Two of Hearts
Italy bids farewell to Euro 2024 in a match where everything was missing, saving someone or something is complicated, let’s say impossible. The only positive note is the goalkeeper: Donnarumma took us to the eighth finals, that’s the truth, and he also left his mark against Switzerland. In addition to the saves, he put in the desire, only his eyes were lit up. A champion in an unwatchable national team. Gigio is a true goalkeeper, fundamental in the European Championship won and the only glimmer of light in this expedition. It’s a shame because a goalkeeper like that deserves another team. Since we’re going home, I’ll also save Calafiori, the defender-midfielder who brought hope for the future, it’s a shame we didn’t have him in this match. On a sad evening, I’ll also save Zaccagni, hero against Croatia and sidelined for no reason against Switzerland, only to be thrown in at a moment of total desperation. At least one assist for Scamacca, who shot the post, can bring him home in a match to forget. These are the only players who made your heart skip a beat, the rest are all to forget. Only three are saved.
Two of Spades
A shameful performance by Italy. An unpresentable team without an idea and without a soul. A cry, honestly I have never seen such ugliness. Be careful though, let’s not pass off Switzerland as a team of phenomena; an organized group undoubtedly with a prominent individuality Xhaka, but let’s not exaggerate. Switzerland had desire and determination, what our team lacked. Emptied in terms of character, they took slaps in the game without the slightest reaction. A lack of respect and courage that truly makes you angry. Old tomatoes would be needed to welcome these blues back to Italy. It also angers Spalletti, who cannot talk about physical condition to explain the disaster. His Italy has never had an identity, starting with many proclamations of the game it ended up showing a hybrid and difficult to understand football module. A soup of numbers that leaves only bitterness. Not to mention the choices that are honestly hard to understand. Di Lorenzo defended and always sent onto the field: Luciano’s son unpresentable. Fagioli preferred Jorginho in the most important match: the boy showed he wasn’t ready. An incomprehensible summons. I finish with Zaccagni, he takes us to the round of 16 and then ends up on the bench in favor of El Shaarawy. A choice that has no logical and acceptable explanation. Luciano Spalletti ended up being swallowed up by himself. At this point, an Allegri-style coach is better to bring back the concreteness and tradition that belong to our football. One thing is certain: the national team needs a selector, not a coach.
Among the individuals, on the negative side, I also want to mention Chiesa, a player who too often limits himself to a few flashes: very little to define him as an important footballer. Scamacca listless and never involved in the match: impalpable. A general disaster that hurts. I forgot it’s Immobile’s fault.
In Berlin I just feel like apologizing to those champions who made us feel great and proud of the blue in that stadium.
Joker
There would only be one wild card: a strong decision from the leaders of the Federation. It’s all to be redone.