Italy coach Antonio Conte has assembled one of the older squads arriving in France for Euro 2016, Kevin Pogorzelski asks can they succeed before he departs.
They say age is just a number, but with an average age some four years higher than World champions Germany, Italy’s Euro 2016 squad certainly seems to lack some youthful exuberance.
With the fourth oldest squad of all 24 participants, Antonio Conte’s looks to have gone for experience, so are one of the tournament favourites putting too much emphasis on experience?
When the Azzurri clinched the World Cup in 2006 the average age of the group was 28.2 years, just two-and-a-half months younger than those heading to France this summer.
And although completely outplayed by Spain in 2012, the squad that reached the final were also within touching distance – averaging 27.9 – of this less than vintage collection of talent.
However, it is not the nine 30+ players chosen, but the lack of ‘significant’ quality between the age of 25 and 30 – when expected to reach, if not hit, their peak – that are missing from the Italian 23.
In both 2012 and 2006, 56 percent of the players making up those groups were between that age bracket, for the current squad that figure is just 39 percent.
A decade ago this contained the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Gennaro Gattuso, Francesco Totti and Andrea Pirlo. These were not only players famous for winning international football’s greatest prize, but as some of the best to grace their respective positions.
At 38-years-old Buffon is still the Azzurri number one, and while not unusual, was arguably the best goalkeeper in Serie A last season.
The closest challengers to his crown were a Spaniard in Napoli’s Pepe Reina and Gianluigi Donnarumma of AC Milan – born after the Juventus custodian made his professional debut – who should have been selected over Paris Saint-Germain benchwarmer Salvatore Sirigu.
Experience is a crucial attribute in defence and, after five consecutive titles, it is unsurprising that the creaking joints of Bianconeri trio Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini will form the Azzurrri rearguard.
However, is there a defender 25-30 that Conte has made a mistake leaving out? The answer unfortunately is no, and the Chelsea bound coach must be glad he is jumping ship post-tournament.
That said, there does seem to be question marks surrounding his choices further up the pitch.
The inclusion of Stefano Sturaro (23), Marco Parolo (31) and Emanuele Giaccherini (31) are confusing for various reasons, the Juventus man seeing little action in Turin and the others hardly setting Italy alight this term and fading.
Losing Claudio Marchisio and Marco Veratti to injury were massive losses given that midfield maestro Pirlo was not afforded one last international swansong, so the omission of the Brazilian-born Jorginho was particularly hard for fans to swallow.
However, the two youngsters are very much the future of Italy at 25 and 24 respectively, thus we are once again at the conundrum of the lost generation hitting their peak.
Sampdoria’s Roberto Soriano and Andrea Bertolacci of Milan fall into that category, but had disappointing campaigns. Why 26-year-old Giacomo Bonaventura was overlooked is a mystery, until you consider he has just three caps.
At 27-year-old Palermo’s Franco Vasquez seems to have the ability to shine at international level, but also has just two appearances in an Italian shirt.
When you read those statistics you wonder if the Azzurri have brought this current lack of options upon themselves?
While that 2006 squad contained some outstanding talent, a reliance on those individuals during the last 10 years – with little reward – has stunted the ‘international growth’ of others.
In 2006 just under a quarter of those aged 25 to 30 had 15 caps or less, that figure has now doubled to 44 percent – with Buffon, Chiellini and Daniele De Rossi accounting for half the caps within the current squad.
Despite their tender age, Germany have 250-plus caps more than Italy across their 23 – experience that even the Azzurri’s ‘veteran squad’ simply cannot match.
Unfortunately for Italians, they could be looking at the 2026 World Cup before they have the right mix of age and experience to challenge for honours once more.
