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| Monday 16 June, 2008 |
| Blog: Generation ex |
| Italy's game against France has plenty riding on it - and not just the Azzurri's Euro 2008 future, warns Richard Godden |
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One thing that has been repeated time and time again after Italy were thumped by Holland in their Group C opener was that the Azzurri fielded a team with an average age of over 31. Considering that most footballers are said to peak somewhere between the age of 28 and 30, you could say that the Azzurri are too old. We'll find out on Tuesday night whether that is the case or not.
When you add into the mix some of the old boys in France's set-up - Gregory Coupet, Lilian Thuram, Willy Sagnol, Claude Makelele, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry - this could turn out to be a generation-defining game. Although Romania, with a little help from Holland perhaps, could throw a spanner in the works to render the game meaningless, there's every chance that many of the Azzurri will be playing Les Bleus to prolong their international careers. It's a scary thought, but one which should motivate them into putting on a real show.
In some ways it's a bit of a Catch 22 situation. Of course a victory is the best possible thing. No one wants to leave an international tournament on the first flight home - although, as an Englishman I'd have settled for that if it meant actually being in Austria and Switzerland in the first place - and there is every possibility that whoever progresses alongside Holland will go on and win the whole thing. After all, at the last World Cup, France had a torrid time in the group stage only to beat Spain, Brazil and Portugal in the knock-out rounds.
Ultimately, Les Bleus were not victorious in Germany - as every Italian will be all too keen to remind them. But their mini-success ensured that the aforementioned older players, Vieira and Henry excluded, perhaps stayed on a little over their sell-by date. Make no mistake about it, this France team looks old and they were overrun by an energetic Holland side on Friday, much like Italy were earlier in the week.
For fans of the two countries, it might actually be a blessing in disguise if they are eliminated so early. Big alterations could be made without it looking like change for change's sake. Italy, for example, could wave goodbye to Marco Materazzi, Christian Panucci, Alessandro Del Piero and possibly some of the 31 and 32-year-olds. There's plenty of fresh blood waiting in the wings and with Marcello Lippi likely to return should Roberto Donadoni receive his P45 - which would be almost guaranteed after such an early exit - they'd have the perfect man at the helm to nurture the new talent.
But let's be honest - none of us are really hoping that this happens. Forza Italia, send Raymond Domenech and his boys to an early retirement instead!
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I agree its time for some young blood to be nurtured into the Azzurri set up. Panucci, Mattarazzi, Cannavaro, Zambrotta, Pirlo, Ambrosini, Gattuso, Del Piero and Toni are all too old for international football. The system in Italy is all wrong with top teams like Inter only playing one Italian player and Milan playing players who are 30 somethings needs to be addressed. Aqualani, Montolivo and Pazzini are all good young players and this would have been an ideal tournament to give them a taste of what competitions are all about. Agreed that playing experienced players can work, but it needs to have a balance and Italy unfortunately are too old in key positions.
Davide Longo |
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