Despite winning the Euros during the summer, Italy still have bad memories about the World Cup and they’ll have to handle the pressure when they meet Switzerland on Friday, writes Giancarlo Rinaldi.
Italian football fans of a sensitive disposition should look away now. The last time the Azzurri faced a World Cup qualification showdown it did not go well. Some supporters still wake up amid their nightmares of that disaster – almost exactly four years ago – which saw Sweden cancel La Nazionale’s trip to Russia 2018. Nobody with a Tricolore on their bedroom wall wants a repeat of that debacle against Switzerland on Friday night.
It is not quite comparing like with like, of course. That play-off clash was a winner takes all scenario which will not be what is played out in Rome. Roberto Mancini would still have the safety net of a play-off route should his team mess up at the Stadio Olimpico. However, anything other than a win would feel like a rare hair out of place in what has been a pretty much perfectly groomed reign as national team boss thus far.
Those who have followed the boys in blue for a longer lifetime might see another bad omen on the horizon. Back in 1958, it would be Northern Ireland who cost Italy their admission to the World Cup – the only other time they failed to get there. They are also their final group stage opponents this time around.
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Pessimism, though, ought not to be allowed at the COVID-restricted party on this occasion. This team produced the goods in style this summer to become European Champions and surely has enough in its locker to deliver the win against the Swiss which would banish any doubts. It would continue an upward trend since the Giampiero Ventura age which has been truly remarkable.
In football, of course, the journey from hero to zero can be shorter than Giorgio Chiellini’s haircut. Nonetheless, it would represent a terrible collapse for the reigning continental kings to miss out on a World Cup. It would not be entirely without precedent – ask Czechoslovakia, Denmark or Greece about that – but it would still be a painful slap in the face for a team that has proved good at dodging the punches thus far.
The build-up, though, has not been without its hitches. Marco Verratti – the man who makes the midfield tick and the referee’s yellow-card pocket twitch – was an early call-off with a hip injury. He was followed, in no particular order, by Lorenzo Pellegrini, Nicolò Zaniolo, Ciro Immobile and Giorgio Chiellini. With doubts over the other Nicolò – Barella – the Italy boss did not have his troubles to seek.
However, he has tried to ooze calm in the build-up to a clash with a side he did beat, after all, quite convincingly in the summer. Verratti missed that match, too, if you remember and Chiellini had to come off quite early. Suddenly, the omens don’t look quite as bad as they did, do they?
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Nonetheless, there is no doubt the Swiss are not a side to be taken lightly and represent a tricky test of Italy’s World Cup credentials. They have the tools to hurt the Azzurri – but only if they are allowed to use them. As with most of the games under Mancini’s leadership, if his troops can take control of the initiative, they have shown there are not many sides that can live with them.
It might have to be a bit of an experimental starting XI in this latest gladiatorial conflict in Rome but it should not be one his team approaches with any trepidation. They did, after all, go into battle at Wembley earlier this year and come away with the spoils. If any outfit in world football should be high on confidence, it is probably this one.
Balance, as always, will be the key. If Mancini can get the right mix between attacking intent and defensive savvy there is little doubt his players have too much for the opponents who lie in store. They have made this voyage a little more complicated than it needed to be but they still have their fate in their own hands.
Switzerland are a familiar foe, for sure, and one to be respected but not feared. This group of players did not come this far, you feel, to be thwarted at the final hurdle. By the time Qatar 2022 rolls around it will have been eight years since Italy played at a World Cup and for a nation of its footballing stature that is simply far too long. The Euros were great, no doubt, but a Mondiale is another matter. Last time around they said: “No Italy, no party.” It is up to this side to prove that it has the quality to add another star to the four it can already stitch onto its famous blue shirts.
The pressure will be immense on them in Rome – whatever Mancini thinks about that. Switzerland are loving this, and have enough to prey on the nerves and doubts. I, for one, hope Italia can show their real strength here. Even a win is not guaranteeing anything – but a draw will fire up the doubters too (in all of us).
The 2010 WC was a shambles, 2014 even worse, and 2018 a no show… we fail this time, and we deserve not to be spoken about with regards to World Cups, apart from being mentioned as what was ONCE a good team…. 34/38/82/2006…. fading memories really.
Come on lads! Just put this to bed on Friday ! CAZZO!
This is Mancini’s Italy not Ventura’s, calm down people one way or another this team will be at the world cup. Both Switzerland and Italy deserve to go. There should be more European teams at the world cup. Why don’t they take the top 48 teams in the world rankings?
Mancini missed out on a few players that should’ve been called up for this match. Where are Politano, Lazzari, Castrovilli or Dimarco? All these players have been consistent yet they are always overlooked or if he does pick them then they get zero mins. Castrovilli is so underrated, I rate him more than Locatelli, Jorginho and Tonali. He has so much quality on the ball. Dimarco over Emerson any day. In the future when Spinazzola is back I would like to see him start along with Lazzari on the flanks. It’s too bad we dont have much to offer in regard to center backs. Mancini is nothing but average, Bastoni only looks comfortable in a back 3. Lovato would’ve been another good inclusion who has been playing regularly for Atalanta and U21. We still have the quality to overcome Switzerland, it should be an easy win. I just wish Mancini did a bit of a better job in regard to selection.
If you saw the Atalanta vs Manure match when Demiral went off injured, Lovato came on and he really showed his lack of experience. I was so happy to see what he had and wanted Atalanta to win but he was real bad. I know, he was directly against Ronaldo and that alone is a big ask but it was a man versus a boy those last 20 Minutes. Lovato couldn’t keep up, it was glaring. Lovato is not the answer for this match. But he has a great future in Azzurro.
But speaking of Atalanta, if he was match fit, I would take Rafael Toloi as a CB to partner with Bonucci. I know Toloi is preferred as a Right Fullback but he can also play in the middle.
Many people believe Politano should be there. Lazzari comes in and out of the callups but never sticks, Was surprised Biraghi was called back in ahead of DiMarco. Maybe Mancio trusts a player who is 5 older (Biraghi being older than DiMarco) for these 2 crucial matches, boh.
Getting to the WC is the minimum. Let’s not forget the two WCs before the ‘no-show’ were disasters. Italy needs to get to the WC and get out of the group.
@ Campobassi, Italy has NOTHING to prove. They just won the Euro, which is tougher than the world cup…
Italy 2-0
Italy will qualify for the WC. No way are they going to repeat the mistakes of Ventura. They also have a clear system which they are comfortable in and Mancio knows what he is doing. We are lucky to have him and thank god Allegri was never appointed to this role as he would perfect the Ventura play book.