Let's all laugh at.. Italy

Robespierre wrote:Two times in a row such as France in 90s ( 1990, 1994)
It was a team with players as Cantona , Papin, Ginola in their prime so equally incredible

1990 France was not very good.  The golden midfield had just retired (Platini, Giresse, Tigana) and there was a team identity issue.  1994 miss was a heartbreaker.  Lost to Bulgaria in the last second...  cost the manager his job (Gerard Houllier) and Cantona/Ginola were never allowed back on the NT (which was stupid).

It was actually a big challenge to qualify to the WC back then. Far harder than today.

I would like Robes' post twice if I could. I'm totally here for the history lesson on Macedonia.

As for Italy, I would say this is the best thing that could happen to them due the absolute shambles that is their national youth development standard, but I don't think that would be accurate because I don't think it's going to change anything. It should, but I don't think it will.

Imagine someone like Mbappe having to start 2-3 divisions down and slowly work his way up to the top flight rather than making the immediate leap because his talent very clearly warrants it. To say Italy are using an antiquated process would be a massively diplomatic way of saying it's simply incompetent youth management. The chickens continue to come home to roost.

Chiellini is a legend, but his time has passed. The Euros should've been his last, victorious hurrah and instead he likely exits the stage in this manner. I feel bad for him.. There's mixing in youth with experience and then there's simply holding onto glorious players of the past way past their prime.

I don't think Mancio is overall to blame as he's at the mercy of pretty garbage system. I do wish he had bucked the trend and had done more to fight to change it from within though rather than just going on to keep on. FIGC would likely rather make him the scapegoat than look inward and blame themselves though. That's how it goes and that's why Italy will continue to suffer.

Damn feel for Italy. I knew a great would miss out of the WC but do not see this upset coming at all. Now we just gotta see how the 12 year olds gonna react to this in the U-17s few years down the lane.

Incredible stuff... Italy the traditional power house of world football... they won that 2006 incredibly despite those domestic scandals, but then has failed miserably since... at the Euro everyone were praising them n now this... just incredible... no good from a neutral spectators pov, one less big name n one more small team that basically know nothing about...n prolly wont watch

BarcaLearning wrote:one less big name n one more small team that basically know nothing about...n prolly wont watch

Italy wouldve gotten eliminated by Portugal anyway

Why are they playing a friendly a few days after being knocked out of WCQ?

While Italy misses out with scrubs like Immobile and Berardi, AC Milan legend GIANLUCA LAPADULA leads Peru to the international playoff against either UAE or Austrailia. What a story we are witnessing.

And to think I had spaghetti with meat sauce for dinner today . Life is good