Italy's Flaw

After watching USA somehow held on to a draw with Italy, I have discovered a huge flaw in the Azzuri’s attack. You see, while Gilardino and Luca Toni are very capable strikers they are not exactly what you’d call creative forwards. What I mean is they do not have the mesmerizing ability to dribble and whiz past defenders. Their specialty is just to provide the perfect finishing touch – full stop. They can shoot and head but they can’t do step-overs, back-heel passes or have amazing close control ability that make the ball appears magnetized to their feet. Same story with the subs. You have Iaquinta and Inzaghi. Powerful and clever strikers but not exactly the magical types. Which is why they have to be dependent on the midfielders. The Totti’s, Pirlo’s and Del Piero’s. Which in turn lies Italy’s weakness. For their strikers to hit the net, they have to rely on set-pieces, crosses and through-passes. So to stop Italy from scoring or reduce their chances to scraps is simple - just stop the midfielders. Cut the supply. Or play the offside trap, like the US did so brilliantly. If you do this, the only chance Italy have of scoring is if one of the defenders makes a mistake (take note Samuel Kuffour). Which is why Italy is so in need of another Roberto Baggio. Now, that was a magical player. This would explain why we were so toothless in front of goal in 2002. And we depended on Vieri for inspiration? Yeah, sure he scored a lot in ’98 but we still had Baggio back then. So basically, yeah, I’m shit worried. How do we expect to go al the way when our sole source of creativity lies on the shoulder of a not fully fit Totti? A player who has yet to make his mark in any international tournament? Del Piero is past his best and Pirlo operates to deep. You look at the other teams and each of them has their own magic players. The sort of player that can make something out of nothing. England has Rooney and Owen. Even Crouch has that uncanny ability to flick the ball to the right places. Holland has Robben and Van Persie. Portugal has Cristiano Ronaldo and Figo. France has Henry and Ribery. Argentina has Messi, Tevez and Saviola. Brazil has, well, the only player I suspect who can’t dribble in the team is probably Dida. The 2006 WC doesn’t look good for Italy. When I saw Argentina thumped Serbia and Montenegro the other day, I have never felt fear watching a performance like that since I saw Arsenal beat Leed United in the opening game of the season of the Premiership when they started that 49-game unbeaten run. The fluidity and acuteness was so mesmerizing you can almost hear ‘Take My Breath Away’ in the background.

But, a fan is still a fan. Just as the day when Ahn Jung Hwan broke my heart, I am still rooting for Italy. Maybe my hypothesis is wrong. Maybe Totti will become the player he is at Roma. Maybe Luca Toni will start scoring like mad. Maybe Italy will play seven matches. Maybe Cannavaro willl receive the gold-laden trophy from Sepp Blatter on July 9th. Maybe, just maybe, my 12 years of disappointment will end.