Azzurri Thread (44 Viewers)

[JuveJay]

So what are you trying to argue, then? Because we already have a tournament filled with European sides. It’s called the Euro. Do you think that everyone else should go into playoffs against European sides to enter the World Cup? Doesn’t that sort of defeat the purpose of it all entirely?

I don't think there's really an answer. There are 55 UEFA members. UEFA has 26 teams in the top 50 of the FIFA rankings. The game has to be grown elsewhere so FIFA have to make it a diverse tournament. But I don't think it's unfair to say it's harder for European teams to qualify. 60% or 70% of CONMEBOL teams will play at this tournament, you can't say it is harder to qualify from there.

If we're talking about level of teams then OFC shouldn't have a direct spot, CONCACAF shouldn't have 3 direct spots when 3 teams are already qualified as hosts (the same amount of spots as CONMEBOL, potentially, which is insane). But at the same time you want it to be a world tournament even if some better teams on paper don't take part.

Ultimately Italy shouldn't be finishing behind Switzerland or going out to Sweden or North Macedonia. But I'd get rid of having to play two playoffs for UEFA qualification.

 

Buy on AliExpress.com

[AFL_ITALIA]

Norway don't deserve the top spot solely on Ryerson's hair alone.

 

[HelterSkelter]

Again..Esposito is better than Yildiz


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JuveJay]

Nothing like going into the playoffs with a bit of momentum...lol.

 

[Stevie]

Without a strong Juve there is never a strong Italy

 

[Bianconero_Aus]

Without a strong Juve there is never a strong Italy

Ultimately it boils down to this

 

[Juve-Fan-Iraq]

I want to know what Italian pundits are saying. Please post their tears here

 

[Gep]

Imagine conceding 4 goals in one half at an international stage.

 

[Alex-444]

Inda fan after 1st gol

 

[Juve-Fan-Iraq]

Italy needed to win 9-0. They lost 7-1 in aggregate hahaha

 

[Quetzalcoatl]

Italy

Another missed world cup would be fully deserved

 

[Bianconero_Aus]

Italy

Another missed world cup would be fully deserved

I hope it’s by someone new and exciting like Northern Ireland

 

[Juve-Fan-Iraq]

The Scandinavia nations have found a way to fuck the azzurri. 2004- Denmark and Sweden, 2017- Sweden, 2025- Norway.

 

[Stephan]

 

[Bianconero_Aus]

Norway simply have better players than Italy. It’s as simple as that.

 

[s4tch]

Are all 2nd place teams confirmed already before Sunday matches?

no

for example hungary bottled their 2nd place despite leading vs ireland

a draw would have been enough for 2nd place, then this happened

lol

 

[Bjerknes]

I don't think there's really an answer. There are 55 UEFA members. UEFA has 26 teams in the top 50 of the FIFA rankings. The game has to be grown elsewhere so FIFA have to make it a diverse tournament. But I don't think it's unfair to say it's harder for European teams to qualify. 60% or 70% of CONMEBOL teams will play at this tournament, you can't say it is harder to qualify from there.

If we're talking about level of teams then OFC shouldn't have a direct spot, CONCACAF shouldn't have 3 direct spots when 3 teams are already qualified as hosts (the same amount of spots as CONMEBOL, potentially, which is insane). But at the same time you want it to be a world tournament even if some better teams on paper don't take part.

Ultimately Italy shouldn't be finishing behind Switzerland or going out to Sweden or North Macedonia. But I'd get rid of having to play two playoffs for UEFA qualification.

To be honest, I think Italy would struggle to qualify even if they were moved to CONMEBOL, and probably even CONCACAF. This isn't the Azzurri we grew up on. They no longer have the talent to rescue them when they fart around in group stages of whatever tournament or qualifying competition they play in, which is their M.O. They have always done just enough to get by, and that was much easier when players like Totti and Del Piero would carry them, backed up by Nesta, Cannavaro, Chiellini, and Buffon. But now they literally have nothing other than Donnarumma.

That's not to say that other Euro nations have become immensely better. Norway is the exception. Haaland and Nusa are stratospheric talents compared to anything Italy has currently. But just because one outsider like Norway has emerged as being good, doesn't mean other nations have followed suit. Bulgaria had Stoichkov, Czechs had Nedved and Poborsky, Sweden had Ibra. Those nations aren't anywhere as good as they used to be. So it's a matter of parity in Europe, except that Italy has become much, much worse as a footballing nation. That's pretty much it.

And that's why they deserve to suffer and miss tournaments.

 

[Badass J Elkann]

with the inter block, pears are always guaranteed

 

[Stephan]

To be honest, I think Italy would struggle to qualify even if they were moved to CONMEBOL, and probably even CONCACAF. This isn't the Azzurri we grew up on. They no longer have the talent to rescue them when they fart around in group stages of whatever tournament or qualifying competition they play in, which is their M.O. They have always done just enough to get by, and that was much easier when players like Totti and Del Piero would carry them, backed up by Nesta, Cannavaro, Chiellini, and Buffon. But now they literally have nothing other than Donnarumma.

That's not to say that other Euro nations have become immensely better. Norway is the exception. Haaland and Nusa are stratospheric talents compared to anything Italy has currently. But just because one outsider like Norway has emerged as being good, doesn't mean other nations have followed suit. Bulgaria had Stoichkov, Czechs had Nedved and Poborsky, Sweden had Ibra. Those nations aren't anywhere as good as they used to be. So it's a matter of parity in Europe, except that Italy has become much, much worse as a footballing nation. That's pretty much it.

And that's why they deserve to suffer and miss tournaments.

CONMEBOL overall quality is harder than europe. Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguy are harder than anyone Italy has in the group apart from Norway. And i didnt even mention Arg, Bra, Uru. Italy hasnt had to face such opponents in the qualifiers. And then they lose to the likes of Bosnia or Sweden who arent at their complete best either.

At least with Ventura, Italy finished 2nd to Spain in the group. Of course Norway right now has a generational talent roster once in 20-30 years. Didnt they beat Brazil in 1998?

- - - Updated - - -

What BS Gattuso was talking about all these WC spots and qualifiers.

How many Conmebol opponents would Italy beat right now?

ARGENTINA
BOLIVIA
BRAZIL
CHILE
COLOMBIA
ECUADOR
PARAGUY
PERU
URUGUAY
VENEZUELA

Maybe 1. Draw maybe 1-2

 

[Bjerknes]

CONMEBOL overall quality is harder than europe. Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguy are harder than anyone Italy has in the group apart from Norway. And i didnt even mention Arg, Bra, Uru. Italy hasnt had to face such opponents in the qualifiers. And then they lose to the likes of Bosnia or Sweden who arent at their complete best either.

At least with Ventura, Italy finished 2nd to Spain in the group. Of course Norway right now has a generational talent roster once in 20-30 years. Didnt they beat Brazil in 1998?

- - - Updated - - -

What BS Gattuso was talking about all these WC spots and qualifiers.

How many Conmebol opponents would Italy beat right now?

ARGENTINA
BOLIVIA
BRAZIL
CHILE
COLOMBIA
ECUADOR
PARAGUY
PERU
URUGUAY
VENEZUELA

Maybe 1. Draw maybe 1-2

100%.

And keep in mind Italy struggled to beat supposedly inferior sides even WHEN they had talent. South Korea, Sweden, almost lost to the US in 2006. So it’s no surprise these guys keep missing tournaments. It would be the same regardless of what area of the world they were in, maybe except for Oceana or Asia.