Credit: Photo by Icon sport
Speaking to La Gazzetta Dello Sport, Fabio Cannavaro gave an almost complete analysis of Italian soccer, particularly the national team. He spoke of the Squadra Azzurra’s shortcomings, compared the team to some in Europe and elsewhere, before acknowledging that Luciano Spalletti can help put things right.
“The truth is that we are no longer used to fast, physical soccer, Macedonia’s pressing put us on the ropes. We don’t have much speed of execution and reflection, the result of a championship that’s only got better thanks to the foreigners. We won the European Championship just two years ago, but we didn’t dominate, we were good at always staying on the ropes. We have European players, but not many: Tonali, Barella, Bastoni, Locatelli, Raspadori, Chiesa, Frattesi and Donnarumma, who is great even if he can’t concede a goal like that. But we don’t belong to the elite. France, England and Spain, who play the same technical soccer at their clubs, are decidedly superior. We’ll need Spalletti’s healthy madness, the “artist’s madness” that he possesses, because he doesn’t have much time. But we’ll be going to the European Championships. Championship, I can’t think of another elimination,” declared the 2006 world champion.
Antoine Rabito
Italian soccer fan from France. Everyday, I read the italian newspapers looking for the best informations to share.