In typically Italian political style, the chances of a decisive and swift decision about either the new Azzurri coach or the head of the football federation (FIGC) are zero, as the constituent members will now meet again in August to make their selection.
Italy has a huge decision to make in terms of the direction it hopes to send its football team, both on and off the pitch. It has two choices, a radical change in thought or a continuation in the belief that the old ways are still the best ways.
The early hot favourite to become the head of the FIGC had been outgoing vice-president Demetrio Albertini. Still in his early 40’s, decorated with every major club honour whilst a player at AC Milan and 79 full Italy caps to his name, the former midfielder would have been an excellent choice to lead the sport for the next ten years or more.
However, having seemingly distanced himself from the role, it now looks as though the front runner is a Carlo Tavecchio, president of the National Amateur League (LND). He is also a man of the 40’s, the 1940’s (born 1943), and is an ex-banker.
We kid you not.
But we digress, as our main focus is who should lead the Azzurri on the field of play, given the disaster that has been World Cup 2014.
And it is this competition that those decision makers must pay close attention to, as football evolves more and more into a game that rewards the risk takers. Incredibly, way before the final game of the Round of 16 has even kicked off, the Brazil tournament has already seen more goals scored than the entire 2010 South Africa competition.
An incredible statistic but one that proves how the propensity to score more than you concede is the way football has headed, if proof were needed. Tight defences, holding on to 1-0 leads and a safety first attitude are no more. These are tactics of the past.
So, should Italy take the blue pill?
Depressingly, early whispers from within the FIGC is that a return to the days where national team coaches were promoted from within the current Azzurri coaching set-up might well be the next step.
For example, Antonio Cabrini who runs the Italian Womens team has been proposed, as well as Under-21 coach Luigi Di Biagio.
We dare not suggest that both these men don’t have the credentials to lead the main side (Cabrini is a 1982 World Cup winner) but do either have a fresh footballing philosophy, a strategy that marks them out as different to every other tactician in Serie A?
Even the legend that is Paolo Maldini has been reported as a candidate, to learn the ‘very old’ ropes in tandem with veteran campaigners such as Francesco Guidolin or Alberto Zaccheroni.
Yes, these men have experience but where is the evolution in their coaching to match how the sport has changed? It just looks like more of what we have endured since 2006. Even popular names such as Roberto Mancini or Massimiliano Allegri offer nothing new in terms of strategy or style that mark them out as ‘extraordinary’.
But, what if Italy took the red pill?
Two men currently fit this ‘prescription’, men that have adapted to the realities of the modern game but might be just too bitter for some to swallow.
Firstly Antonio Conte, who nobody can deny is not the most successful current Italian coach in circulation. Three consecutive and dominant title wins with a Juventus outfit that was on her knees after the Calciopoli scandal.
His aggressive style of play, based on non stop pressing of space, incredibly offensive wing backs and a team organisation of military proportions would be the perfect medicine for an Azzurri side in disarray and in a period of player transition.
Conte has age and energy on his side, a trophy cabinet in need of a side extension and a head of hair that most of us can only dream of. Joking aside, the Juventus coach has a clear and aggressive strategy that puts winning first and has the medals to prove it.
But will the FIGC do all it can to prize him away from his current employers?
Nothing is impossible in football, but the feeling is that despite him being the perfect candidate, it would be too much effort to try and tempt him from Juve,not only financially but ethically given his brush with the match-fixing scandal.
But there is one other, the purple pill perhaps…Eusebio di Francesco.
Di Francesco masterminded the impossible, by literally shooting his way to survival with a Sassuolo side that many had destined to fail.
Influenced by Zdenek Zeman, his 4-3-3 often became a 4-2-4 and despite his constant battle at the foot of the league, he never once slipped back into an ‘old school’ defensive mentality, not even after he had been sacked and then re-instated with his club in a more precarious position than when he left it.
And this ultra-offensive game brought him the huge satisfaction of success, when many supposed ‘calcio experts’ believed it would bring an immediate return to Serie B.
His football proved them all wrong and he did this with a squad of players deemed average by many.
What we are trying to suggest is that Italy needs a tactician that is brave, courageous and head strong. A coach that puts winning ahead of avoiding defeat, no matter who the opponent.
A coach that wants to entertain by scoring not one or two goals, but three, four or more, even if it means conceding too.
We want a man that has proved that he can do these things and can do them when the odds are hugely stacked against him. We don’t need someone who is battle scarred and wary of the pain inflicted by defeat.
Nor do we want someone from Coverciano’s conveyor belt of mediocrity.
As Italy now undoubtedly slips into the second division of international football, she needs a coach with the guts to drag her back into the modern era. Someone whose mantra is ‘he who dares wins’.
‘Dov’e la vittoria?’ is a line in the national anthem sung before every Italy game, ‘Where are the victories?’ For heavens sake, give us a coach that wants to win, and those victories will be back.
Take the red pill, then go ask Antonio or Eusebio to make Italy great again.
Follow Enzo on Twitter: @enzom_fif
