He is the last coach to have led Italy to the final phase of the World Cup, the one who only surrendered to Spain in the 2012 European Championship, “very different from today”. Cesare Prandelli, Italian coach from 2010, after his farewell to Fiorentina, until 2014, after his voluntary resignation following the elimination from the World Cup in Brazil, after seeing the debut match against Albania he has no doubts: «This national team has moral strength and ideas. I discovered a solid, compact Italy. It was a good start: the burst of pride that took over, despite the initial mistake, must be the driving force.”
Yes, it’s true: few, so far, are ready to bet on it, but Prandelli knows well what the challenges may be to accept. He talks about Jorginho’s tactical intelligence, Barella’s exponential growth, Scamacca’s ability to build play – «When you create opportunities, sooner or later, you materialize them» -, until arriving at the possible ace in the hole, «the vertical game of Frattesi”. In short, it is an Italy that deserves it.
Cesare Prandelli, is Italy’s reaction the first “plus” on which to base the rebirth of the national team?
«When teams have a strong belief in what they are doing, the reaction is always there. Italy has demonstrated it. On Saturday evening, we immediately saw the desire to go and take back the scene. On the pitch, no one stopped: there was the right hunger. The movements confirmed the strong desire to win. It was a dominated match.”
However created, the result should have been much more rounded.
«Just building shares is an excellent starting point. If you make clear ones, like the ones seen against Albania, the goal arrives sooner or later. It means that there are ideas to develop the game: throwing the ball in is a consequence.”
In your opinion, is Italy still too slow?
«When you try to replicate the actions you try in training, it happens that you think for a moment more. But it’s a matter of habit: as time passes, these movements will come naturally. I believe that the next step should be to evaluate Italy against an opponent who wants to dominate the game. In this way we will be able to understand what type of “arm wrestling” will develop and whether, psychologically, we will be ready to accept this challenge. The match against Spain on Thursday will act as a thermometer.”
In what sense?
«It is the key match to understand which path we are taking. If we don’t accept ball possession from the Red Furies and try to dictate the pace ourselves, it means that we are deeply convinced of what we are doing. Otherwise, we will have to find balance in another way.”
Is Spain among the favourites?
«In my opinion it is an interesting national team, but in perspective. It has 2-3 very young players who are extraordinary in terms of technical quality, personality and ability to jump man, like Lamine Yamal. But I don’t know if enthusiasm and young age can be enough for De la Fuente’s selection. Against Croatia they showed that they have incredible technical quality: there are those who skip the man and those who attack the spaces. There is more quality on the external lanes, but less community.”
Italy, on the other hand, despite being the reigning champions, seems to be making a quick start.
«Many times the best teams are born like this: they are considered to have little talent and at that point what makes the difference is character, personality, determination, pride in showing the best version of themselves. It’s the best recipe to make up for talent.”
Spalletti focused a lot on the emotional aspect, especially when talking about “giants and heroes”. Is it the right strategy?
«If others consider us a team with little talent, we must demonstrate that we have qualities that others don’t have. This is where continuity, stubbornness and the desire to go the extra mile to help your teammate become decisive. These are factors that unite a group that aims to surprise. Spalletti, then, demonstrated that he has great communication skills.”
Is Jorginho still the “phosphorus” of this Italy?
«He has always been a player capable of giving time. He does it to connect the maneuver, to start it, to give balance or even to shorten it. He is an element of extraordinary tactical intelligence. But he’s not the only one. The Barella seen with Albania is mature, can play different roles and, above all, has a strong personality. I really liked Frattesi, the only midfielder in this Italy team who attacks depth without the ball like few others. He is the man who created the most scoring opportunities for the Azzurri.”
And Church?
“I saw him recovering, with a great desire to go and look for one-on-ones, which is his best quality, without the need to go around the pitch.”
Who do you think is the favorite in this European Championship?
«France is the team to beat and not just for Mbappé. However, I believe that the national teams are losing their characteristics: this is an increasingly globalized football. What do I mean? Which is easier to read and less to predict.”
