some of the best performers and our CF looks to be a massive weak spot.

4-3-3: Darmian, Barzagli, Chiellini, Antonelli; Verratti, Marchisio, Bonaventura; Candreva, Pelle, Eder

3-5-2: Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Darmian, Verratti, Marchisio, Parolo, Bonaventura; Eder, Pelle

4-4-2: Darmian, Barzagli, Chiellini, Antonelli; Florenzi, Verratti, De Rossi, Candreva; Eder, Pelle

El Shaarawy, Insigne, Zaza?, Gabbiadini? in there for more attacking options. I think Vazquez is doomed.


Whats the strongest team Italy can field?
Do people rate this team?

Is Conte seriously not going to call up Insigne? Is he insane?

http://www.football-italia.net/81180/euro-2016-bernardeschi-insigne

I read that earlier, it has no source. Its just football italia guessing. But it could be. He was critical of him since he pulled out of the squad before. Saying something like "We need real men for this... scoring a few goals doesn't change things..." a few months ago. Insigne and his agent have been calling for the Nazionale the whole time.

I think he'll go. His season has been way too good to ignore. The only thing is that with El Shaarawy getting back in form he could go instead. Should go regardless. The call ups for the friendlies are next week. Hoping he is called up.

Strongest line up might be the 4-4-2 as its growing in popularity in italy

buffon
Darmian Chiellini Bonucci Antonelli
Bonaventura/Florenzi Veratti Marchisio Insigne/El Sha
Immobile/Eder Pelle/Zaza

Conte would be smart to build off the recent development in wingers in Italy. Previously our formations were quite narrow due to the lack of proper wide men, or having fullbacks on the wing in the 3-5-2. Despite not having ideal striking options, this team is well suited to a more balanced style of play which is something that has been lacking in the past for La Nazionale.

Conte may also look at 4-3-3 to minimize attacking flaws and maximize our use of players.

Buffon
Darmian Chiellini Bonucci Antonelli
De Rossi/Florenzi Veratti Marchisio
Bonoventura/Insigne Pelle/Zaza/Immobile El Sha/Bernardeschi/Eder

Either way, this team defensively and in the midfield is promising, and should be fun to watch. Hopefully they can sort out the striker dilemma.

According to GDM, FIGC are considering between Capello and Donadoni for the NT job

Call ups for Spain and Germany friendlies. Chiellini and Marchisio out injured and Verratti there to evaluate his injury but won't play.

GK: Buffon, Perin, Sirigu

D: Acerbi, Antonelli, Astori, Barzagli, Bonucci, Darmian, De Silvestri, Ranocchia

M: Florenzi, Giaccherini, Jorginho, Montolivo, Thiago Motta, Parolo, Soriano, Verratti

F: Bernardeschi, Bonaventura, Candreva, Eder, El Shaarawy, Immobile, Insigne, Pellè, Zaza

He called 5 CBs so I figure he'll play a back 3. Way too many forwards, probably wants to try everyone out since its the most uncertain position.
I expect he'll try something like:

3-5-2: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Acerbi; Darmian, Florenzi, Jorginho, Parolo, El Shaarawy; Eder, Pelle

3-4-3: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Acerbi; Florenzi, Jorginho, Parolo, Bonaventura; Candreva, Zaza, Insigne

All the call ups are deserved. Great picks.

Rannochia over Romagnoli

Soriano over Bonaventura

Conte really hates us.

M99 wrote:Rannochia over Romagnoli

Soriano over Bonaventura

Conte really hates us.

Bonaventura is there brother, he's in the forwards section

Has Conte really called Ranocchia ? lol

Anyway it's logic to call Soriano , he scored 8 goals as mezz'ala this year. .. great season played from him

yep^

Soriano was gonna be there 100%. Bonaventura is in the forwards as well.

Ranocchia has been in the NT for a while and always looks fine. Conte probably doesn't wanna take the time to coach Romagnoli, young as he is, when he would be like 5th choice CB. BBC are first pick, then Acerbi I would guess. So it doesn't matter too much in the end.

If anyone is the weak link at the back its De Silvestri. That would be De Sciglio's spot but he is too out of form.

Gazzeta says the squad will take shape of a 3-4-3 and some players are securing their spots (16)

rincon wrote:
3-4-3: Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Acerbi; Florenzi, Jorginho, Parolo, Bonaventura; Candreva, Zaza, Insigne

called it.

When the injuries are back they say it looks like this will be tried:
Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Florenzi, Marchisio, Verratti, Darmian; Candreva, Zaza, El Shaarawy

Excellent. I'm loving that team. If Conte gets them playing like a Conte team then they can go anywhere, I can see being annoyingly hard to beat if it clicks.

These would be my calls

Buffon
Sirigu
Perin

Barzagli
Bonucci
Chiellini
Acerbi
Romagnoli

Darmian
Florenzi
Antonelli
Bonaventura
Verratti
Marchisio
Soriano
De Rossi

Giaccherini
Insigne
Bernardeschi
Candreva
Pellè
Zaza
Eder

100% Agree with all those.

The only two things to consider would be including Parolo and/or El Shaarawy

An excellent list from Robes, though I disagree with leaving out Jorginho. I'd personally leave Giaccherini out from that list for him.

I also don't trust Acerbi, too slow, too inconsistent and too inexperienced at this level. It's difficult to replace him though given that Rugani isn't playing regularly and Astori or Ranocchia are equally unpalatable. If the current spate of injuries to Juventus mean that Rugani plays consistently until the end of the season then I'd take him instead, even if he doesn't end up featuring much, it will be good for him and Romagnoli to get a taste of a major tournament, but unfortunately Conte is unlikely to make a courageous call.

Also I think it's time to let De Rossi go from the national team. He's been an incredible servant and for me was our player of the tournament in 2012, so it pains me to say it, but having missed so much of the season through injury, I think he's too great a risk to break down during the tournament. Otherwise I'd have suggested using him as part of the back three even. You could make an argument for taking him along simply to play a role in the dressing room however, such experience is invaluable.

On current form, El Shaarawy might also be worthy of a call up but I think it's wise to wait before backing him. Also as magnificent as Eder was for us during qualification, if there's not some upturn of form domestically, you simply can't take a forward who hasn't scored in six months. He should never have left for a new team in January.

Marchisio to miss Euro 16

Immense loss.
Probably even more important than Verratti for Conte...

rincon wrote:100% Agree with all those.

The only two things to consider would be including Parolo and/or El Shaarawy

Yes, I take away Eder for El Shaarawy surely.

Possibly the worst player to have picked up an injury. Huge blow for the tournament, not just for the strength of our first eleven but because of the way this will stretch our depth and tire out our best players. Instead of being able to rotate Marchisio, Verratti and Jorginho we'll be under pressure to always play our best side to avoid a drop in quality, which haunts you in tournament football where you're playing so often.

We've lost two from Robes' list above already, hopefully there are no more big injuries.

Marchisio was probably the most important player in the setup. Devastating.

Jorginho, Motta and Monotlivo are in line but none of them can provide that same tactical awareness. Bonucci mentioned after the injury that he'd like to try it in midfield for Italy. It could work similar to what De Rossi did with Prandelli at the start of Euro 2012.

For how good Motta is, he just seems to old. Maybe he can bring it up for one last tournament. If not, Jorginho would me pick to partner Verratti.