The problems had been there for all to see. Fans, journalists and even former tactical specialists such as Arrigo Sacchi had slammed Italy boss Giampiero Ventura after a dismal qualifying campaign had seen them paired up with Sweden in the playoffs for a World Cup place in 2018.
A lack of cutting edge up front, an ineffective midfield and both bizarre squad and team selections had been the standard fare for the Azzurri, but the stubborn Coach pressed ahead with his unfathomable choices even in the face of harsh criticism. On paper, Sweden didn’t seem like they could match the talent of the Italians and the home side took a surprise 1-0 victory thanks to a Jakob Johansson goal on the hour mark.
However, football isn’t played theoretically and effort and workrate from Jan Andersson’s side was always going to be a threat against a disorganised Italy side led by a man who actively negated their immense potential. Italian newspapers pointed to their history before the match, but four previous World Cup wins were not going to help the current side, nor was an arrogant attitude of entitlement.
Sure enough, Friday evening’s first leg in Sweden highlighted the problems that had been ever-present during the qualifying campaign. Striker Ciro Immobile has scored and assisted more than any other player in Europe’s top-five leagues so far in the domestic campaign for Lazio, but that form was nowhere to be seen with a large hole where the midfield should have been and a partnership with Andrea Belotti that has previously proved ineffective.
Indeed, the Azzurri fired just one shot on goal in the entire 45 minutes in an uninspired, predictable and truly lacklustre display. At 69 years old, Ventura is old enough to remember the last and only time Italy failed to qualify for a World Cup back in 1958, and this should have provided necessary warning for him to wake up and deploy the quality players that were at his disposal.
It has been Napoli that have played the best football in Serie A this term, yet forward Lorenzo Insigne and midfield maestro Jorginho were left out of the starting lineup. Fans breathed a collective sigh of despair when the answer to going 1-0 down was to bring on forward Eder, a man who has not made Inter’s starting lineup once this term, and has scored just one goal at club level.
Rather than own up at admit his side’s glaringly obvious weaknesses though, Ventura continued with his series of bizarre to the point of comical press conferences, blaming the referee for the night’s failure. “I hope in Milan they allow us what the referee allowed them, because in such an important game with so much at stake, you can’t take that approach,” the veteran lamented after the match.
“A draw was the minimum we could have aimed for considering the two performances. I repeat, at this level, the referee needed to be more attentive.”
Just let’s take a minute to focus on what he said there. “In such an important game with so much at stake, you can’t take that approach.” Rather than point that accusation at the referee, his words would have been more appropriate used as a tool for reflection, a “note to self” that he simply must wake up to his ridiculously ineffective approach.
Italy now face their last chance to qualify in the return leg against Sweden on Monday at San Siro. On the face of things, many people may think the 1-0 loss wasn’t a disaster for a side with such a good pedigree. But by simply watching a few minutes of tonight’s performance, they may realise that Italy’s qualification for World Cup 2018 is by no means a given.
