Azzurri

                                                               

                                                                   AZZURRI  v.1

      This will be first of the many blogs , which i will be writing on the Italian National Team . Starting with the biggest clash in the International stage - Brasil vs Italy . For decades it has been the clash of two ideologies .


Azzurri vs Oranje  ( feb 7 , 2013 )

    The azzurri were coming from a very mediocre performance against the Netherlands in Amsterdam just a month ago , an injury time goal from marco verratti saved the day . Cesare Prandelli played a 4-3-3 in the first half against the Dutch , with Stephan El Shaarawy and Candreva - either side of Balotelli . Even with a midfield of  Andrea Pirlo - Daniele de rossi - Montolivo , they couldn't control the game against a very young dutch side with kevin strootsman dictating terms in the midfield . Prandelli changed the formation back to     4-3-1-2  after 75 mins , which is the usual way we are used to seeing the azzurri . They looked a lot better after the change in tactic . Created a lot of chances in the last 15 minutes of the game , eventually Verratti scoring the equalizer .

What didn't work ? 

Italy vs Nederland 

    Italy traditionally are not a side famous for wingers , they have always played a very narrow formations like 4-3-1-2 and even in the 80's 3-5-2 was played in a very narrow way . Italy has always been a nation obsessed with No.10 ( triquatrista ) . The likes of Roberto Baggio , Alessandro Del Piero , Francesco Totti have occupied that space between the lines . Under Cesare Prandelli the azzurri have looked a lot adventurous - not only with their intention to play attacking football but also with variation in formations . 4-3-3 is a formations which needs good winger/strikers to make it work - as i pointed out earlier which is not an area of strength for the Azzurri . Prandelli had a 20 year old Stephan el Shaarawy and Antonio candreva in those key positions . I'm not a big fan of candreva ( not because he is a Laziale ) - he just isn't good enough at that level . Which never allowed azzurri to get a grip of the game , looked very mediocre for the first 75 minutes - and a lot brighter when the change in tactic was made .

Italy after 75 mins vs Nederland

Highlights - Holland vs Italy 

Italy vs Brasil ( March 21st , 2013 ) 

    Brasil were coming into this friendly after a thumping defeat to England , big Phil still in his early days with his second stint with the samba boys . Cesare Prandelli started with a 4-3-1-2 with giacherini as triquatrista in this game ( much to the surprise of everyone ) .

Italy vs Brasil

    The pattern of play for the first 30 mins was very simple , utilise the space behind Dani Alves . Whenever Italy had the ball either giacherrini or balotelli made the run into the space left behind by Dani Alves , which made David Luiz come out of position ( which Centre-backs don't usually like ) . Most of the times it was balotelli facing David Luiz 1 on 1  - for me David Luiz is  a top class defensive midfielder NOT A CENTRE BACK . On the ball brasil didn't have the cutting edge required at the final third , which is very unusual considering the quality of players that are in that side . It was overall a really good first half performance by the azzurri , put they found themselves trailing behind with two counter-attack goals . Which is again very unusual because brasil used to be the side which always creates chances and italians are well known for their ruthlessness in scoring from few chances . 

Italy vs Brasil ( 2nd half )

   

    In the 2nd Half Cesare Prandelli made two changes bringing on Alessio Cerci for Osvaldo and Stephan El Shaarawy for Andrea Pirlo . One of the first thing to notice was how easily de rossi fitted into Pirlo's role , like as if it was NO BIG DEAL . And i believe Prandelli himself wanted to test how much this side is relying on Pirlo - if that was the case then he must be a happy guy because the absence of pirlo didn't make too much of a difference ( there is verratti to who can fill that role - he was injured for this tie ) . The second half performance was even better than the first half from the azzurri . 

Alessio Cerci - Italy's answer to 4 3 3 ? 

     He was only 15 when Fabio Cappello ( at that time manager of Roma ) asked his assistant to bring cerci to train with the first team - next day - Cerci was not in the training ground - Reason - cerci thought it was some kind of a prank and stayed home . And welcome to the enigma of Alessio cerci . I don't want to go too much into his antics and theatrics because this blog is not about him . One day Alessio Cerci will look like Lionel messi dancing with ball on his feet , beating defenders with ease - the very next day he will be exactly the opposite of how i described him .He has always been that " guy with potential " but never really excelled - maybe because of is attitude . This season he is working really hard and has finally got the reward by getting his first call up to the nazionale . An inform Cerci might be the answer to Italy's quest for a 4-3-3 . He is a natural winger - he provides that width which is nowhere to been seen in a narrow 4-3-1-2 . The answer lies in the question - we are talking about cerci ( an enigma that has no answer ) . Only time will tell what lies ahead for this talented lad . 

     Coming back to the 2nd half of the game , Cerci wasn't involved a great deal at first but gradually made his presence felt . Brasil made few changes of their own , all those changes made their attack more narrow . Another interesting point to note was italy dominating the midfield even though they were outnumbered with brasil's narrow formation . Giacherini was replaced by another budding star Andrea Poli ( i thought this change must have been made a little earlier ) , an injured de rossi was replaced by Alessandro Diamanti - which was again a brave move by Prandelli ( of all the previous coaches he is the bravest , only next to sacchi ) . Cerci made some couple of good runs past Felipe luis who then was replaced by Marcelo .

                                     

Highlights - Italy vs Brasil 

    Overall azzurri were the better side , looked sharper and created a lot of chances . But friendly's aren't played to be won - they are played to figure out whether the current path is good enough for glory . At the moment the path prandelli is going looks alright ( i cant say the same for brasil - Big Phil needs time ) . 

Whats next ?

    The final destination for both these team is Brasil 2014 which  is not very far . This is still not a full strength azzurri team , with Giorgio Cheillini arguably one of the best defenders in Europe is still out with injury - so are Claudio Marchisio and Marco Verratti . Its very obvious that Prandelli want a very flexible squad - with which he can play both a 4-3-3 and 4-3-1-2 . He is still not sure which is the best for his team yet , but considering  the talents available to him it will finally be a 4-3-1-2 in brasil . The left back position is still up for grabs - de sciglio has a very calm debut against Brasil ( so did santon against Dutch - who is now with U 21 squad ) . My best bet would be Domenico Criscito - who is currently having a poor season with Zenit St Petersburg , majorly due to injury . Prandelli will have a look at him before going to brasil , Luca Antonelli is another player who is currently having a good season  ( there is pasqual too but at 31 i dont think Prandelli will prefer him ) . 

   I still believe there is a place for Cassano in the Italian squad for brasil 2014  , like Antonio di natale was in Euro 2012 . Cassano is too bigger a talent to not be in that squad - and with his current form he should have been in the process for World cup Qualifiers . 

Possible starting Line-up in 2014

    There is still time for changes but this is my version of what prandelli is trying to build , with Marco Verratti , De sciglio , Rannochia , Bonnucci , Stepahn El shaarawy , Alessio cerci , giacherrini all in the squad ( Prandelli hasn't closed the door for a totti return ) . 

-sv