The world collapsed on us two years ago, in the World Cup play-off with Macedonia in Palermo: Trajkovski’s incredible goal, Donnarumma in the most difficult moment, an Italy without ideas, soft, repetitive, harmless in attack. More than two years have passed since then, twenty-seven months to be precise. Spent in vain, given Italy here in Germany. Two years wasted building little or nothing, although the suspicion that there is little or nothing to build is growing stronger and stronger. We come from two World Cups lost in the groups (2010 and 2014), two more on TV (2018 and 2022), and the European Championship won was a well-deserved miracle in the desert, immediately “bounced” by Qatar.
Creaks
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The world collapses with Macedonia, but the creaks have been felt for some time. Only Mancini, like Bearzot, Vicini, Sacchi, Lippi, Prandelli, pays the debt of gratitude towards his heroes. The draw with Bulgaria, the other two stops with Switzerland, beyond Jorginho’s penalties, the 0-0 in Northern Ireland: all signs of a suddenly impoverished national team. Many are photocopies of the invincibles of Wembley, and the coach no longer has the magic touch. That evening Mancini wants to resign but president Gravina convinces him to stay. The ordeal begins.
Humiliating Tango
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The calendar forces us to play a friendly in Turkey right after Macedonia, a 3-2 that seems like a ray of light. No: we are in a tailspin. In June, again at Wembley for the Finalissima, the challenge between the champions of the two continents. Us and Argentina, who will be the World Cup. It is a massacre, three “Italians” score (Lautaro, Di Maria who will become one shortly after and Dybala), we are scared, very small, annihilated. Humiliated. The summer does not bring advice and is a bit deceptive. Mancini inserts or gives more space to Tonali, Gnonto, Scamacca, Frattesi, Gatti, Bastoni, but the game is not seen. Goodbye possession and dribbling. Only up and down, but the warning messages are repeated. Unheard.
English revenge
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The Nations begins at the end of 2022: draws with Germany and England and the success against Hungary light up hearts, but in Moenchengladbach we are crushed by Germany, 5-2, the first time in history that we have lost to the Germans in a tournament. We beat England in Milan, we win in Hungary, we go to the Nations final four and the worst seems forgotten. Are we being reborn? As the World Cup begins in November, we go to play a very sad friendly in Austria and lose without an excuse: Rangnick is building something, we are dissolving. The European Championship qualifiers begin. In Naples, England gives us back the pain of Wembley: 2-1, Retegui’s debut with a goal is not enough. Unrecognizable.
resignation
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Another summer illusion: the final phase of Nations. We lose to Spain 2-1, playing on equal terms, then we beat Holland well in the final. But there is a strange atmosphere in the blue group, Mancini is gloomy, the players do not smile. It is the end of June. It would have been enough for the coach to resign to start work a little earlier, instead the farewell on August 15th, without going into the merits, forces the quick nomination of Luciano Spalletti. More wasted time. There is no doubt: he is the best name, he has accomplished a masterpiece at Napoli. But he cannot plan, he must only think about qualifying for the Euro, or it will be yet another apocalypse.
turns
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There are reassuring moments, like the victory over Ukraine in Milan, but at Wembley, after a good first half, we suffer a technical, tactical and competitive lesson from Bellingham and Kane, a 3-1 that hurts. As soon as the rival is strong, Germany, Spain, Argentina, England, Austria, we lose. Spalletti ties himself to the 4-3-3, the 0-0 suffered with Ukraine is worth Germany. There are moments of good offensive play that lacks a centre forward. But, unbalanced, we risk. So he plans to defend with three, the 3-4-2-1 inaugurated in America and chosen until Coverciano, when a round of tactical, ideological and formation changes begins that does not help. And now we start again. Again. But not from scratch. Because those who were left out – Tonali, Udogie, Zaniolo – could have given something but not transformed us into Spain. This is, sadly, who we are. And therefore a better organization is needed. Without wasting any more time.
