🇮🇹 Italy's Reasons to Believe! One New Starter & Leader Signs - FULL REVIEW 👀

Football Italia

Italy international break review: Mancini's new blueprint, new starters and a leadership gap

The video reviews Italy's international break, arguing that the mood and fan connection improved markedly from the Belgium defeat to the Turkey and France matches. It concludes that Mancini has found some new answers, especially at right-back, in Tonali's new role and in the energy of younger players, but leadership and the goalkeeper's sweeping decisions remain unresolved.

✅ Subscribe To The Channel for More Videos: / / footballitalia ✅ Important Links: 👉 Website: https://football-italia.net/ 🔥Welcome back to the channel. Lorenzo Bettoni and Richard Hall take a deep dive into Italy's international break. The Azzurri wrapped up their latest fixtures with plenty of talking points, from tactical experiments and standout individual performances to questions that will continue to follow this team in the months ahead. Italy picked up positive results, but more importantly, Roberto Mancini had a valuable chance to evaluate a squad that blends experienced internationals with some of the country's most exciting young talents. ✅ Stay Connected With Us: 👉Instagram: / @gazzettafootballitalia 👉 (X)Twitter: https://x.com/footballitalia 0:00 Introduction and overview 0:47 Analysing Italy's progress 2:38 Atmosphere and fan connection 5:48 Emerging talent and debutants 14:52 Tactical changes in midfield 19:36 Leadership and future outlook 26:00 Summary of statistics

Transcript

back in the studio after covering Italy's 31 win over Turkey from the stud. But now it's time to take a step back and review all that happened during the international break for dead. Let's start. [music] Joining me today is Richard Hall. Richard, um, thank you very much for joining me. First of all, >> good to be here. It's always nice. I think every single time now I've been on I didn't do the Belgium game. I think I think I must be >> You didn't You didn't. Junk was with me. >> I was going to say, sir, it's a win every time. So, I'm not to do anything negative. So, yeah, I'm enjoying this. >> We should We should book these more frequently. [laughter] [clears throat] >> So, now it's >> talking about that. Am I am I wrong to say that Manini's reign only started with the second game against Turkey where Italy won 4-1. The first one was very similar too similar to the old version of Italy. Something that uh the fans didn't want to see. The reaction in Rome was uh said everything you have to know about the Zuri performance about the result as well 2nil defeat against Belgium in the first game and we said even before the game that that looked like an old Italy there was just one the beaten in there Alex Alessandro Romano and then uh the performance and the attitude that the players show was very similar to the past and then somehow it all clicked for match two. Yeah, completely. And I think we mentioned this um on the last show that you can't expect miracles in day one, you know, I mean, yeah, okay, sometimes even if Italy had have hit the ground running against Belgium, it's still going to be Manini's vision of what he wanted to be like, even if they'd have beaten them in that game, it would have been a mile away from where they are the end of the four weeks, never mind what it'll be like in six months. So, you know, these these things, you know, you're trying to what Manini said originally about trying to connect with the fans, you're trying to reconnect with a very historic and very proud culture of football, you know, and that's something that Manini wanted to do and I think he'll get there very quickly, quicker than we think. Um, so yeah, it's been interesting to have I think it's been really fortunate that there's been such a long international break for this to happen because you can see from that starting point to where we are now, it's been a huge shift. And so, you know, it it has taken time, but overall, like you say, from where we were from Belgium game to now, it's chalk and cheese. >> Um, we covered all the uh games played at home. Uh we went to uh the Olympico for the for the game against Belgium. Uh yesterday the NATO in Bolognia for the 3- win win win 3-1 win against Turkey. Uh I have to say the atmosphere was so different. But again, not just during the game or after the game because that would be too easy. But before the matches as well, the atmosphere in Rome, the stadium wasn't sold out. uh the the start of the first half uh and the whole first half to be fair was quite poor. So there were booze straight away from the break. The atmosphere was toxic. I have to say again uh I think it's worth reiterating that that was the first game Italy played at home since uh being knocked out of the World Cup playoff qualifiers in the final against Bosnia in March. So uh there was still that sha shadow over the >> and in Bologna yesterday was it was entirely different. a lot of fans. The stadium was nearly sold out and uh first of all I think the basic is that Italy seem to have regained uh the fans the trust of their fans and this is the most important thing going forward and then there are uh things on the pitch that have started working uh that needs to be uh fixed but still we are in a much better position that we thought we'd be three weeks