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World Cup Calcio Debate: A Case For Defence
Gila's late leveller only papers over the cracks, argues Peter Staunton...
10-Oct-2009 4:30:12 AM
Italy are defending world champions, have assured their place for next summer's edition in South Africa and have all but ensured an undefeated streak through their qualification campaign.
So, what's the problem?
On the face of things, the Azzurri are in rude health, boasting Champions League winners and World Cup winners all over the field, but there is a palpable and growing sense of doom prevalent in the peninsula ahead of the World Cup proper.
Saturday's qualification draw in Ireland, the equaliser plundered at the death by Alberto Gilardino, highlighted yet again some of the old deficiencies in Marcello Lippi's squad, but also exposed some widening cracks; especially in the back-line.
Added to the shockingly limited support offered to the ever-willing Vincenzo Iaquinta is an inability to defend set-pieces; a most un-Italian of traits. At the World Cup in 2006, la Nazionale struggled to pump goals in at one end but at least their strength lay in an ability to accrue clean-sheets.
That has all but evaporated; witness Ireland's goals on the night - the first came as the visitors defended too deep inside their own area from a free-kick and Glenn Whelan plonked the ball into Gigi Buffon's top corner without any pressure.
Throughout the second half, as the Irish matched their opponents, Italy were dependent on their captain to make saves from dead-ball opportunities.
There was nothing Gigi could have done however to prevent Sean St Ledger from nodding home the go-ahead goal at 2-1. It was simply poor defending.
How has it come to be so?
Defending is as much part of Italian culture as sunglasses, pasta and corrupt politicians but as the question marks linger over Lippi's selections in attack, the problems in defence have grown unchecked.
It is no secret that Lippi is unable to draw the best from the attacking presence on the field or indeed, make the right selections in the final third - however he can usually be depended upon to make the right choices at the back.
So, is it a question of 'bad defending' or 'bad defenders'? Is Italy entering a period of paucity for their erstwhile undeniable position of strength?
Italy drew four of their back five on Saturday from Juventus, Lippi's old team; the Old Lady may be Serie A contenders this season but watertight they ain't.
Nicola Legrottaglie is as much an international centre-back as Silvio Berlusconi is an international politician while Giorgio Chiellini is not yet capable of leading a back-four on his own.
Fabio Grosso remains a great asset going forward but is still defensively naive. Gianluca Zambrotta, the one outsider meanwhile, has gone from being the best full-back in the world to struggling to contain Stephen Hunt.
Granted, Fabio Cannavaro will return but how much can the ageing captain add to the conundrum? Indeed, to where else can the Azzurri look for reinforcements?
The anti-Lippi brigade (hello Carlo) will point to the likes of Marco Motta, Davide Santon, Andrea Ranocchia, Salvatore Bochetti and Fabiano Santacroce as alternatives but it is realistically too late to add such inexperience to the mix, with a lack of competitive fixtures on the horizon. That time passed with the Confederations Cup, but Lippi obstinately chose to stand by his veterans.
As the World Cup approaches, will the question marks shift from over the head of Antonio Cassano, Fabrizio Miccoli and co and onto the back-line?
Followers of the world champions would do well to realise that the problems are not simply confined to the business end.
Peter Staunton, Goal.com
So, what's the problem?
On the face of things, the Azzurri are in rude health, boasting Champions League winners and World Cup winners all over the field, but there is a palpable and growing sense of doom prevalent in the peninsula ahead of the World Cup proper.
Saturday's qualification draw in Ireland, the equaliser plundered at the death by Alberto Gilardino, highlighted yet again some of the old deficiencies in Marcello Lippi's squad, but also exposed some widening cracks; especially in the back-line.
Added to the shockingly limited support offered to the ever-willing Vincenzo Iaquinta is an inability to defend set-pieces; a most un-Italian of traits. At the World Cup in 2006, la Nazionale struggled to pump goals in at one end but at least their strength lay in an ability to accrue clean-sheets.
That has all but evaporated; witness Ireland's goals on the night - the first came as the visitors defended too deep inside their own area from a free-kick and Glenn Whelan plonked the ball into Gigi Buffon's top corner without any pressure.
Throughout the second half, as the Irish matched their opponents, Italy were dependent on their captain to make saves from dead-ball opportunities.
There was nothing Gigi could have done however to prevent Sean St Ledger from nodding home the go-ahead goal at 2-1. It was simply poor defending.
How has it come to be so?
Defending is as much part of Italian culture as sunglasses, pasta and corrupt politicians but as the question marks linger over Lippi's selections in attack, the problems in defence have grown unchecked.
It is no secret that Lippi is unable to draw the best from the attacking presence on the field or indeed, make the right selections in the final third - however he can usually be depended upon to make the right choices at the back.
So, is it a question of 'bad defending' or 'bad defenders'? Is Italy entering a period of paucity for their erstwhile undeniable position of strength?
Italy drew four of their back five on Saturday from Juventus, Lippi's old team; the Old Lady may be Serie A contenders this season but watertight they ain't.
Nicola Legrottaglie is as much an international centre-back as Silvio Berlusconi is an international politician while Giorgio Chiellini is not yet capable of leading a back-four on his own.
Fabio Grosso remains a great asset going forward but is still defensively naive. Gianluca Zambrotta, the one outsider meanwhile, has gone from being the best full-back in the world to struggling to contain Stephen Hunt.
Granted, Fabio Cannavaro will return but how much can the ageing captain add to the conundrum? Indeed, to where else can the Azzurri look for reinforcements?
The anti-Lippi brigade (hello Carlo) will point to the likes of Marco Motta, Davide Santon, Andrea Ranocchia, Salvatore Bochetti and Fabiano Santacroce as alternatives but it is realistically too late to add such inexperience to the mix, with a lack of competitive fixtures on the horizon. That time passed with the Confederations Cup, but Lippi obstinately chose to stand by his veterans.
As the World Cup approaches, will the question marks shift from over the head of Antonio Cassano, Fabrizio Miccoli and co and onto the back-line?
Followers of the world champions would do well to realise that the problems are not simply confined to the business end.
Peter Staunton, Goal.com
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