This time it is better to start from the tail end of Italy–Belgium to grasp the most useful footballing meaning for the narrative of the revised and corrected Italy club, which remained at the top of the Nations League rankings. And the tail end of Italy-Belgium tells of the ability, in numerical inferiority due to Pellegrini’s background, of the surviving Azzurri to remain a team, form a square, even recall Frattesi, among the most rebellious to recover defensive positions, to defend that precious 2-2 which can shine with its own light. On this point, the difference with the Italy of the European Championship of a few months earlier is so huge that one can imagine an internal revolution as well as a change in the coach himself. And instead there is always Spalletti at the helm, there is always the Inter mini-block acting as a bodywork, there is still Retegui at the center of the attack who moves like a cobra in the goal area to take advantage of the slightest mistake from the rival goalkeeper. This means that not only has the physical condition of the group changed (look at Dimarco to grasp the indication), not only has a game system been established like a tailor-made suit but a team spirit has been cemented which ensures the exaltation of a other requirement. It’s about the coach’s courage to focus on young people, without any exclusion. In just a few days Ricci has already become the precious guide of the midfield, just as the time has arrived, probably unexpectedly, for the debut in his city, at the Olimpico, of Pisilli, a midfielder scouted by De Rossi in Roma’s spring and perhaps in Udine there will be an opportunity for Daniel Maldini, another talent this year valued full-time by Nesta’s Monza, given the obvious disqualification of Pellegrini who has never stolen an eye in all his appearances for the Azzurri.
This last point finally allows us to look at the Italian youth system with different eyes compared to the disenchanted ones with which we have lamented in the past the absence of worthy heirs of some champions of the caliber of Nesta, Pirlo, Totti. We’re not at that level yet but we’re not that talent-poor either.
