Former Italy and Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro has made a sad assessment of the Italian selection.
How far away the golden age of Italy seems. Eliminated in the first round of the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, but also absent from the 2018 and 2022 World Cups. Finalist, certainly, of Euro 2012 against Spain (4-0) and victorious in 2021 against England ( 1-1, tab 3-2), the Blue Squad nevertheless displays a declining level. Asked about this, the former glory of transalpine football, Fabio Cannavaro, took part in the analysis, listing the various weak points of the quadruple world champions.
“The truth is that we are no longer used to fast and physical football, Macedonia’s pressing put us on the ropes. We have little speed of execution and reflection, the result of a championship that has only improved thanks to foreigners,” thus judged the 2006 world champion for the Gazzetta Dello Sport.
“I can’t think of another elimination”
The Neapolitan believes that the final victory of the Italians during the previous European Championship is far from reflecting the real level of the transalpine team. “We won the European Championship only two years ago, but we didn’t dominate, we were good at always staying on the ropes. We have European players, but not many: Tonali, Barella, Bastoni, Locatelli, Raspadori, Chiesa, Frattesi and Donnarumma who is great even if he can’t concede a goal like that. But we are not part of the elite. France, England, Spain, who play the same technical football in their clubs, are decidedly superior. »
And the 49-year-old added: “It will take Spalletti’s healthy madness, the “artist’s madness” that he possesses, because he has little time. But we will go to the European Championships. Championship, I can’t think of another elimination.”
