LYON, France — Quite simply, Italy thrive on being written off. The phrase ‘worst Italy squad in years’ was used myriad times in the build-up to Euro 2016 and it was a sentiment repeated when Antonio Conte’s starting XI to face Belgium was named.
“At least the defence is okay,” said one Italian journalist in the Stade de Lyon press box. He wasn’t wrong. Juventus’ tried-and-tested triumvirate of Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci were as magnificent wearing Azzurri as they have been all season, once again, in Bianconeri.
Repelling wave after wave of Belgium attack, notably in the second half, Italy’s collective unity was in sharp contrast to Belgium’s defence, a quartet of four centre-backs who rarely looked comfortable in each other’s company.
Defensive masterclasses are something we’ve long associated with Italy and it was fully expected that with Belgium’s embarrassment of riches going forward, Italian backs would be firmly forced against walls in this game.
That was certainly the case and as the Red Devils pushed for a goal, the Azzurri used every trick in the book, at least three cynical challenges immediately bringing Belgium to a halt in dangerous positions and all resulting in yellow cards. Italian pragmatism at its very best.
Faute de #Chiellini sur Hazard, alors ça c'est très tordu, mais bougrement intelligent.#ITA #Bel pic.twitter.com/0Yb1znE2Kw
— reda (@reda) June 13, 2016
While that was to be expected, the vibrant, counter-attacking football played by Antonio Conte’s side was certainly not. Antonio Candreva, Emanuele Giaccherini and Graziano Pelle demonstrating the sort of brilliance on the break that we were supposed to see from Messrs Hazard, De Bruyne and Lukaku.
Pelle’s superb last-minute volley, coming after substitute Ciro Immobile’s penetrating run left the Red Devils’ tiring defence for dead, was the culmination of a perfectly executed plan.
The first goal, too, demonstrated precision preparation. Anyone who has watched Belgium’s build-up games will have noted their centre-backs look shaky dealing with balls over the top. Mind you, few would have expected centre-back Bonucci to be the one who produced the pass – and what a delightful pass it was – that exploited that weakness.
Take a bow (cit.) @bonucci_leo19 pic.twitter.com/cwUwQGF2Pp
— Ex [Dep.vo LaCaroña] (@ExAuter) June 13, 2016
The press, the fans – we just haven’t learned our lesson. Italy won the 2006 World Cup when their domestic game was in disarray, they reached the Euro 2012 final when little was expected. Now, they have blitzed Belgium, one of the favourites for glory in France.
Italy look a unified team. Every member of the squad celebrated Pelle’s strike, Gianluigi Buffon even dragging his 38-year-old chassis the length of the pitch to congratulate his team-mate. And at the final whistle, the players ran towards the Azzurri fans, holding hands, to celebrate as if they’d lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy itself. Together.
Conte has been accustomed to success as both a player and coach with dominant Juventus sides. Now, with the odds seemingly stacked against him, he has produced a combative group built very much in his image, one that appears to have all the ingredients to disprove the doubters once again.