ago. Yeah, I mean I've only seen the games on the television, but it's quite interesting you mentioned that because you could definitely see with that situation in Rome, it you it came across, you know, and you can almost excuse it, you know, that time to be, you know, that Angus festered for a long time and and you know, you Italians can be like that with your emotions at certain times it comes out and it's almost understandable getting to the the Bologna game um last night, you know, look for me um it was it was such a nice uh to Well, so nice to watch a game on Italian soil. Obviously the inna gives me flashbacks of Italian 90, not the Italy played there, but just the whole vibe of it. And you know, here in the Italy constantly coming out across the screen, it was like took me back or it gave me like a nostalgic feel to it. [snorts] So you can definitely tell there's something building there. And I think man's done in these four weeks is because there is I mean I'll talk about Donnie a little bit later, but you've got you're pretty much generally secure there. there started to be these systematic movements where you can see there's youth within [clears throat] that team and you've got that target point of PO at the front. All of a sudden in in that short period of time that feels like something you can grab onto. I think Italy really wanted to grab onto the national team. That's something that's really important for me and you might tell me I'm wrong. Yes, there was hostility around the the exit and what's gone in the past, but there's such a need for this team to be successful that when you see those glimpses, all Italy needed was this glimpse of the future and they've grabbed it with both hands. [music] Rich Manchini said in his first press conference um in the international break that uh when he explained his his his collapse the the team that he has called which originally was made of 34 players. Obviously the team needed to be uh pretty deep because there were four games in in two weeks and also because it was the first time that Manini was actually able to coach all these players. So we wanted to see on the field as many players as possible. So this is why he called up nine debutants >> which then became 10 because Fedrico DeMarco pulled out pretty quickly with um a slight injury and was replaced by Mateo Rugger who had never played for Italy was called up once before but never actually played. So um just a very quick resume about the appearances of those new faces. Uh goalkeeper Pina uh center back Gillardi and another center back Eddie Kuadio got zero appearances. So they didn't actually make their debut. Um Kyote and Romano made three each. Dumbia was one with the most appearances with four. He got introduced in the first three as a substitute and then starter um and played 90 minutes really really well yesterday against his fourth appearance. He was the divant with the most appearances among those. Um Vara Puchi got two appearances. Zoma got one. He was introduced as a substitute against Belgium. Inasio is not in this list because technically he has already made his debut with Yuri. That is not enough to tie him to the Italy national team. It's something that we'll discuss later on as well. Uh but this is why he's not he's not in this list. I think we can already see a pattern here. Um Kyote made three appearances. Personally, I believe he is now absolute the starter on the right. It brings a bit of >> um regrets as well. Um because it's true something that I read in social media. Uh it's feels so it feels almost impossible. We've been here a year ago on the football website writing that Kyote had done enough at Brenford to deserve a spot. Now, it's true that last March when we played in the World Cup qualifiers, Andre Janardo Gapuzo, there was another right back doing really well, Marco Pstra, but that doesn't mean that Kayor should have not been called up. It's it's a bit of a shame that he only got his >> debut um so late. I would say if you look at his his performances with with Brenford, but the fact that he played in crucial like scored on his debut against Turkey, played really well against France yesterday was introduced from the bench, I think that Kayod going forward the um starting spot and Dumbia is uh yesterday against Turkey was a practically box-to-box midfielder. think he he played a very good game and it's no coincidence that he had the most appearances about among the um the new faces in the Azura team. >> Yeah. I mean just going on to that that rise back position in the sense of Kyod when you say about should he been called up? Yeah. I mean look there's two ways of looking it. You can look into the past and think should he have been? Yes. But if you flip that as well the fact that he's coming under Manchini it's almost like he's not tainted. You know, we just talked about that the past the Italian past that failed coming in now as if I'd be so excited as one of these debutants at the end of these four weeks. Uh, you know, and we talked about Kody. Yeah. Okay. It's great for Italy. You know, Pstra and Cody, there's going to be competition. That's where Italy really want to be. You look back at the great Italian sides and, you know, especially in the defensive positions, there's always competition and there's always been strong alternatives. And that's what you