Italian national teams are serial winners and finalists at various age levels but have missed three World Cups in a row. Giancarlo Rinaldi looks at why their teenage starlets keep failing to make the grade.
Maybe, like Roberto Baggio when he was being substituted by Arrigo Sacchi, people thought he was mad. And yet, there was a message Roberto Mancini was trying to send when he claimed that Simone Pafundi was the first name on his call-up list. Italy needs to cherish its young players more and have a bit more faith in them if it hopes to succeed. Otherwise, qualification for international football’s biggest competition may remain little more than a mirage.
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Agents and Club’s Sporting Directors should hang their heads in shame! the system is set up to line their pockets rather than produce the next big talent! It takes time for players to develop and therefore, youngsters should be given the opportunity to grow! A minimum (like Pisilli and Pio Esposito) hit the ground running and therefore cannot be ignored! But the rest need the space to kick on, but their seen as a money making opportunity instead, with duds brought in the cover the cracks or in our case, gapping big holes! Annoyingly the whole world see’s Italy’s probably instead of the Italians!!!