As Italy catastrophically failed at the Brazil World Cup and with the news that coach Cesare Prandelli has resigned, the Italian national team is now ripe for a complete overhaul.
It is highly likely that ‘senators’ such as Gianluigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo will announce international retirement and with abject displays from stars such as Mario Balotelli, Claudio Marchisio and Giorgio Chiellini, Azzurri squad places are now very much up for grabs.
Serie A has long been criticised for her reliance on foreign imports but the league is home to some young peninsular talent that should be given the chance to shine at the very highest level.
Here at Forza Italian Football, we bring you some names that should be given their debuts for La Nazionale along with those that despite only a handful of caps, must now be entrusted with leading the team over the next Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
Goalkeepers
The injury to Buffon during the South Africa World Cup in 2010, and the subsequent poor performance by stand-in keeper Federico Marchetti, left the Azzurri scratching their heads as to who could possibly replace the 2006 World Champion. Well, fast forward four years and Italy now has a wealth of talent between the sticks.
Undoubtedly, Salvatore Sirigu must be handed the number one shirt after his assured display against England in the opening 2014 Group D match. But along with him, current third choice custodian Mattia Perin has shown signs of quality throughout the last Serie A season with Genoa. Parma’s Antonio Mirante has also been consistently outstanding over the last two years and Inter owned and Under-21 regular Francesco Bardi gives further depth to a position that appears well catered for should ‘Gigi’ decide to hang up his gloves.
Defence
Luca Caldirola
Now this segment is not going to be easy! Truthfully, Italy is struggling badly to produce defenders that once stereotyped the Azzurri as the meanest side in international football for over 50 years. However, the tiniest shoots of recovery are starting to appear with a few youngsters and renewed faith needs to be shown in those that have been handed caps but ultimately struggled to oust players such as Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagli and Chiellini.
Cagliari appear to have unearthed a gem of a left back in Nicola Murru, who last season made 21 appearances for the team from Sardinia and is still only 19. Former Inter youngster Luca Caldirola appeared 33 times in the Bundesliga for current club Werder Bremen and surely deserves an opportunity with the Azzurri.
Juventus man Angelo Ogbonna, who promised so much at Torino but has failed to progress at club level due to the Bianconeri’s immovable back line, must also be given the chance to prove his doubters wrong.
And finally, keep an eye on Juventus-owned centre back Daniele Rugani, who has helped steer Empoli from Serie B to A. The young defender will remain with the Tuscan side for the 2014/15 campaign which should guarantee him regular top flight football and a chance to shine.
Midfield
With Andrea Pirlo in the twilight of his Italy career it looks almost certain that PSG regista Marco Verratti is poised to take his place at the heart of the future Azzurri midfield. The young playmaker was one of the few to come away from Brazil with some credit.
Elsewhere the versatility and scoring abilities of Roma’s Alessandro Florenzi must surely put him at the forefront of any Italy squad. AC Milan’s Andrea Poli has featured sporadically but his technical ability aligned to his inexhaustible energy should also get him the call-up.
New Napoli man Jorginho, born in Brazil but eligible for Italy, must also be part of a fresh looking midfield and has already shown he is more than capable at the highest domestic level.
Genoa’s Andrea Bertolacci is an outsiders bet to earn a cap under the new coach, but may need to find more continuity at
Giacomo Bonaventura
club level. However, he can be the kind of player that has the class to make the difference.
Finally, a player who has impressed immensely for season after season but is probably going to need to move to a big club to make it into the squad is Atalanta man Giacomo Bonaventura. Has the quality and ability to make it for Italy given his heroics at club level.
Attack
Undoubtedly, if he remains fit, Giuseppe Rossi will be the man Italy will be hoping can bring some glory back to the peninsula. And despite the current ‘hate’ campaign, any new coach would be mad to discount Mario Balotelli, if he the AC Milan forward decides to play on for the national side.
But Stefan El Shaarawy will certainly be a name that will feature again, should he recapture his early AC Milan form. But, much is now expected of the young man whose image graces the top of our article, Domenico Berardi. He lit up the last Serie A campaign alongside Sassuolo teammates Simone Zaza and Nicola Sansone who are also no strangers to finding the back of the net.
The talent is there, it just needs a tactician with the courage to use it.
Follow Enzo on Twitter: @enzoM_fif