now have on the right side for the next 10 years. You know, it's a fantastic way to to situation to be in. Uh now your arguments will be, you know, when you're reporting is just going to be who's playing better at the moment, you know, who what clubs are they linked with, what minutes are they getting at those clubs and how is that affecting between the two of them with the national team. So that's a great situation. Dumbia I've been so impressed with. I thought last night was outstanding. Um I just think the energy he's got, he brings something to um the Italian squad that really works in that quick transitioning of the ball forward. Um and and also the ability to track back. I think it's given with co on that, you know, with Coyote as well, I think it's given Italy with that pace they both have and the ability to move the ball a bit more of a modern twist on it. Um it's giving Manini exactly what he needs. So they have been absolutely brilliant and probably the two standouts. You know, you mentioned Romano as well. I mean, I know he's heavily linked with various clubs at the moment. Well, you know, he wouldn't wouldn't be that if he'd not played well. So, he's doing exceptionally well as well. So, it' be interesting at this moment in time just to see how that team develops from those debutants that have come in. But those three for me especially, uh, Vaga as well potentially, you know, that you can see like you said a pattern of that squad starting to be developed around them. Yeah, I think for Var is interesting. It's what Manchini did uh in the second game against Turkey was was interesting I have to say with it's something we discussed already with Raspadori playing on the right and then cutting inside playing almost as an attacking midfielder. I think that is something that Vgara can do as well because even with a club level you don't you're not quite sure whether he's right winger whether he's a boxto-box midfielder whether he's an attacking midfielder it's cover a lot of roots but you see he can have an influence in that area so um with a tactical um idea with a clear tactical idea perhaps he can be one of those able to play in that position last night said in his sports match press conference speaking about Vada speaking about he that they need to play 10 15 games at this level and then they can be >> get their consistency and get used to to this type of of games to this type of um of opponents as well. For Romano, he was one one of the early talking points for Italy. As I said, he was the only debutant starting in the first game against Belgium. He got criticized because he lost that ball in the buildup to Belgium's first goal. People say he's not ready to play that level. Uh it made me angry a little bit I have to say because like you can't expect you want young players and then think they're going to play like a veteran. In that game specifically, Romano only had two passes wrong and one >> it's the one that everyone remembers because Belgium scored from there. But if you want young players that you need to accept their mistakes as well and not just go to replace them straight away. And and the thing on that you you're you're right there because I think with Italy it's an inherent situation where with you we talked about so many times especially in the last six months this idea of a young player not being trusted until they you know they're sort of in the mid20s and playing for a top tier team. Um it's inherent and it's very similar in u it's an idea that well something I'm hoping is changing in Italy because when Ramayano comes on in that early game like you say where he plays as well is such a pivotal position you know to to play like um a Gazetta level eight out of 10 every single game especially for the national team not going to be possible so these players have got to get into that and like manini said maybe it takes 10 or 15 games you build them in I think that will come sooner but it will only come with trust Um, and that's from the fan base as well. And I think Italy and the fans are going to have to get used to that if they want to see these youngst players come through and ultimately that will help the national team moving forward. We saw in England in a different way for a long time. Any player that used to play outside of England was almost not trusted, not so, you know, out of sight, out of mind and were picked up on a lot more in the national team. Now >> it's gone the other way around. >> Yeah. And it's the same thing with this. You've got to trust those young players to say, "Yeah, listen, give them that chance. Let them develop." So hopefully, you know, that this four-week period will have really started to change their mindset. And I think what I know I'm a Manini fan anyway, but I do actually think what he's done and the way he's approached this is impressive, especially off the back of that defeat. I think they sort of picked up and show they can really and there I mean you could even more of them. I think there's been some other impressive displays as well. I do think there's going to be in the next break they'll maybe have to I know you've got people like um whether it's Donnaruma and Pio that are really looking like and Barella that are looking like those central points of the team, but it would be interested now to to see a couple more changes as well uh