Dilemmas up front for both Italy & Spain in huge World Cup qualifier
When Italy dumped Spain out of the Euros at the round of 16 in Saint-Denis it’s fair to say the result was something of an upset. Whilst not meaning to do a disservice to a very strong national side, and one with a hugely enviable record in the game, Spain entered the game as favourites to earn a spot in the quarter-finals.
Instead, however, the Azzurri put in one of the performances of the tournament from any side, with the manner of their victory over la Roja catching the eye even more than the result itself. While Giorgio Chiellini’s opener may have been as scrappy as they come, owing much to a David de Gea mistake, Antonio Conte’s side were more than deserving of the lead, ending the first half against the masters of possession football with a near 50% share and 8 shots to Spain’s 2.
While those statistics unsurprisingly swayed in the favour of Vicente del Bosque’s side by full-time the scoreline didn’t, with Italy able to rely upon their famed Juventus back four with relatively little fuss before Graziano Pelle sealed the deal in injury time. Now, just months down the line, these two titans of the international game prepare to do battle again.
Since that day both nations are under new management, with Italy opting for the experience of journeyman manager Giampiero Ventura, while Spain made the somewhat surprising choice to appoint Julen Lopetegui. The 50-year old managed through the age groups of the national side before taking the reins at Porto so on the face of it seemed a strong fit. However, a lack of silverware in his first season with the Portuguese giants saw the pressure mount on his position. It was eventually made untenable with the club’s elimination from the Champions League group stages last season, and a home defeat in the cup to Maritimo was the final straw, as the club sat third in Liga NOS.
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Indeed, with both sides now operating under managers with reputations far smaller than their predecessors, it’s a new era for those both in blue and red, making Thursday’s meeting between the two all the more intriguing. While Lopetegui has made an encouraging start, with a 2-0 victory over Belgium preceding an 8-0 hammering of Lichtenstein in their qualifying opener, Italy’s defeat to France was followed by a 3-1 win in Isreal.
Where Spain will be looking for a different solution to the game in late June as they attempt to exact revenge, the temptation must be there for Ventura to stick to the game plan from France. In that instance both Graziano Pelle, now plying his trade in China, and Eder would keep their places having both excelled in Saint-Denis. However, while Pelle has made a solid start in his new surroundings - with four goals in eight starts - Eder’s struggles in Milan continue, leading to understandable calls for change.
While breaking up a partnership that has proved very effective would be a difficult decision, the form of Andrea Belotti has led to appeals for the Torino man to be given a chance. The 22-year old ranks third in WhoScored’s Serie A ratings (7.88) with 5 goals in four starts as well as an assist, while Eder is yet to contribute to a single goal with Inter this season, consequently falling out of favour.
It’s worth noting that while the Brazilian born striker was not in form prior to the Euros either, he managed to keep his place at the time due to a perceived lack of options - despite a notable end to the season from Belotti. With the youngster and Mario Balotelli very much in form, and the former certainly able to offer a similar physicality and work rate to Pelle’s current strike partner, Eder’s spot must surely be under threat for this qualifying campaign as a whole, if not tomorrow night’s big game.
Indeed, this Italy side are in markedly better shape, on paper at least, than they were ahead of the Euros, in which they were tipped by some to tank out of the tournament at the earliest opportunity. Verratti is back and pivotal to the future of this side, particularly in games such as this, while Giacomo Bonaventura is also in the reckoning and in form having been harshly overlooked in the summer.
Meanwhile, like Ventura, the new Spain boss also has a dilemma on his hands with regards to selecting his strikeforce, though it too is a welcome one to have.
Alvaro Morata was la Roja’s focal point in the summer as Del Bosque overlooked Diego Costa due to concerns over both the form and fitness of the Chelsea striker. However, it’s fair to say the 27-year old - another Brazil-born forward hoping to line-up in this fixture - is very much in shape and shining, ironically under former Azzurri boss Conte.
Costa has 6 goals and 2 assists to his name in the Premier League already this season, and as such may just have jumped ahead of Morata in the pecking order, who is still very much a rotation player at club level, though now back at Real Madrid rather than Juventus. The 23-year old has started just four of seven league appearances by comparison, amounting to 400 minutes of action, scoring just once back in August against Celta, although he did also net a crucial last gasp winner in Madrid’s Champions League victory over Sporting.
Further back there is also likely to be change from the summer, with a second consecutive early exit from major international tournaments certainly strengthening the case that it was very much needed. The likes of Thiago - who has began this season with Bayern in some style (7.97 league rating) - and Koke will surely be regulars in the months and years to come, while Sergi Roberto continues to impress in his new found role at right-back for Barcelona and Saul Niguez offers further encouragement for the future.
Indeed, while the two teams on Thursday may continue to be built upon familiar defensive foundations, a necessary new look is beginning to take shape further forwards and with strikers on song for both sides, the upcoming match in Turin promises to be a cracker.
Who do you think will come out on top when Italy host Spain on Thursday? Let us know in the comments below
