Ladies and gentlemen, the man responsible for the FIGC 4-Star logo is back! With him, the hopes of an entire nation to defend a World Champions title, obtained less than 2 years ago and somewhat tainted by Italy’s mediocre performance at Euro 2008.
If they want to have any hope of repeating their 2006 success, the Azzurri will have to make serious improvements before their South African adventure: defensive organization, physical preparation, and more importantly fighting spirit, were all lacking last month in Austria/Switzerland. However rest assured people: if there is one man capable of bringing the boys in blue back to glory, that man is Marcello Lippi.
Gazzetta dello Sport was there on Tuesday, for the press conference with Italy’s new manager. Here are some excerpts:
ROME, 1 July 2008 – Tanned, a few kilos overweight, enthusiastic (as he repeatedly pointed out) and confident. This is how Marcello Lippi presented himself as the new Italy boss, successor to Donadoni, having won the World Cup with the Azzurri only two years ago.
Talking for over an hour, the topics Lippi covered in his press conference ranged from anything to everything.
PREAMBLE – “Good to all see you again. I’m very happy to be taking up where I left off. This means that things didn’t go very well at the recent European Championships unfortunately, or I’d still be on the beach in Viareggio. Have I settled into an easy life? I’ve put on a couple of kilos, that’s all. I’ve greatly enjoyed this past two years. But I’ve also watched a lot of games, and worked on TV with Sky to keep myself up to date with international football
RETURN – “You’re asking if these two years been lost, both for me and the national team? I would never have left the national side if I hadn’t had to do so for certain reasons not connected with the outcome of the World Cup. But these two years haven’t been wasted for the Azzurri. Donadoni integrated important new players into the world champions group. The true expression of a nation’s football isn’t found in its clubs but in its national team. Why did I want to come back? For a year I didn’t even consider a return to management, despite the many offers, including those from other national sides. As the European Championships approached I felt a great desire to take up the place I had left, and I made myself available should the circumstances arise for my return. I felt a certain debt towards the FA. And turning down other offers in order to return was a way for me to pay that debt.”
CHOICES – “To those asking me ‘Which group should be the focus, the “old” or the “new” group?’, I say this: we have a group of players who won the World Cup two years ago, and we need to build on that strength. We mustn’t casually discard anyone, but nor should we be burdened by a debt of gratitude. Not everyone will continue. This group needs to be integrated: the right balance has to be found.”
STYLE OF PLAY – “Should we play traditional Italian football, or a more expansive game based on the Spanish model which triumphed at Euro 2008? Good question. The Spanish play a very distinctive game, very technical. But they have achieved this great result after a long process of development, going though disappointments along the way. The Spain team is the ultimate expression of Spanish football. What we will do is construct a style of play in which even the big stars (like the Ronaldos or Rooneys) will work hard and sacrifice themselves for the team. Italy aren’t about catenaccio any more, but a modern, down-to-earth game mixed with a bit of open-mindedness. We will try to play an aggressive, expansive and resourceful game. A great side needs to be able to do everything, attack and defend.” (note: in other words, a style of play following that of the 2006 World Cup semi-final, when Italy finished the match by playing with four strikers on the field).
INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES – “We have some important tests already arranged. In fact, next February we will play Brazil at Wembley stadium, in England.”
PERUZZI AND FERRARA – “I told the President that I wanted to work with the same people as in the past. That includes Angelo Peruzzi, who is studying for his coaching licence at Coverciano and will then join the FA’s technical staff, as well as Ciro Ferrara, who is now working for Juve but will work for us whenever the national team assembles.”
TOTTI AND NESTA, THE RETURN? - “People’s opinions must be respected, in this case players who have given a great deal to the national team. I am not contemplating a return for either of them, and I won’t be calling them up. If they call me, we’ll discuss things together. As a general advice to everyone, I say never to issue a definitive goodbye to the Azzurri. Every Italian player between 18 and 40 is under consideration, and each one of them should still be proud and ready to wear the national shirt.”
WINNING – “I’m coming back to win, to enjoy the same sensations once more. The feeling of triumph, but also that of unity and group cohesion. We mustn’t assume that qualification for the next World Cup will be a formality, we must focus on trying to replicate our success. My responsibility, as in the past, will be to coordinate the work of all the national sides, including the youth teams.”
On a final note, FIGC president Giancarlo Abete commented:
“I would like to thank Donadoni and emphasise his personal and professional qualities. Lippi is the right man to undertake the journey towards the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. His choice was entirely based on technical aspects, not marketing.
With Donadoni we had a mutually loyal relationship. On 20 May we agreed a contract extension with him, including a €900,000 gross compensation clause. Then on 22 May he told me that he didn’t want the compensation clause, and returned to the original proposal of an automatic renewal if Italy reached the semi-finals of the European Championship.
