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OT: Soccer thread

zeke said:
I've actually been rewatching all the game highlights for every tourney game for italy since 1982. I'm up to 2012 now.

And I'm shocked by how loose defensively so many of those great defensive teams were. This squad has been legit suffocating in both games imo. Maybe 1 or 2 breakdowns each game at worst imo.
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The 2006 team was something special, Cannavaro was off this planet...
 
zeke said:
Yeah he's their modern day pirlo but has kind of been a disappointment in tourney play. Locatelli is looking amazing and Jorginho touches the ball more than any guy on the team....I'm not sure it's an easy call to put verratti back in, especially if he's not 100%.
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Barella is irreplaceable too, maybe more than any of em. I don't think you can put Verratti in at this point. If he's fit next game maybe you start him but I don't want to begin to think about who he'd even replace.

Tldr: this may be the most impressive I've seen them look in my lifetime in any major tournament including their very impressive 2006.

Doesn't mean much and despite their amazing record of brilliant defense there are legit question marks back there against the better teams. And question marks don't mean it's a definite issue. It's just the only area I'm unsure of.
 
They’ll need to be compact against the speed demons. That’s why I noted the ancient CBs. Great players, with great careers - but they’ll need to watch the high line and spacing with MFs.

At the WC, the Argies got 2 against France but also allowed the game to become a track meet, with predictable consequences.
 
Preston said:
Barella is irreplaceable too, maybe more than any of em. I don't think you can put Verratti in at this point. If he's fit next game maybe you start him but I don't want to begin to think about who he'd even replace.

Tldr: this may be the most impressive I've seen them look in my lifetime in any major tournament including their very impressive 2006.

Doesn't mean much and despite their amazing record of brilliant defense there are legit question marks back there against the better teams. And question marks don't mean it's a definite issue. It's just the only area I'm unsure of.
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Barella is one of those guys that concerns me when it comes to his decision making. He tries to force the ball too much.

And Berardi frustrates me with his ambitious strike attempts. Insigne has been sloppy on his crosses.

This team leaves me unsure of anything really. I'd like to see what they can do against a big team to better understand how they play when challenged by skillful teams.
 
Preston said:
Barella is irreplaceable too, maybe more than any of em. I don't think you can put Verratti in at this point. If he's fit next game maybe you start him but I don't want to begin to think about who he'd even replace.

Tldr: this may be the most impressive I've seen them look in my lifetime in any major tournament including their very impressive 2006.

Doesn't mean much and despite their amazing record of brilliant defense there are legit question marks back there against the better teams. And question marks don't mean it's a definite issue. It's just the only area I'm unsure of.
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It's funny tho - watch that veratti video posted above and you're reminded quick how awesome he is.

I doubt he does it but maybe Mancini fits all 3 of verratti jorginho locatelli in as deep sweepers with only the 2 fullback behind them. I.e. remove the florenzi/Lorenzo spot. Otherwise the only solution seems to be Locatelli back to the bench.


But I don't think even Veratti or barella are irreplaceable - unlike old italy teams where they had elite talent like Totti pirlo delpiero vieri who maybe lacked pace and grit defensively surrounded by supergudpros like Gattusso/perrotta/pessotto who had no skill, this teams is much more Total Futbol - every guy on the team seems to have equal shares of skill, pace, and grit. They all tackle and they all create. Even the subs.


The lack of superstar skill may kill them in the end tho. Unless some of these kids like Barella and Locatelli decide this is the time to take their games to that next level.
 
lecoqsportif said:
They’ll need to be compact against the speed demons. That’s why I noted the ancient CBs. Great players, with great careers - but they’ll need to watch the high line and spacing with MFs.

At the WC, the Argies got 2 against France but also allowed the game to become a track meet, with predictable consequences.
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Yep. Tho of note both Turkey and Swiss had quality strikers that were completely eliminated. Obviously not at the level of mbappe or lukaku tho.
 
AP79 said:
Barella is one of those guys that concerns me when it comes to his decision making. He tries to force the ball too much.

And Berardi frustrates me with his ambitious strike attempts. Insigne has been sloppy on his crosses.

This team leaves me unsure of anything really. I'd like to see what they can do against a big team to better understand how they play when challenged by skillful teams.
Click to expand...

Imo Berardi is making Mancini look like a true genius. Playing him ahead of Chiesa was a ballsy call and it's worked out amazingly well.
 
Irreplaceable is probably a strong word considering their options are all guys with a fairly full package and as you said, not the gudpros of old... but Barella is the guy for me with the most unique skillset there, especially defensively/winning balls. That'll be key in games against the big boys. He's probably the last guy I'd take out personally. You're right.. Verratti is fucking great so it's a tough call. I genuinely don't know what I would do.
 
The knockput bracket is complicated but I'm pretty sure it would be better for italy to finish 2nd in the group not 1st.
 
what are the tie breakers?

If Denmark beats Russia and Belgium beats Finland, we'd have 3 teams at 3 points each, who have beat each others head to head.
 
And in these tournaments one of the biggest factors is how easy a path is to the finals. Italy had it realgud in 2006. Took care of business against Germany and tied France. Otherwise it was easy peasy for them.

But yes, if Italy takes 1st place it's Belgium in the QF and France in the semis. Finishing second appears to be infinitely easier (Netherlands in the QF and England/Spain? in the semis).

TLDR: GO WALES!
 
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