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After Giampiero Ventura's absolutely horror show of managing the national team, including the complete disaster that was not qualifying for the World Cup in 2018, the FIGC decided to go with a manager who has actually won things before and that wouldn't put on a defensive midfielder when the team needed a goal to win a playoff match. Roberto Mancini was appointed and things have actually gone pretty well. From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhLRz4LalzA To  Anyway De Rossi is part of the staff now, Ventura is in hiding, probably in another country, and this is the team:   Stefano Sensi of Inter and Lorenzo Pellegrini managed to get injured in the run up and have been replaced by Matteo Pessina of Atalanta and Gaetano Castrovilli of Fiorentina respectively. There are some notable omissions, mainly Moise Kean of PSG/Everton and Matteo Politano of Napoli who are worth about 10000 Bernardeschi's each. Davide Calabria had to get surgery for a sports hernia right as the season ended otherwise I think he would've slotted in at right back pretty easily as well. Would've loved to see Balotelli as well but he played in Serie B last year so that's pretty excuseable. The squad announcement was absolutely absurd and involved a lot of karaoke and prancing around a stage with some of Italy's worst (most famous) TV and show presenters. It included Mancini waving around a frying pan:  Mancini plays a pretty basic 4-3-3 though the defenders that have been called up could easily go for a 3-5-2 or any 3 man backline, really. I don't expect Mancini will deviate too much from what brought the team here in the first place but it's possible that he'll switch things up, especially considering that so many of the players are pretty physically brittle. The players worth watching are Barella, who was one of the best, if not the best, all around midfielder in Serie A this year and Chiesa, who went from looking like a terrible signing to showing up Ronald at the end of the season for Juve. Berardi probably wont start unless Chiesa or Insigne gets hurt but he has been very good all season and in the recent internationals. It will be easy to spot Immobile as well because....haha....oh man...get this.....he will be....pfffff....STANDING STILL!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA The lead up to the tournament was pretty unremarkable. The team brushed aside a lot of garbage teams, which was nice, but also it didn't really show anything. I don't expect games against the big sides will be so easy; France and Portugal in particular look like they could easily tear this team apart. That said, Italy tends to do well in the tournament after a total shitshow tournament, and you can't get much more shitshow than not qualifying for the loving world cup. Anyway everyone is welcome to enjoy their bans in this thread when we get knocked out by drawing to Wales in the final match of the group stage.
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Jun 10, 2021 16:34
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Forza Azzurri! My grandfather was in Italy for the war so I’ve always felt a connection with Italy. Looking forward to rooting on those blues!
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Jun 10, 2021 19:24
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Vaffanculo
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Jun 10, 2021 19:46
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Portland posted:Forza Azzurri! How many Americans did he kill?
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Jun 10, 2021 20:02
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Loving Africa Chaps posted:How many Americans did he kill? Wow, ignored. Be better.
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Jun 10, 2021 21:40
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Portland posted:Wow, ignored. Be better. Answer the question. (USER WAS PUT ON PROBATION FOR THIS POST)
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Jun 10, 2021 21:51
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Dio porco
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Jun 10, 2021 23:53
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abuse culture. posted:Dio porco https://youtu.be/GBACLpkon6Q
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Jun 11, 2021 00:33
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Mr Coffea
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Jun 11, 2021 08:15
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I've stuck a cheeky tenner on Italy to win as I have at every tournament since 2006 because I Will Not Learn
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Jun 11, 2021 09:49
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I’m so lazy I don’t follow Serie A but every 2 years I act like the biggest soccer fan for Italy. I really need to get on watching regular league stuff. But I’ve said that multiple times.
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Jun 11, 2021 12:31
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Why have you misspelt shitaly in the title op
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Jun 11, 2021 12:59
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Put  on them to be in the final 4, Forza Azzuri!
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Jun 11, 2021 18:38
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Coglione
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Jun 11, 2021 19:26
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I am exited for foot, got Russia in the sweep. It's coming home.
