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Antonio Conte Answering His Critics, but Questions Remain for Italy
Published: June 19, 2016
The Azzurri were without two of their best midfielders due to injury, and their forward line was a hodgepodge of journeymen and youngsters unproven at international level.
The overall talent level of the final squad was considered one of the worst in the country's history, and the imminent departure of manager Antonio Conte, bound for Chelsea next season, was expected to be a distraction.
Even though they possessed what was probably the stoutest defence in the tournament, they were expected by many to be the big flop of the competition. In a group that contained a major pre-tournament favourite in Belgium and a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-led Sweden team, some even expected them to crash out at the group stage for the third time in their last four major tournaments.
With two rounds of play in Group E now complete, the script has certainly been flipped.
Conte was roundly criticized in the week before the tournament for keeping players like Eder and Emanuele Giaccherini on the final roster, leaving younger players like Jorginho at home and not even considering players like Domenico Berardi for the preliminary roster.
The fact that the No. 10 shirt went to Thiago Motta only made the howling louder. The re-emergence of his old standby, the 3-5-2, renewed talk of him being tactically inflexible.
But so far, Conte has defied his critics. Some of the most controversial inclusions on his roster have made some of the most important contributions. His tactics, considered by some to not be viable for the modern international game, have held up. Italy have some very plain weaknesses, but the team that was expected to struggle to get out of the group have won it with a game to spare.
We'll start with the positives, and in doing that, the defence must be me...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football
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