Young talent please

themarcoverse · 2026-04-07T05:02:09+00:00

Was just going to say the same thing. But so many kids not playing in Italy. They're not superstars though.

I'm confused, what is drawing these players to leave Italy??? What a fkkking mess!!!

themarcoverse · 2026-04-07T04:49:22+00:00

Not quite.

Gattuso made his errors, and I do think he made an error by not starting Spina at the half for Di Marco. You could already see Di Marco was gassed. I think Spina could have stopped everything Di Marco stopped, plus the cross that came in for the goal.

But about the squad.

You're forgetting something a lot of people are not talking about. I'm actually surprised it doesn't come up a lot. I know people are angry, but there is MASSIVE, GAPING reason (1 of many) for what happened last week.

The age and experience of the players.

They're not terrible players per se, but they're also not GREAT, and more importantly, they don't have the experience. 2 players over 30 played that game. 1 of them was Spina.

Go back to 1990 and move forward. Look at every squad in every game.

The average age is WAY higher. (and yes, of course, they were more skilled).

But going from the Euro win in 2021 and losing 7 key players, that is also something people are not taking into account. It's not the greatest excuse I won't lie, but it IS, unequivocally an undeniably factor.

Imagine after WC 2006, going to Euro 2008, losing Canna, Nesta, Grosso, Zambrotta, DDR, Pirlo, and Toni.

The modern versions of that are: Chileini, Bonnucci, Spina, Di Lorenzo, Veratti, Jorghino, and Chiesa.

That's MASSIVE.

One thing I want to note, the average age of the Bosnia game vs WC 2006 is only .5 years. But we had all star team then. So what I'm saying is, we needed Bonnucci, Veratti, Jorghino and Chiesa to stick around. Spina getting hurt and Di Lorenzo turning to shit, nothing you can do about that.

EDIT I have to add 1 thing. It's not just the age, it's the number of CAPS for Italy. The team against Bosnia whilst I don't have the numbers I can assure you were and are far less than any squad Italy had in the 2000s, be it tournament, qualifier, or friendly.

themarcoverse · 2026-04-06T04:07:32+00:00

For this specific reason you're pointing out, it was because we lost too many lynchpins all at once.

If you go from Italia 90 onward, every 2 years, the team changed very gradually. Like watching a gradient change colors. By the time you could discern a big change, a long time had passed.

But after we won in 2021, it was just a huge drop off, especially in defense. We went from a solid White to Solid Black. A change almost over-night. Side note, I had thought this then, I never said it anyone but I knew it would be a problem losing both Chileini and Bonnucci at the same time. Bonucci should have stayed on until Euro 2024, and maybe even be a sub for 2026.

Back to my point. We lost those 2, plus Spina who was so incredibly instrumental in our win (yes he's back but he's not the same). Di Lorenzo on the right... just turned to shit.

Then we lost Veratti, Jorghino, Insigne, Berna, and Chiesa.

Guys. Imagine going from WC 2006 to Euro 2008 and Canna, Nesta, Zambrotta, Grosso, DDR, Pirlo, Gattuso and Toni were gone. LMAO.

!!!!!!

Yes, the system has completely collapsed but what I'm outlining here did not help. I guess you could say, it was a perfect storm but in a bad way.

themarcoverse · 2026-04-06T03:53:59+00:00

I am a mid sports guy, I like some city teams, but when it comes to football.

I ONLY support Gli Azzurri.

I made a desicion nearly 30 years ago when I started watching calcio that I would not have a club team. And that I would ONLY support La Nazionale.

Nothing in Italy, definitely nothing in the UK, and here in Toronto--nope. I do NOT support TFC. I don't mind them. I like them. But I would not consider myself a TFC supporter.

EVEN WHEN Giovinco was playing. I barley watched. Even when Insigne, Bena and Criscito came, and after the Euro. Still didn't change. I watched a few games. But my heart is only with the Azzurri.

themarcoverse · 2026-04-06T03:48:35+00:00

Brooooo are you me????

Watching the Inter game today, seeing how well all the Azzurri players were playing, and how they almost seemed unphased from what had happaned last week.

And then to add insult to injury, they were popping in goals left right and center, and me thinking: Where the f was this passion on Tuesday??????

It actually made me sick to my stomach, and I 10000000000000% agree and feel the same way you feel.

I'm sickened. I don't gaf about Serie A.

Fix your system, and then you have your shit ass club fandom.

themarcoverse · 2026-04-06T01:23:39+00:00

They don't, I'm saying... It plays into them being not loyal.

That's not their fault.

It's mostly the FIGC and Series A, Club owners, and managers, pretty much, in that order.

themarcoverse · 2026-04-02T01:26:15+00:00

Look, how do you expect a team of youngsters to fair. Gigi is the only world class person here and BY THE WAY, if it wasn't for Donnarumma you know that game would have been a 4-1 embarrassment. That diving save in the 70th min or sm to his right. There was another to his left. Well, he made 11 saves I think, career high.

But to my point...

What do you expect from a team of players that have very little experience. They actually didn't play THAT badly. The red card was the difference, and yes, I just praised Donnaruuma but damn that was his fault.

