Buffon: Solidarity the key for Italian team lacking stars
WHILE the Sweden players emerged from the Stadium Municipal in Toulouse on Friday bedecked in sharp suits, the Italians were hardly noticeable in their jeans and trainers. It was in keeping with their understated but effective impact on Euro 2016.
Antonio Conte has already ended the 16-year hoodoo since the Italians won their first two games at a major tournament, which included their World Cup win a decade ago, and there appears no relenting in their quest to complete Group E with maximum points on Wednesday against the Republic of Ireland despite already securing a last-16 spot.
Few contenders for the team of the tournament have emerged from the Azzurri ranks following the pair of victories, which were built upon sound principles of defensive rigidity and countering on the break. Their knack of punishing mistakes remains an enduring quality and reason for a Republic of Ireland side prone to the odd mishap to be wary.
‘Our best weapon is the team’s strength in the collective and our solidity,’ said goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon.
‘We have guys who are very useful to the way we play and this allows us to make the best of any situation.
‘Against Belgium, it happened with Leo (Bonucci) and the same task was achieved by Giorgio Chiellini when we played Sweden.
‘In the end, however, it was three of our strikers who scored our goals in the wins over Belgium and Sweden.’
Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Thiago Motta, in line to make his first start at the tournament after two substitute appearances, agreed with this philosophy.
‘Italy’s defence starts with the forwards and midfielders because of the incredible work they put in,’ he explained.
‘We talk a lot about the three defenders and our goalkeeper as key to our system and that’s normal because they’re great players. But Italy’s defence doesn’t start there. The forwards run lots of kilometres.’
Whether it be through necessity or not, Conte will ensure that work-rate is maintained in Lille by freshening up his artillery.
Buffon is one of six Italians within a booking of missing their knockout stage game, yet is unlikely to given a rest. Daniele De Rossi, their best midfield performer so far, will probably rested and replaced by Motta.
Given how integral they are to the Italian rearguard, either Giorgio Chiellini or Leonardo Bonucci is to be held back, while Seville’s Ciro Immobile should come in for Eder, the match-winner against Sweden.
Chiellini’s absence from the line-up would certainly represent good news for Martin O’Neill considering his effectiveness at nullifying the attacking threat of Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic so far.
From the opening minutes on Friday — when Chiellini outjumped the Sweden captain to prevent a near-certain opener — he held the upper-hand in their duel.
Keen to put a brave face on afterwards, Ibra down-played the significance of Chiellini’s role in keeping him quiet, resorting to a quip about putting his marker in hospital if he’d so desired.
Jonathan Walters, assuming he’s available, would give Chiellini a run for his money in the physical stakes but his cuteness personifies an Italian mindset more concerned about winning matches than popularity.
‘Although the game against Sweden was pretty ugly, we decided the outcome in one moment,” said Andrea Barzagli, the final part of the three-man back-line with Juventus team-mates Chiellini and Bonucci.
‘That doesn’t matter to us because it is not about entertainment. Our objective coming to France was to win matches and we are determined to make it three victories in a row against Ireland.
‘Some tension has been lifted by losing the taboo of not winning our first games backto-back since 2000. Our team have shown in the matches that we can improve as the game goes on. We are a happy unit.’
Worryingly for Ireland, that trajectory shows no sign of abating as thoughts turn to Lille. Motta is respectful of Ireland when assessing the opposition without being consumed by them.
‘Of course, Ireland are a good team that have qualified by beating some strong teams,’ he reasoned. ‘Still, the ability to raise our game is the reason we are always optimistic.
‘Italy always has to do that something extra because we don’t have big individuals capable of doing it by themselves. Belgium had Eden Hazard, Sweden had Zlatan but we still beat them both. We can only concentrate on our own game-plan and that involves a winning mentality. Even though we’re in the next round, that won’t change now.’
Simplicity at its finest.