There were no other pre-established situations, we had no contracts with anyone else. If an extra penalty kick had been scored [against Spain] the automatic renewal would have operated, as it didn’t happen I had to make a choice. But there was no sacking.”
Germany vs. Spain was a battle of playing styles, pressuring down the wings for the former and asphyxiating ball possession (almost to the point of nausea) for the latter, but it was also a battle of tactical choices. Those forced upon managers Joachim Löw and Luis Aragonés, being forced to deal with key injuries and to ponder on the alternatives. For the Nationalmannschaft, those doubts revolved around captain Michael Ballack (dealing with some muscular problems) and Thorsten Frings (suffering from a broken rib), both essential elements in the German chessboard. In the end, Löw decided to take the risk and fielded them both from the start. For La Selección, the real mind-scratcher was David Villa‘s absence: who was to replace Spain’s topscorer in the competition and more importantly, would he be able to do so with the same efficiency? Eventually, coach Aragonés decided to put his faith in young Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fàbregas, thus reverting his tactics to a one-striker (Torres) formation.
It was time for the boys in red to wake up and sound the charge. Andrés Iniesta decided to do just that in minute 14, as he got through on Germany’s left-wing and almost caused Christoph Metzelder to score an own goal. Jens Lehmann was vigilant. It was however the reaction Spain needed, and slowly (but surely) the balance of play shifted back in favor of Aragonés’s men. Efforts down the wings notably doubled in efficiency, particularly thanks to the pinpoint crossing accuracy of the players involved. In minute 23, Sergio Ramos delivered from the right side and found Fernando Torres on the second post, ready for a jumping header… onto the post! A great chance for Spain, followed just a second later by Capdevila’s follow-up effort… wide. Spain were back in command and loving it.
Spain could have doubled their lead shortly after, but David Silva wasted a very good chance (served to him on a platter by Iniesta) with a rather difficult one-time volley. Numbers spoke very clearly however: Spain’s midfield line was making mincemeat of their German counterparts, and the slowness of the two central-backs (Metzelder and Mertesacker) was becoming all to apparent. As for Lahm, he may have provided the winning goal vs. Turkey but he was at fault on at least two of the Turkish tallies, and seemed in no better comfort in today’s match. It wasn’t too surprising to see him go at the end of the first half (on came Jansen).
Aragonés decided to go for safety, and replaced Fabregas’s playmaking with the interdiction ability of Xabi Alonso (shortly followed by Cazorla on for Silva). Ironically though, it was Spain once again to get very close to goal nº2, as Sergio Ramos slammed a powerful 67th minute diving header onto the crossbar and minutes later, a timely goal-line intervention of Frings prevented Iniesta’s howitzer from sending Spain into delirium. More changes ensued (Dani Güiza and Mario Gomez for Torres and Klose) and more chances for Spain on the counter: Marcos Senna was just one step too late to convert Güiza’s redirected header… the goal was wide open.
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GAME OF CHESS – The wisdom of Luis Aragonés pitted against the enterprise of Guus Hiddink, or rather, Spain’s methodical school against Russia’s “mutant” one. Luis Aragones kept faith as always in his solid and fast 4-4-2 formation, which has earned the nickname of “windscreen wiper” in the Iberian peninsula (as it does away with anything in its path). Hiddink meanwhile may well be a mercenary, but when he puts his hands to the job he can certainly work miracles, and the Dutch tactician made only one unexpected change with regards to pre match predictions, preferring Ivan Saenko to Bilyaletdinov, who took his place up front beside Andrei Arshavin -Russia’s new prodigal son with a whole nation at his feet.
BALANCE – This was certainly not the same Russian side that annihilated Holland in the previous round, but Hiddink’s men did well to close their ranks and leave the opposition with limited space to exploit. Yuri Zhirkov’s tactical acumen provided Russia’s biggest threat as the fullback was given licence to push down the wing and instigate Russia’s attacks. Spain became less adventurous as the half progressed and also had a couple of close shaves. On 31 minutes, Pavlyuchenko had the Russian fans celebrating prematurely as Casillas just got a fingertip to the striker’s scorcher, only to send the ball agonisingly wide. On 34 minutes Villa picked up an injury and forced Aragonés to bring on Cesc Fabregas in replacement, and the Arsenal youngster immediately added quality to Spain’s play by positioning himself behind Torres.
DOWN WITH THE MASKS – After all the calculating and caution of the first half, the second half closed the door to such tactics: indeed, it only took 5 minutes past kick-off for Spain to open the score. Andrés Iniesta broke down the left and played in the perfect ball for Xavi, who drove an unsaveable shot past Akinfeev. 
and Saenko, but not even fresh legs were enough for Russia as Spain now controlled the game and created chance after chance, taking full advantage of a weak and scared-looking Russia.
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