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Jun 11, 2021 19:53
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Matchday thread is pinned at the top of the forum for anyone wandering in here looking for that
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Jun 11, 2021 19:55
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dio boia
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Jun 11, 2021 19:57
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Cazzo
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Jun 11, 2021 21:25
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Pretty sure Immobile just yelled "porca puttana" in to the camera after he scored there 
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Jun 11, 2021 21:27
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Could Turkey have hosed this opening match up any worse? OG for first goal of the tournament, then they let Italy score 3 for the first time in Euro history lmao get owned
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Jun 11, 2021 21:41
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Mama Mia! Lol, that was a great round. I’m loving pumped, excited for us to beat those Swiss next.
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Jun 11, 2021 21:57
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‘ndru culo
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Jun 11, 2021 22:01
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Portland posted:Mama Mia! Lol, that was a great round. I’m loving pumped, excited for us to beat those Swiss next. settle down beavis
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Jun 11, 2021 22:19
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Want to buy a jersey like I usually do but this belly says no, don't do it.
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Jun 11, 2021 23:17
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Vintersorg posted:Want to buy a jersey like I usually do but this belly says no, don't do it. Definitely don't buy the white shirt, it's very bad.
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Jun 12, 2021 00:00
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Portland posted:Forza Azzurri! What the hell lmao
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Jun 12, 2021 03:03
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[Russian voice] my grandpa was in Germany during the Great Patriotic War so if we get knocked out I’m rooting for Die Mannshaft!!!
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Jun 12, 2021 03:06
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Italy's goaltending ranks are thin? I thought Sirigu wasn't very good anymore, or did I imagine all that
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Jun 12, 2021 03:43
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Tokyo Sexwale posted:Italy's goaltending ranks are thin? I thought Sirigu wasn't very good anymore, or did I imagine all that I hadn't realized that he was in the squad until I saw him celebrating today. Torino were awful and gave up a ton of goals this year, and to the eye test he has fallen off a bit. It's unlikely he'd see minutes, I suspect he must be in the squad just as a veteran leader type. Consigli might've deserved it on merit maybe, he's 34 but still basically in his prime. I also think players like Cragno, Perin or even Gollini could be in the squad and would be perfectly capable at this level. Hell Buffon is still very good and could step in for Gigio if needed.
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Jun 12, 2021 03:58
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I think you're right in that Sirigu is there for moral support more than anything. He's been in the Italy team since Conte was the manager I think, maybe even before. The three keepers you mentioned are all better than Sirigu for sure, though Meret was a decent choice for 3rd keeper. Unrelated, seems like the strange choice Mancini made in subbing out Florenzi at half time wasn't tactical, it was because Florenzi was injured. He's going to miss the Switzerland match due to a calf strain.
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Jun 12, 2021 13:24
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Di Lorenzo likely to take Florenzi's spot, otherwise lineup is unchanged against Switzerland. Embolo and/or Seferovic are gonna get by Bonucci on pace and I kinda hope they do because the second this team comes up against a better side the center of defense is going to get ripped apart. I really don't understand why Bastoni isn't in there.
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Jun 16, 2021 13:30
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ma che oooo
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Jun 16, 2021 17:12
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Dio Dio Dio.....bubu
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Jun 16, 2021 17:14
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Jun 16, 2021 19:26
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cazzo lungo in bocca
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Jun 16, 2021 20:20
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k88rVrBzJ88
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Jun 16, 2021 21:52
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Italy were good today. Locatelli is probably feeling as good as he did when he scored that goal vs Juve. I expect a total lineup change for the next match.
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Jun 17, 2021 00:10
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Gigi Galli posted:Italy were good today. Locatelli is probably feeling as good as he did when he scored that goal vs Juve. Yeah, and the five substitutes rule encourages trying some more unusual formations. And you're not completely screwed by an early injury if you get to the overtime.
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Jun 17, 2021 06:42
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Tafferling posted:Yeah, and the five substitutes rule encourages trying some more unusual formations. And you're not completely screwed by an early injury if you get to the overtime. I agree in the formations; the 5-3-2 or 3-5-2 depending on who you ask was pretty weird yesterday, but it was effective. I thought Toloi actually did quite well after he came on. I really hope Bastoni gets a chance vs Wales. I still think Bonucci is going to get outpaced once we face a team with fast forwards.
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Jun 17, 2021 14:04
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cretino
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Jun 20, 2021 17:31
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