In the run up to the European Championships, I noted that Cesare Prandelli had assembled a squad with whom there was an amount of strength in depth which justified a certain level of optimism with their chances. The Azzurri performance at the Euro’s won them many plaudits, and rightly so. The progress made under Prandelli’s guidance since he took the reignsafter the fiasco of the 2010 World Cup has been steady, but staggering.
Prandelli has hinted of a return to the 3-5-2 formation which has proved so successful for rejuvenatedgiants Juventus and Coppa Italia winners Napoli in recent times. Although he opted to switch to a 4-4-2 diamond formation after the first two games in the Euro’s, that decision at the time was the correct one and – considering the backbone of his presumed starting eleven is taken from Juventus – this should not be taken as a sign of indecision, but of common sense.
The average age of his squad is just under 27. There are, however, numerous young players named in the squad, most notably Lorenzo Insigne of Napoli who may earn his first cap if given the chance. The diminutive striker has played in both of Napoli’s Serie A games so far after spending a few developmental years on loan in the lower leagues with Cavese, Foggia and Pescara, garnering both goals – especially while at the latter two, where he finished with 18 and 19 league goals respectively – and plaudits in the process. While Insigne is the only inclusion yet to have played for the senior team there are others who are just as inexperienced who have also been selected and could be given a chance to impress in this qualifying campaign.
Fabio Borini, Liverpool’s summer acquisition, has yet to hit the net for his new club domestically – although he has struck once in the Europa League qualifiers – but continues to develop fast enough for Prandelli to include him in the squad once again. Likewise Mattia Destro, the striker Roma brought in to replace Borini, has been selected with one eye on the future, rather than current form alone.
Midfielders such as 19 year-old Marco Verratti, of Paris Saint-Germain, and 22 year-old Andrea Poli, of Sampdoria are viewed as the future of the national team. Poli is impressing at Sampdoria and, having been on Internazionale’s radar for the past few years including a loan spell with them last season, he is now being continually linked with Juventus. Verratti in particular has been the subject of many debates, with some having already anointed him as Andrea Pirlo’s natural successor – exceptionally large boots to fill. A widely anticipated move to join Pirlo at Juventus fell through and the youngster joined oil-rich PSG for a rumoured €12 million instead. Despite criticism that a move to such a club may hamper his development, he has currently played a part in all of the club’s league games this term – starting in two and coming on as a substitute in the other two.
Youth is not, however, a prerequisite for an inexperienced player to be called up to Prandelli’s squads. Alessandro Diamanti – at 29 – netted the winning penalty against England in the quarter-final of the European Championship in June in what was only his third cap. Likewise Emanuele Giaccherini, 27, made his senior debut in the opening game against Spain, capping a successful first season at Juventus since his transfer from Cesena. Giaccherini may be gifted what would be his third cap at left wing-back if Prandelli’s hints at a return to the 3-5-2 come to fruition. Up front, Pablo Osvaldo of Roma has been given a call-up for what would also be his third cap, while there is a recall for Giampaolo Pazzini of Milan after an impressive debut hat trick at the weekend. In defence Angelo Ogbonna of Torino and Davide Astori of Cagliari have only four and two caps each respectively, with the former the most likely candidate to replace Giorgio Chiellini, who is only just returning from injury and is not included.
It is unlikely that many of the younger players will get much – if any – playing time against Bulgaria, considered the harder of the two games, but their inclusion signifies Prandelli’s enduring willingness not to simply pick the same squad over and over again. Indeed, there are no places for Mario Balotelli or Antonio Cassano, who so impressed at the Euro’s. Nor for Giorgio Chiellini, Ignazio Abate or Riccardo Montolivo, though that is down to fitness. The presumed starting eleven is a formidable one for any youngster to break into anyway; a legend for a goalkeeper, a defence – in Bonucci and Barzagli – who play together every week, likewise with a midfield including Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio, adding in Roma's Daniele De Rossi who is world class in his own right. Though there is hope in the forward line, wherein the only weakness of this squad lies: scoring goals. The likely pairing to get the next chance to stake a claim to be regular starters up front are two from Sebastian Giovinco of Juventus, Giampaolo Pazzini of Milan and Pablo Osvaldo of Roma, all three fresh from very good performances at the weekend. However, echoing domestic champions Juventus in this respect, an otherwise solid and creative team has no stable focal point which can be relied upon to provide goals in most games. Like Juventus, the national team tends to spread the goals around – which is not an intrinsically bad attribute to have – but to possess a prolific goalscorer, especially at international level, is a potent weapon to have for any nation.
Presumed Starting XI vs. Bulgaria (3-5-2):
Buffon (c); Bonucci, Barzagli, Ogbonna; Maggio, Pirlo, De Rossi, Marchisio, Giaccherini; Giovinco, Osvaldo
Full Squad List:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Morgan De Sanctis (Napoli), Emiliano Viviano (Fiorentina), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris Saint-Germain)
Defenders: Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Christian Maggio (Napoli), Federico Balzaretti (Roma), Mattia Cassani (Fiorentina), Davide Astori (Cagliari), Angelo Ogbonna (Torino),
Midfielders: Andrea Pirlo (Juventus), Claudio Marchisio (Juventus), Emanuele Giaccherini (Juventus), Antonio Nocerino (AC Milan), Daniele De Rossi (Roma), Alessandro Diamanti (Bologna), Andrea Poli (Sampdoria), Marco Verratti (Paris Saint-Germain)
Forwards: Sebastian Giovinco (Juventus), Giampaolo Pazzini (AC Milan), Mattia Destro (Roma), Pablo Osvaldo (Roma), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Fabio Borini (Liverpool)