If I were Prandelli… (which I’m not) and other stories

December 9th, 2011 | by: gadsby | Comments Off

Two days ago, m’colleague SamCalcio delighted and amazed you all by writing a short and sweet piece on Italy’s group of death, and a few days before that, I gave my own surprisingly controversial statement on how I thought the group would pan out. Yet amidst all this, no one — NO ONE, has given a definitive tactical preview that will transpire to be completely irrelevant by the time the Euros actually come around.

That is, until I came along.

While Prandelli has used a blanket 4-3-1-2 formation for most all of the qualifying games and friendlies, he has recently drawn a few remarks for his inclusion of Simone Pepe as a squad player, when Pepe does not fit with his typical wingerless formation. This is a clear and flagrant advance on an alternative tactical theory, a dipping of toes in the swimming pool of tactical innovation from a master of the art. While the 4-3-1-2 is at present Prandelli’s favoured formation, I would not bet against this state of tactical affairs changing by the Euros, with Pranders attempting to use the element of surprise (and fear. Fear and surprise.) and play wingers.

As for which players Prandelli will call up to further these efforts, I am as in the dark as all of you. As the Euro is incredibly far off, and it’s probably to early to accurately call. If injury wasn’t a factor, and I was Prandelli, I would likely call up a goalkeeping trio of Gigi Buffon, Morgan De Sanctis, and Federico Marchetti, with Buffon as the starter protecting a backline of Federico Balzaretti, Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli, and Ignazio Abate. In midfield, we would see a 4-4-2, incorporating Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio in the central midfield role, with Simone Pepe and Alessio Cerci providing width down the flanks. Up front, Antonio Cassano will be partnered by Mario Balotelli. In reserve, we should see Christian Maggio, Andrea Rannochia, Leonardo Bonucci, Riccardo Montolivo, Alberto Aquilani, Antonio Nocerino, Stephan El-Shaarawi, Giampaolo Pazzini, and Alessandro Matri. Crucify me.

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This week, the Champions League group stages rapped up, with, most notably, Manchester United dropping out to HAHAHAHAHA!!!! HAHAHAHHA!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Basel, leaving Italy, that backwards cesspool of modern football that no one cares about as the nation with the most teams left in the Champions League. Exactly how this will work out in the favour of La Nazionale I’m not quite sure about, but then, as an Englishman from what is possibly the most anti-Manchester United family the world over, I am still HA! HA! HA! HA! laughing, and this laughter makes coherent speech less possible. So where were we… Oh yes, the more Italian teams in the Champions League the better for Gli Azzurri, as European experience is incredibly valuable, and, on am off chance, some established player Milan player may get injured, forcing Max Allegri to delve into the Primavera for league games, where he finds a hitherto unknown defensive rock who captains La Nazionale to glory in Ukraine. I don’t care how unlikely that may be, it’s my fantasy and I’ll take the seething disappointment that ultimately comes with over-expectation if I want to. Not that I condone injury, mind.

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