The next touch of Fantasy..

October 20th, 2011 | by: samcalcio | Comments Off

Rivera. Mazzola. Baggio. Mancini. Totti. Del Piero. Zola. The list could go on and on. Since Il Calcio became the sport of choice in the peninsula, the Azzurri have always been blessed with fantasisti, players that could define matches with moments of sublime skill, unerring vision or sheer audacity. From Rivera’s wondergoal to send Italy through to the 1970 World Cup Final, to Baggio’s goal vs Czechoslovakia in 1990 and Er Pupone’s chipped penalty vs Holland in 2000, Italian fans, like those that follow the Samba stylings of the Brazilians, have always, always, looked at the line up with the knowledge that there is that one player, who has the quality to step up and deliver.

The pending retirement  of Alessandro Del Piero has very much brought this  into sharper focus. An artist with the ball at his feet, Pinturicchio was one such player who would bring that touch of wonder to a football game. Devilish with the ball at his feet, but capable of moments of utter beauty, ADP could light up a match, a season, a decade with a casual flick of his boot, a drop of the shoulder, or a swivel of the hip. In 7 short months, that will be gone. It is slowly signalling the end of an era. A decade ago, Italy could pick from Francesco Totti or Del Piero for their creative needs. Before that, it was Baggio or Zola. Those times of footballing riches and difficult choices have now been delegated to the history books.

But the one thing about the end of an era, is the beginning of a new one. Who will be the next number 10? In 2014, when Italy head to Brazil to try and reclaim that hallowed trophy, who will be the “man in the hole that gets all the goals?” Will there even be one?

Because tactics are different now. No longer can a player have no defensive responsibilities and remain anything other than a detriment to his team. The game is lightning fast, physical. A number 10 now, does not mean what it did 10 years ago, or even 5 years ago. The line in the sand is fading fast.

But that doesn’t mean we can’t have one, we’ll just have one with a slightly different role. A creative player now, means someone that is obviously focused on getting forward and setting up opportunities for his team mates, but will have to mark and pressure also. A perfect example of a modern number 10 would be Mesut Ozil, a man who combines silky touches with workmanlike industry.

The fantasista is an Italian football tradition, one that defines it, and sets it apart from other nations, other interpretations of the beautiful game. It is frustrating, painful and agonising but at the same time wonderful and joyous. I don’t want to ever lose that bubble of optimism every time I see the number 10 emblazoned on a blue jersey. I don’t want to stunt the trend, or see it be ignored. But I accept it has to be adapted. It is a part of our glorious teams identity, and that cannot be taken lightly.

So I look forward. While I mourn the losses of Del Piero, of Totti, and wonder why they can’t live forever, I will look forward to the next time I watch Italy and a player with the number 10 on his back collects the ball. And my spine tingles.