Italy back after 15 years of ups and downs

On this June 9, Italy celebrates the 15th anniversary of its victory at the 2006 World Cup. Victorious against France by Zinedine Zidane and of Raymond Domenech, the men of Marcelo lippi won their fourth star in Berlin. Since this last trophy, the Blue Team faces a period of famine made up of ups and downs. With the final of the Euro looming, Italy has the opportunity to return to success. Retrospective of the course of the Italians during the last international competitions.

freshly crowned, Italy goes to Euro 2008 co-organized by Switzerland and Austria. Exit Marcelo Lippi. The Azzurri are now led by Roberto Donadoni, the former AC Milan player. The transalpine coach must compose without Francesco Totti. Le Romain, one of the strongmen of the 2006 World Cup, decided to retire internationally after the 2006 coronation. Another glitch for the coach, Fabio Cannavaro gets injured just before the competition. He will therefore not be part of the trip. Roberto Donadoni can nevertheless count on seasoned players: Gianluigi Buffon, Andrea Pirlo or Gennaro Gattuso.

Italy inherits Group C made up of the Netherlands, France and Romania. La Nazionale is starting their tournament in the worst possible way. She lost to the Oranje (3-0). In a bad position, the Transalpines are not reassured against Romania. They share the stake against the Romanians in Zurich (1-1). While Italy has only one point, it must beat France and hope for a victory for the Batavians to get out of its group. It’s done. Italy has France on the score of 2-0. On the other hand, the Netherlands beat Romania by the same score. La Nazionale go to the quarter-finals to face Spain.

In Vienna, Italy and Spain neutralize each other with a goalless draw. Donadoni’s men bowed on penalties (4-2). A real transfer of power between Italian football and Spanish football which will establish its hegemony until 2012.

Four years after his coronation, Italy puts his title on the line in South Africa. Marcelo Lippi returns to the head of the Italian selection. A little inspired return because it did not have the desired effect. Indeed, the National doesn’t even come out of the group stage. However, the group seemed rather approachable. It was made up of Paraguay, New Zealand and Slovakia. The Italians split twice against Paraguay and New Zealand. Then they lost 3-2 to the Slovaks. With only two points, the Blue Team finished in last place in his group. A real failure for the title holders who return home after three small games.

In 2012, Italy began a new cycle with its new coach: Cesare Prandelli. The former Fiorentina coach has replaced Marcelo Lippi and is in charge of making the Team in Poland and Ukraine.

Italy falls into the group of Spain, Croatia and Ireland. For its first group match, the National faces La Roja, reigning European and world champion. Italy opens the brand in the 61st minute thanks to its luxury joker: Antonio Di Natale. Spain’s response was not long in coming. Three minutes after the opening of the scoring, Cesc Fabregas puts the two teams in a tie. The score will no longer change. Italy and Spain will leave each other back to back.

Held in check by Croatia (1-1), Italy plays its qualification in the third group match. Against Ireland, Italy managed to emerge by winning 2-0 thanks to goals fromAntonio Cassano and of Mario Balotelli.

In the quarter-finals, the Transalpines meet Roy Hodgson’s England, which they will beat on penalties. Italian players convert all their penalties with the exception of Riccardo Montolivo. Fortunately for him, on the side of the Three Lions, Ashley Young hit the bar and Ashley Cole sees his shot goal stopped by Buffon.

In the semi-finals, Prandelli’s men play their best Euro match. Opposed to Germany, the Italians recite their score. The man of the match? “Super Mario” Balotelli. Author of a double, the former Manchester City striker shot Manuel Neuer twice. On the first goal, Balotelli deceives the goalkeeper of the team with a header. The second goal comes from another planet. After a long balloon of Riccardo Montolivo, the attacker light blue sends a cannon ball into the left window of the Bavarian keeper. Mesut Ozil will reduce the gap on the penalty spot but will not prevent the Italians from spinning in the final to play against Spain.

A last bitter game for the Prandelli team. Powerless against the Iberian Tiki-Taka, the Italians lost 4-0. La Roja wins her third consecutive trophy and writes a little more in the history of world football.

Italian World Cup adventures follow and resemble each other. After 2010, the Azzurri returned home once again without going through the group stage. During the Brazilian World Cup, the Nazionale, still led by Cesare Prandelli, appears in the group of England, Uruguay and Costa Rica.

The competition is starting in the best possible way for the Nazionale. Claudio Marchisio and Mario Balotelli allow Italy to garner the three points. It was during the other two games that things got complicated. Costa Rica, the surprise team of the tournament, beat Italy on a goal of Bryan Ruiz. The Italians then bow to Uruguay. The only goal of the game is scored by Diego Godin. With 3 points in its pocket, Squadra Azzurra finished third in its group. Faced with this failure, Cesare Prandelli resigned from his post. It will be replaced by Antonio Conte.

The Italian team is no longer dreaming. Gone are the days of legends, no more Maldini, Cannavaro or Totti to make a difference. The core is devoid of big stars. He can nevertheless count on Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini. Antonio Conte is not mistaken. He relies mainly on the defensive strength of Juventus de Turin for the backbone of his Nazionale. He set up his 3-5-2 which allowed him to put the “Old lady”. Europe used to Real Madrid’s BBC, Bale-Benzema-Ronaldo, will discover its Italian version composed of Bonucci, Barzagli and Chiellini. Much less bling-bling, of course, but just as effective.

Belgium will be the first victim of the gang in Conte. The Red Devils of Marc Wilmots come up against the Italian defense and lose 2-0 in Lyon. Antonio Conte’s men do not stop there. They beat Sweden to secure first place in the group and advance to the next round. In a game without a stake, Antonio Conte turns his squad against Ireland. The Italians lost 1-0 on a goal of Robbie Brady.

In the round of 16, the Italians face Spain. The tactical schemes are unchanged. Antonio Conte trusts his 3-5-2. For his part, Vincente Del Bosque keeps his 4-3-3. The Blue Team will still amaze. It brings down the defending team. Chiellini cheats David De Gea. But it does not stop there. The Conte team is organized, supportive and also cynical. She scored a second goal in added time via Graziano Pellè.

After beating Spain, Italy face Germany in the quarterfinals. This will be Antonio Conte’s last Azzurri match at Euro 2016. The Nazionale is beaten by Germany from Joachim Löw on penalties.

Antonio Conte left for Chelsea. The Italian federation must find a new coach. The lucky one? Gian Piero Ventura. The former coach of Torino is in charge of qualifying his country for the Russian world championship. Coming second in its qualifying group, Italy must play play-offs to join Russia. La Nazionale face Sweden in a double confrontation. The Italians lost the first match in Sweden on the smallest of margins. A signed goal Jakob Johansonn at the 61st minute.

On November 13, 2017, San Siro hosts the second leg. The Azzurri are unable to reverse the trend. The score remains zero and blank. Sweden wins its ticket to the world. Italy remains in the country. This had not happened for 60 years and the non-qualification of the Swedish world in 1958. Two days after his failure, Gian Piero Ventura left his post as coach. Even today, November 13, 2017 is considered a black day in Italian football.

In May 2018, Roberto Mancini becomes the new coach of the Blue Team. He advocates an offensive and forward-facing game. A choice that pays off. Currently, the National remains on a 33-game unbeaten streak. He broke Pozzo’s old record. The former Italian manager went undefeated for 30 consecutive games between 1935 and 1939.

Will Roberto Mancini offer a major trophy to Italy that has eluded him for 15 years? Answer on July 11, 2021 around 11 p.m.