A much discussed topic in Italy which divides opinion among whoever is asked. Italy have very rarely not taken a strong front line to a major tournament, in fact their attack for the past twenty years has been totally overlooked due to the fact that their defence has always been impeccable and the English media (as well as others) only see Italy as a team of defenders.
Italy have never had a set of wingers who were able to terrorise full-backs, in fact their midfield was always the weakest area of the team. This year it seems to be totally different. Italy’s midfield situation is all but set, there is little room for debate to who will be in the squad.
Italy have had bad luck in the attacking department this season, the two strikers who were meant to lead the line both sidelined for half a season. Cassano had a mysterious illness which had stroke-like effects but he is now back in the Milan side and getting minutes in after this freak set-back. Italy’s other beacon of hope was Giuseppe Rossi who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in October but was starting to get back training when done the same thing again putting him indefinitely out of the squad for the Euros.
With the two strikers who would have been set to start for Italy out it left Cesare Prandelli looking at what other options he had available to him. The answer to this is: not that many.
In Serie A 12 of the 20 top goal scorers this season are Italian and only one of those is a midfielder. Goals scored in the Italian leagues are lower than those of other nations. Ibrahimovic who is considered by many as an untouchable God of Serie A only has 24 goals (from 122 shots) and 6 assists to his name – it’s not terribly impressive.
Prandelli will be needing to think what formations he is planning on using and what players will fit into the systems. Italy have also been gifted one of the softer groups in the draw which will help them ease into it as they are notorious slow starters (many Italians will tell you that). For Italy I do think the system and shape they take is more important than the attacking personnel. This season has seen the 3-5-2 become a very used tactic in Italian football, league leaders Juventus as well as Napoli and Udinese have found much success with this shape.
3-5-2
Potential players who could fit into this shape are:
Striker:
- Di Natale – Udinese’s captain and lynchpin. 20 goals to his name and finished the past two seasons as top goalscorer in the league. Has failed to leave his mark on the international stage, yet.
- Matri – A front man who plays weekly in this formation for the league leaders. Will have very familiar faces around him could slide in perfectly.
- Cassano – Has done it for Italy before and can do it again.
- Destro – The best young striker in Italy. Strong in the air and on the ground.
Playmaker:
- Quagliarella – Finally found some form and is fresh. On his day he will score for fun from 30 yards.
- Miccoli – Talismanic for Palermo. A Tevez-like figure who works his socks off and has an end product. Adapt to playing as the front man or just off.
- Giovinco – Finally coming into his own at Parma and making a great claim to be in the squad if not even starting with 12 goals and 8 assists this season.
- Di Natale – Great at coming deep and linking play when asked to. Excellent eye for a pass and needs runners from deep around him.
- Cassano – Once again brilliant between the lines. Can slip in a ball effortlessly and was Milan’s leading assist-man long after his injury.
- Totti – A master of this position. Hasn’t been utilised this season but still could offer wisdom, experience and a touch of class to an inexperienced Italy.
- Del Piero – A man who time and time again comes up with the goods at the crucial moments. Not a starter but a game changer when involved.
A very unorthodox move would be to try and utilise Italy’s very little pace in the most compact way possible. They cover their weakness whilst letting themselves exploit their strengths. This would be through a 3-6-1 where Italy flood the middle of the pitch where their superiority will shine and they will be able to use their pace to break away. Very specific personal will be needed to pull this off but I believe it to be highly feasible and practical. Italy’s back line of three would be the same back line to Juventus of Buffon, Chiellini, Bonucci and Barzagli. In the holding role will be Daniele De Rossi with Andrea Pirlo being the puppet master/play dictator/regista in the middle sat in front of him. Either side of Pirlo will be Marchisio and Nocerino who both naturally make runs from deep, help control the midfield and both have an eye for goal. On the flanks will be Criscito on the left or De Ceglie and on the right it will be Maggio or Pepe. The front man will be used more in the trequartista role to help utilise play and he may not necessarily be the furtherest player forward at all times, spearheading my crossbow formation would be Toto Di Natale.
balotellisbarber 