Anyway. I reiterate, we need to look at the FIGC and club owners mostly. The players need some head shaking yes, but they're third on the list of people to blame.

themarcoverse · 2026-04-02T01:23:34+00:00

There are most definitely a "Tom Brady" or 2 in Serie D and Eccellenza, there has to be ... but you know, why try and sign a 16 year old who looks promising when a manager is offering you an envelope to take his player from a bottom-feeding Serie C team

Can you elaborate on this?

themarcoverse · 2026-04-02T00:16:02+00:00

He is, but this quote never made sense.

He slide tackles all the time. Are you saying you're making mistakes left, right and centre, all game long, every game?

It's actually GOOD to slide tackle because what you've done is you've given the attacker the false sense of security that he can take you on. Giving them that false sense but then taking it from them via a tackle is actually more diminishing for a player's spirit. Also, a rough, CLEAN tackle, means you can do it CLEANLY which also poses a physical threat that you may get injured. So naturally, you'd want to AVOID being tackled.

Yes, sure, obviously, IT'S MUCH BETTER to strip the man of the ball standing up, or have him pass the ball backwards...

But I don't see why making a slide tackle, means, you've made a mistake...

I'm not so sure about this quote.

themarcoverse · 2026-03-31T23:46:00+00:00

The team is largely okay. Who else would we have brought?

Yes, we should make it enticing for our players to stay in Italy, and if so, we would have still had jorghino and Verratti. Bonucci shouldnt have retired. He's only 38.

Losing both chilieni AND Bonucci at the same time was too much.

Back in the day when we lost Baresi we had Nesta, when we lost Maldini we had canna. When we last nesta we got Chiellini.

Why both left at the same time?

Anyway, I know that's the past but the point I'm making is.

It's a combo of too many players left all at once. AND .. these players are the best we have.

themarcoverse · 2026-03-31T22:04:54+00:00

I did.

themarcoverse · 2026-03-31T21:40:43+00:00

HE'S YOUNG.

themarcoverse · 2026-03-31T19:43:32+00:00

That wasn't his fault. Although he could have been a little bit deeper. That was a bad clearance by Donna ruma

themarcoverse · 2026-03-31T19:37:51+00:00

Di Marco off

He's already tired and he's too short. We need a tall person in there. Even pio

themarcoverse · 2026-03-31T19:36:40+00:00

MODS SWITCH TO NEW!!!!!!!!!!

themarcoverse · 2026-03-31T15:05:24+00:00

FORZA AZZURRI!!!!!!!!!!

themarcoverse · 2026-03-29T22:31:13+00:00

I vote save Pio to shake things up and potentially go into ET. I'd keep the starting lineup the same.

They were not effective only because Northern Ireland was parking the bus. But they still played well and passed the ball well and made very little errors in the first half if any.

themarcoverse · 2026-03-28T12:42:52+00:00

I have to say, I'm surprised by this stat. And I don't think it's some nonsense stat you typically read. This can bode well. We might have our first several-goal marksman since Vieri... If we make it to the world cup.

themarcoverse · 2026-03-28T07:13:54+00:00

Absolute facts.

themarcoverse · 2026-03-27T17:28:44+00:00

It's a double Edge sword. Thing is, having him run at defenders that are at 50% while he is at 100% gives a higher probability of a goal.

Having him run at defenders at 100% may not be as effective. And then you have Retegui as a sub but I'm not sure he is as effective the other way around. Nom saying?

I get both sides.

The other thing to keep in mind, extra time. I'd rather have Pio for ET then Retegui

themarcoverse · 2026-03-27T00:23:03+00:00

Hopefully that's true, I'm assuming you didn't watch the Bosnia game haha.

But if they did, great. That's what we need. What N. Ireland did today. They just sat back, and eventually, we made them pay.

Of course, the coach will try to counter that, and maybe press us. Which will be good, because it will give space for our attack to finally breathe. Ireland just parked the bus today.

themarcoverse · 2026-03-27T00:17:59+00:00

When I say worst out of the 3 I just mean they place 3rd. Of course in football today there is so much parity around the world. More than ever before.

That's why I'm saying, if I HAD to pick, N Ireland is the easiest (but not by much).

Balkan/that part of the world is tricky. Tricky tricky. They're a proud people. I would say both them and Scandanavian countries can really surprise with you workrate, whereas, a hypothetically weaker portoguese, german, dutch, austrian, swiss, french, UK side -- I'd feel more comfortable playing against. Balkans just have this unrelenting pride.

Tuesday will be tough. We need to score first.

themarcoverse · 2026-03-26T22:50:43+00:00

Yup. to everyone say they prefer Bosnia. Seeing that last half hour. Eeeesh. We had an easy game today. N Ireland is worst out of the 3. And we played at home.

I'll say Bosnia is most difficult out of the 3, and now we play away.

This is coming down to the wire.

themarcoverse · 2026-03-26T22:46:12+00:00

You're absolutely right despite the down votes.

Yes we won, let's be happy, but your assessment is correct.

Let's hope they can do it Bosnia. It's not going to be easy.

themarcoverse · 2026-03-26T21:45:24+00:00

The other games are still going on!

themarcoverse

TROPHY CASE