moving forward. But yeah, it's uh it's certainly certainly been impressive. [music] talking about one of the changes that we've seen in these uh in this break. Yeah, I mean it's a change I have to say, but um it's an old face covering a new role. I would say technically a new role. And I'm talking about Tonali because before we we mentioned Romano, he started as a deepline playmaker against Belgium. He didn't quite um find his position because then many times it was Barela dropping it to uh to start the to start the attack. From the following games we saw especially those against Turkey and France we saw Tonali playing as a number six. Uh now the uh idea that Manchini has shown is to have one deepline playmaker. One of the two box-to-box midfielders is one that >> technically is uh almost as a deepline playmaker. Basically Manini wants technically wants to replicate what he did with the Euros with the double with Veratti and and Ginho and the other the third midfielder is more the boxto-box the more the one that causes threat to the opponents. This is why for example Barela rested started on the bench against France and and Fertzi started with Tonali and Fajoli >> because Fajoli is one of those playing as a medala who helps >> uh in the buildup. Um but one of the things that we've learned from this break, I think uh Manchini has found in Tonali the uh player to build the number six uh role around. I mean he wants he wants him there. He's not still a classic playmaker. He's um for example against France he wasn't too involved. They only made I think 38 touches something like that which is a much for a deepline playmaker. But at the same time the fact that he shares the responsibility of the buildup with another player with in that who in that case was was Fajoli then it it makes sense and the tactical and technical performances of Tonali justify I think to have such an an important player in that position because you just don't need the vision and the pace and the tempo but you only you also need the personality uh to play there and I think uh it's it's But it's a different type of playmaker. But I think that's the decision that Manini has made and we'll see Tonali playing as a number six for Italy going forward. >> Yeah, it's almost like full circle with Tali, isn't it? When he came out, you know, with the brusher kit and the long hair, everyone said it's the next Po and then we've seen so many different variations of him. Um, and now it's almost reverting to to that original type. Listen, I don't think you can take the game against France as a benchmark for anyone because I mean I don't think that even Po at the moment playing against that France, you know, the French team in that position is going to have a lot of the ball. >> It wasn't wasn't criticism. It was just uh >> Oh, no. >> No, I didn't think you were criticizing him at all. by just saying it's a difficult game you know whereas I think as well you know it is this sort of new breed of of Italy coming through and I think that players like him players like Barela Donnaruma Pio it's such a nice spine of the team almost to have Bastoni as well you know to to build it around and I think Tanali with his you know his intelligence I think and character like you say you know he's very resilient and I think that you do need leaders in this team and I think you know if you what better place to have a leader of someone who can dictate the tempo of the game, you know, that that is a really really special thing to have. So, I think it's um you definitely can see Manchester is looking to to lean on him. Um again, what options to have. I mean, when you look at that once you start putting down these players for the future, you still got years in them, the ones I just mentioned, you know, the variations start filling in around it. For instance, I've been saying this for a long time, even with the Inter situation. I've re really enjoy watching Fatazi when he gets into the national team, any team. Um, you know, he seems to be a player who's floated around with not a lot of trust been given into him, but the more you do, the better he does. But Jolie is again for me someone who I think has much more many more levels to reach as well. And obviously Bella is Bellere. So, you know, you know, you're always going to get what you get from him. So again from that po point and part of the pitch I think qualitywise you know it's definitely there for Italy. Um like you say it's always been a strength in depth element but again going back to the players the debutants it's it's starting to make it look like a bit a much bigger and better picture. It's interesting what you said, Richard, about the leaders because I think this is another challenge that Manchini will have in his reign, which is to build the leadership to the 2030 World Cup first starting with the Euros 2028 and then going forward. Um because uh coming to this break obviously there was a lot of pressure on uh um Alexandra Bastoni a lot of pressure on the dressing room leaders as well those who are supposed to be the dressing room leaders one of the fear is that this Italy team still doesn't have those players um partially let me say that because also they are quite young >> Kellini Bonuchi Verat uh were the leaders of the Euro winning team. Bastoni, I think he only made one appearances at Euro 2021 and no