How will the Italians fare at Euro 2016?

How will the Italians fare at Euro 2016?

Whilst Euro 2012 may have produced a rather long and relatively successful route to the final for the Azzurri, Italy have nonetheless been rather disappointing on the international scene of late. Both the 2010 and 2014 World Cups have to go down as respective disasters for Antonio Conte’s current side – so where the team go on from now is anyone’s guess at the minute…

 

From losing several key players to retirement and experiencing a mismatch of tactics from a succession of different managers out on the pitch, this Italian national side are but a mere shadow of the outfit that proved so triumphant back in 2006. The likes of Alessandro Del Piero, Francesco Totti and Fabio Cannavaro obviously no longer operate at international level anymore – but what is perhaps more concerning from Italy’s point of view – is the fact that such players have in no way been adequately replaced among the current squad.

 

So then, with Euro 2016 fast approaching after the final culmination of the 2015/16 campaign, just how well will the Italians fare at the hotly anticipated finals next summer?  

 

For one reason or another, Italy just haven’t done themselves justice of late. Antonio Conte’s group of players may admittedly reside at the top of their Euro 2016 qualifying group at this stage in the proceedings, yet his side have remained distinctly far from impressive with all things considered. The overall notorious nature of the Italian national side ultimately seems to have disappeared for the time being, leaving a crop of lesser known stars in place to somehow replicate the same kind of results for their country.

 

The performances however, have been somewhat worrying so far. The likes of Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini may still provide their manager with a resolutely no-nonsense foundation at the back, but that doesn’t mean the Italians are currently settled from a defensive point of view.

 

Conte obviously still has the luxury of relying upon long-term Azzurri shot-stopper, Gianluigi Buffon, to continue his trade between the sticks in the modern era – yet in both Matteo Darmian and Mattia De Sciglio – his full-back positions arguably aren’t as solid as they possibly could be. Whilst both players carry a fair degree of potential about them of course, especially the recently recruited Manchester United defender Darmain, such available options invariably look a far shot worse off than what the likes of Gianluca Zambrotta and Paolo Maldini once offered the team.   

 

It may be a seemingly pointless notion to keep harking back at the past and hoping for something to materialize in the future simply because of the team’s previous success on the international scene, but Italy’s lack of recognized midfield options arguably remains equally worrying. Although the likes of Marco Verratti, Claudio Marchisio and Antonio Candreva offer their fair share for their nation, Antonio Conte simply doesn’t reside over enough strength in depth to remain entirely confident for next summer’s finals.

 

In addition to such long-term woes, Andrea Pirlo has also drawn surprise criticism ever since re-emerging from premature retirement for Italy, and Daniele De Rossi ultimately no longer resembles the tenaciously efficient player he once was at the age of 32-years-old.

 

Up-top the problems simply continue for Conte however. Mario Balotelli, Ciro Immobile and Alessio Cerci honestly haven’t earned their place in the side in light of each of their respective disappointing club campaigns last season – so the job of getting Italy out of jail in the goal-scoring department therefore falls upon Southampton’s Graziano Pelle above all else. Alongside Simone Zaza, the potential could well be there for Italy – but again – the team’s strength in depth within the striking department nonetheless still looks questionable.

 

Perhaps it’s because the Italian Serie A no longer represents the great footballing powerhouse it used to be among the European scene. Juventus may admittedly continue to fly the flag for Italy in the Champions League and what not, but the once untouchable likes of AC Milan and Inter Milan now offer very little in comparison to what they have memorably achieved in seasons past.

 

As the likes of PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona and arguably the entire Premier League itself continue to strengthen year after year, Italian teams are seemingly being left behind in equal measure. However, as the Azzurri have notoriously proved slow starters throughout the years – especially among the often forgettable qualifications stages of any major international tournament – perhaps there is still life in this team after all.

 

We won’t ultimately know until Euro 2016 finally arrives, yet although the potential may well be on the table at this stage, the overall signs for Italy nonetheless seem somewhat void of hope in the cold light of day.

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