European Football Championship 2008 - The Euro-Files - Italy

National coaches are used to getting flak over their squad selections. But Roberto Donadoni’s continued refusal to select in-form national icon Alessandro Del Piero has astonished even the coach’s son Andrea. “Del Piero should have been called up,” Donadoni Jr told Gazzetta dello Sport. “With Juve he is playing at a very high level.”

The good news – for Roberto – is that his son did agree with his other controversial decision: not to select the turbulent genius that is Antonio Cassano.

A nation expects

Such debates are proof that Donadoni is one coach who doesn’t have to worry about the depth of his squad. The Azzurri have only won the European Championship once back in 1968. But this summer, the very minimum the nation – and the Italian FA – expects is to emerge unscathed from the Group of Death and to reach the semi-finals.

Although Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta have both retired from international duty, Donadoni has, if anything, even more talent at his disposal than Marcello Lippi did when Italy won the 2006 World Cup. He has used that talent well, encouraging the players to be flexible enough tactically for him to switch between 4-4-2, 4-5-1 and 4-3-3 during a game.

In goal, Donadoni has relied upon Gianluigi Buffon. The Juventus keeper, ranked the tenth best in Europe on the Castrol Performance Index (with 1882 points), is not on vintage form at the moment. He wasn’t selected against Portugal – AS Livorno keeper Marco Amelia was drafted in – but most Italians expect him to be back on top of his game come the summer.

Unusually charitable

The defence is still marshalled by Fabio Cannavaro. The Real Madrid star is not in the commanding form that won him the 2006 FIFA world player of the year award – one blogger recently asked how he could be the best defender in Italy and the worst in la Liga – but according to the Castrol Performance Index, he is still the highest-rated Italian defender in Europe (17th, with 1098 points). Alongside Cannavaro, Donadoni has tended to call on the underrated Marco Materazzi, Massimo Oddo, Fabio Grosso and Gianluca Zambrotta.

By their standards, Italy were unusually charitable at the back in their qualifying group, shipping nine goals and only keeping five clean sheets in 12 games. Donadoni, a perfectionist, will want the defence to tighten up against France and the Netherlands.

The midfield revolves around the axis of Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo, with AS Roma starlet Daniele de Rossi finally making his mark. Pirlo is a consummate distributor of the ball, perhaps the finest passer in football today, and is ranked the seventh-best midfielder in Europe with 1372 points.

Late developer

Upfront Donadoni has an embarrassment of riches. Castrol Performance Index number one Luca Toni (4058 points), has often led the line with Antonio Di Natale, ranked No3 (2885 points). In qualifying, Toni scored five goals in six games and the late-developing striker has been in equally rich form for FC Bayern München.

But whether Del Piero and Cassano are selected or not, the Azzurri can also call on Filippo Inzaghi, new boy Marco Borriello (Genoa CFC’s in-form striker is the top Italian goalscorer in Serie A this season) and Udinese’s Fabio Quagliarella, who scored Italy’s third in the recent friendly with Portugal.

Right now, Italy look like strong favourites. But the burden of expectation is immense. Many talented Azzurri squads have come undone in the build-up to major tournaments, distracted by their frenzied media, and disappointed in the finals. The run-up to Euro 2008 may pose as many challenges for Donadoni as the tournament itself.

For more news on the European Football Championship 2008 please visit http://www.castrolindex.com

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