Italian football has always prided itself on producing world-class defenders. From Giacinto Facchetti to Claudio Gentile to Franco Baresi and more recently to the likes of Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini and Fabio Cannavaro, Italy have always had an abundance of first-rate defenders in each generation… Each generation until now.
The most worrying aspect is that no-one even looks like emerging to fill the breach. Inter’s Andrea Ranocchia and Juventus’ Leonardo Bonucci offered some hope when the pair broke out together at Bari a few years ago, but although they’ve established themselves as solid Serie A players, they are still some way off the cream of the crop.
Empoli’s highly rated 20-year-old defender Daniele Rugani is destined for a bright future, and could potentially break into the ‘world-class’ category, but it is still early to tell. Italy coach Antonio Conte has called him into the senior national team set-up once again for the international matches against Croatia and Albania, with the Italy fans excited and thrilled to see the youngster get assimilated so quickly, but perhaps more eager to maybe find a new defensive hero they can idolize.
So whilst many fans were applauding Conte’s show of courage to call up the untested — but highly talented — Rugani, they were also scratching their heads at another call-up in the Italy coach’s list of players: Emiliano Moretti. No need to apologize, as most would probably not have heard of him. Here is a proper introduction. He is the 33-year-old journeyman Emiliano Moretti of Torino, who are currently struggling in the Serie this season and languishing in 14th place.
Every fan loves a surprise selection, but Moretti’s call-up to the Azzurri is simply farcical. Are the Azzurri now in such dire straits that Conte must call upon the likes of Moretti to solve the nation’s defensive issues? The only thing that would have compelled Conte to inexplicitly reward Moretti with a national team call-up is that the two men used to play at Juventus together during Moretti’s one season with the Bianconeri in 2012. Other than familiarity of the Torino defender’s ability and temperament, you would be hard pressed to find a convincing reason why else the Moretti received his call-up.
It could also be argued that Conte could be going with experience to replace the dependable Andrea Barzagli, who has been battling fitness problems this season. If so, then why not reward Sampdoria’s 31-year-old Daniele Gastaldello’s splendid form this season with a maiden call-up instead. The towering defender has been a huge part in Sampdoria’s ascension to fourth place this season, and is far more deserving of national team selection than Moretti.
Conte has done most things right so early into his career as Italy coach, which makes this whole subject even more perplexing. How are Italy supposed to find the next Paolo Maldini or the next Gaetano Scirea, if the national team coach is calling up over-the-hill defenders?
The odds are that Moretti will not receive any game time this weekend, so why not call in another young player like Sassuolo’s talented central defender Luca Antei — who has a potential future with the Azzurri — instead, so that he may start to acquaint and familiarize himself within the camp.
The judge is well and truly out on Conte with this one.
Follow Marco Credentino on Twitter at: @bigcreds
