Chiellini’s legacy and a true 9 are Italy’s bets

After the defeat in Germany it is time for the national team to take stock

the analysis

SENT TO MOENCHENGLADBACH

On the night of Moenchengladbach, a few horns and many flags. Germany had never managed to overtake us, in the 90 ‘, when the challenge with the Azzurri was part of the path of the World Cup, the European Championships and the Nations League: they did it at Borussia Park and, for the Germans, it is a reason for pride and gasp. We return home with the balance of two weeks never so intense for our national team, five matches, in fact one every three days: is the glass full or without water? Argentina, the first challenge of the series, cannot do the test because the European champions went on the pitch, a little tired, a little bruised. And the verdict was merciless: Messi and Di Maria on the shields, blue on the carpet. From the Wembley Grand Final to the other night, here are the happy notes or the red pencil. The experimental Italy set up by Roberto Mancini in the duels with Germany (home and away), Hungary and England for the Nations League group showed two nerves exposed above all: the legacy of Chiellini and the tips blunt or unsuitable for the game of Mancio. Chiellini said enough and flew to Los Angeles investing Inter Bastoni with the role, but the point is that the Nerazzurri Bastoni seems to have embarked on a downward trend when it comes to national matters: shy, at times fearful, and naive was the his attitude in this June window. No rejection, but a worrying involution when he should have given weight to the baton that Chiellini himself publicly passed on to him. Behind, or next to Bastoni, there is little light: the Roma player Gianluca Mancini is making no progress, the Lazio player Acerbi is over thirty and the other Biancoceleste Luiz Felipe can be considered for the emergency. So we just have to wish the veteran Bonucci a long career and hope that the Gatti seen in the English lair in Wolverhampton is the announcement of something bigger.

By throwing the ball as far as possible, our spikes struggle to hold it. Immobile was not in these five labors because he was injured, Belotti yes, but no one noticed it: the runoff between the two that began in May 2018 can be considered closed. So? Under with Scamacca, but Scamacca must give himself a shock: in the dialogue with his teammates he is alive, in the conclusions towards the goal not reached as well as in the movements in the heart of the penalty area. The lively Raspadori is so in traditionally less adrenaline-pumping games, when the bar is raised you lose. On the horizon, the non-trivial silhouette of the Pellegri grenade advances because Mancini has esteem for him and is only waiting for the twenty-year-old Pietro to start playing regularly. Estima, the coach, also nurtures for Pinamonti, called at the end of May and returned home due to physical problems. Chiellini is already regretted, a turning point is needed in attack. On the flanks, in defense, there are few alternatives. On the left, a Spinazzola at 60% is worth more than the possible competition from Emerson or Biraghi, with only Dimarco to put forward a credible candidacy. On the right, beyond Di Lorenzo and Florenzi, the void because Calabria does not have the pace to take the stage. Italy in the middle of the field is fine, as long as you don’t forget Verratti and Jorginho, even if the latter, although unique in his way of handling the ball, is threatened by Cristante or by the very young Ricci, Esposito and Scalvini, all debutants in these hours. On the wings, the wait is for the return of the Church and the hope is that Berardi will stay away from the infirmary: Insigne will come off the radar, Bernardeschi too, Politano has never entered. –

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