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| | Monday 7 July, 2008 | | Blog: Don and Dom-ber | | Roberto Donadoni's time on the Italy bench is starting to look like a wasted two years, but James Sugrue reminds us it could be worse |  |  | | Now that Marcello Lippi has returned to the helm of the Nazionale, it is becoming hard to see the benefits of 24 months under Roberto Donadoni. A mixed qualifying campaign and a disappointing Euro 2008 aren't much of a legacy to leave for a man who enjoyed so much success as a player with both Milan and Italy.
Don seemed like a bad fit with the Azzurri right from the start, even if the results did improve under his 4-3-3 system. However, perhaps the best thing he has left us is his exit. That is not to say that he was a complete disaster as Coach, because I fully believe he showed some promising signs during his reign. But unfortunately the job may have come a little too early for him, before he had gathered the club experience essential at this level. Then, after losing public support with his uncertain performance in Austria and Switzerland, he showed his dedication to Italy by stepping aside when he knew it was the best move for the Nazionale.
He realised his job had been made even more difficult after that tournament and, with Lippi poised to return, Donadoni put his personal pride to one side to help the FIGC ease his own exit. He even rejected the offer of nearly £500,000 compensation he would have been eligible for under the terms of his latest contract. Not everyone was so dignified in failure though. France, the big victims of the Euro 2008 group of death, were expected to quickly follow Italy in changing their Coach, but this week's announcement that Raymond Domenech will stay on the bench for the 2010 World Cup campaign must have some nervous chatter reverberating from the walls of the Parisian cafes.
You could take most of Donadoni's errors, multiply them by 10, and you would be left with the sum of Domenech's Euro 2008 disaster. He was uncertain of his tactics and repeatedly fluffed his lines when trying to change his system, especially with the desperate and flawed move that resulted in the axing of Karim Benzema and the use of Thierry Henry as a lone centre-forward. His selection policy was also suspect. His refusal to acknowledge the respective abilities of Philippe Mexes and David Trezeguet, which resulted in former Juventus team clown Jean-Alain Boumsong trying to contain the Azzurri attack and the shameful site of a slow and immobile Nicolas Anelka floundering in attack, was unforgivable.
Yet, this is the man the French Federation is relying on to go one better than 2006 and lead them to World Cup glory in South Africa. If that is to happen Domenech is going to have to eat a lot of humble pie, something he has shown no signs of having the stomach for in the past four years. He has already proven too proud to step down, even when it appeared to be the only way to keep a small part of his crumbling reputation intact. So when you're denouncing Donadoni as a complete failure, remember that he at least succeeded in recognising what was necessary, even if it meant his own unemployment.
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This is a complete joke. Donadoni did make mistakes and was clearly not up to the job, but the fact that anybody in France can think that Domenech is still the right man for the job is impossible to comprehend. This is a real disappointment for me as I thought that with him gone Trezeguet might get a chance to resume his international career, but with this decision it is the final nail in the coffin. At least Italy and the rest of the world will not have to worry about France at the World Cup in two years, even if they do get there!
Rodney
I am glad someone finally put this into perspective. I agree completely with comments about both Donandoni and Domenech. As much as I think Donandoni did need to go, I do think he made some positive contributions and also that he was treated a bit harshly. As far as Domenech - in my opinion he gets what he deserves for his racist anti-Italianism and Italy bashing. I am not sure what one could expect from someone who selects his team based on star signs - who knows what the French are thinking for keeping him there?
John Libertino
I agree with your comments James. I was, like without doubt many others, hugely disappointed with Italy's performance at Euro 2008, but probably more with Donadoni's tactics. The unbelievable philosophy in the borefest against Spain, to play for penalties because of Spain's disastrous luck in previous shoot-outs, showed backwards thinking from a team which had huge potential. The great, more attacking football the Azzurri played at the World Cup - paricularly against Germany and to a degree carried on by Donadoni in his use and desire of 4-3-3, was a distant memory. While I was very happy that Lippi was re-appointed, I was also surprised, as many managers never return to a previous post. He though, held out and was ready to answer his country's call. His undeniable qualities as a world-class manager and person will make the Azzurri the force they were again to defend their title in 2010 - though because of a period of instability, they have a few more challenges to fight off now. Forza Italia!
Rob, Nottingham
Looking back at Euro '08, Italy were the only side not to concede a goal and not to lose against a very good Spanish side. Does that mean that Roberto failed or did he do homework and realised that Italy could not beat Spain by attacking them, so Italy's best opition was to sit deep, not concede, then break away and score or try to win on penalties. He succeeded with not conceding and had Camoranesi not had the match's really only clear cut effort cleared off the line The Don would have been a hero in Italy. Don't we all have short momories, was it not in Euro 2000 that we went into a semi-final against Holland with the same tactics and managed to get away with it and all was nearly forgotten after the Final when, well we all now what happened - it's so difficult to talk about. So am I saying Roberto should have stayed, definitely not. He knew the bomb was ticking and Lippi was waiting so why not go out with a bang. He should have attempted to attack Spain and if he had lost he would still have been in the same position but known as a manager that gave it his best shot instead of a manager that had no guts to try to match the Spanish.
Nick Biondi, Suffolk
Lippi coming back to Italy was not that surprising. Donadoni was too inexperienced for the job and Lippi went back to Juventus a second time and was very successful. I think Italy will be more exciting again under Lippi and will probably make a good defence of the World Cup, but retaining it is probably a bridge too far. As for France's decision to keep Domenech, I am gobsmacked. There must be something wrong with the volvic and perrier at the French FA. Can anyone think of a worse coaching failure in recent times, or indeed ever, actually being rewarded by a contract renewal? It is simply bizarre! It would be laughable if it werent for the fact that countless world class French players will suffer under this clown and be unable to show what they can do at the next World Cup.
Chris, Japan
So the "anti-Italy" man Domenech has kept his job! - that's amazing considering he spent more time bashing the Azzurri and Italy as a country rather than putting together a "half" decent French side. Still, as an Azzurri fan I hope his poor French team continues their pathetic ways and the Azzurri make him eat his stupid words even more so. Mr Domenech - it's two wins for Italy and one win for you (with one draw) in the four games head to head, FORZA ITALIA !!!
Daniel, Auckland, New Zealand
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