Italy (National Football)

Antonio Conte has started his tenure as Italy manager with two victories in impressive fashion, seeing off the Dutch in a friendly before claiming victory over Norway in their first Euro 2016 qualifier.

The squad for the 2-0 win in Oslo boasted seven players who weren't present at the FIFA World Cup 2014, signalling Conte's willingness to flex his options, and many of the fresh faces impressed.

The feeling in the Azzurri camp right now is resoundingly positive, with even Andrea Pirlo pledging another year or two to the international scene, per the Mirror, after categorically stating he would retire in his autobiography last year.

The common denominator is Conte; his impact, even in the short term, has been sizable to say the least. Even Andrea Ranocchia looked confident, with minimal shaky moments, on Tuesday evening as Italy's back line left Gianluigi Buffon kicking his heels in goal, bored.

"We've accomplished amazing things in only nine days. We need to improve, we need to get to know each other more, but overall I’m very happy," the new boss told reporters post-match (h/t VivoAzzurro.it).

"I don’t remember Buffon having to make a save. On the other hand, we created a lot of chances. I’m happy because my players showed that they’re willing to embrace my style of play."

His comments regarding the style were spot-on, and it helped that three Juventus (or former Juventus) players—Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci and Emanuele Giaccherini—were there to steer the ship in Juventino-esque fashion.

The movement, the ball circulation and the launching of attacks were the same. Bonucci's tendencies in the centre of defence were near-identical, and the goals were scored in a very familiar fashion.

This is a major positive for Conte, as stated, but it has to be viewed with a slight air of concern, too. Juventus, while dominant in Serie A in securing three straight Scudettos, fell flat on their faces in the UEFA Champions League year after year under his stewardship.

The 3-5-2 formation the Italians cultivated didn't stack up, and while Bayern Munich's demolition of Barcelona later on left Juve's aggregate 4-0 loss to the same side look rather decent in hindsight, it's telling that Conte tried to convert to a 4-3-3 to take on Real Madrid away from home the following season.

The Old Lady dominated familiar territory, but failed to tussle with the biggest and the baddest. Accusations that systemic shortcomings lie at fault are, in truth, well founded, and as impressive as Conte's been so far, and will continue to be, he's using the same 3-5-2 at international level.

Cesare Prandelli, his predecessor, found success with a similar system but his true strength was his ability to adapt formations. Conte never showed this in Turin, and it raises the question: Can the Azzurri take the next step in this shape?

The pressure's on given two consecutive World Cup group-stage eliminations, and the kudos Prandelli earned for reaching the final of Euro 2012 evaporated fairly quickly after the debacle in Brazil.

We're by no means tipping Conte to flop or Italy to fail, but this is a critical time for Italian football. The national side must rebound, and a strong international setup can be an effective way of masking the declining quality in Serie A.

If you dig a little deeper than Simone Zaza's glorious debut and Pirlo's return, there's an even more fascinating storyline to watch over the next two years.

Italy's 2-0 win away to Norway shows that they're ready to topple their Euro 2016 qualification group under recently hired coach Antonio Conte.

The Azzurri started their reign under their new coach with a 2-0 win in a friendly against the Netherlands, with the side looking more reinvigorated after the tactical switch at the helm.

The fact that Conte's side has looked so compact and organized despite the entire change at the top should be enough to instill doubt into its opponents. Any questions about Italy's desire at the 2014 World Cup have been erased by the new coach conveying his tenacity in the players.

Group H sees Italy face Croatia, Norway, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and Malta. With Italy fully expected to be the group favorites, it'll be a battle for the second spot in the group to claim a place in the next round of European tournament action.

Against Norway, Simone Zaza repaid Conte's confidence in him by striking early in the 16th minute. Even though his shot took a deflection on Havard Nordtveit, he was still in a prime position and reinforced his argument to be considered as one of Italy's starting strikers.

The dangerous opportunities in the first half mostly came from the forward runs of both wing-backs, whose overlapping runs made it difficult for Norway's back line to keep track. 

Conte's new Italy have solidity at the back, with aggressiveness in the pressing and plenty of intensity with the ball. The game is very direct and challenges the opposition's defence continuously throughout the course of the match.

It is essentially a mirror image of the Juventus side Conte was in charge of that went on a 49-match undefeated streak. The defence gives up little, and the midfield is overloaded to stifle the opposition's attempt to create a possession game.

Norway played slightly less defensively than was previously expected even though they were in front of their fans in Oslo. When they did venture out offensively, they gave Italy space to counter and create dangerous opportunities.

With a new coach in charge of Italy, there were thoughts that there would be initial rust as the players formed a new chemistry under a different system. However, a closer look will show that half the team is familiar with Conte's system from Juventus, and the new tactics fit perfectly.

It's a worrying sign for Italy's opposition in the group. Even though Croatia will be the toughest opponent, they're also coming off a poor World Cup campaign and have many questions about how to fully exploit their system under the coaching of the Kovac brothers.

Despite not having some of their most influential players, such as Andrea Pirlo, Antonio Conte showed that this Italy team has plenty of hunger and can succeed in perilous territory with a makeshift line-up using plenty of players who are inexperienced at the highest level.

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Italy's sudden and subdued exit at the 2014 World Cup seemed to herald the end of an era for the national team, with the likes of Andrea Pirlo set to retire and goalkeeper and captain Gigi Buffon, at 36 years of age, unlikely to feature at another finals.

Cesare Prandelli stepped down after Brazil 2014, with former Juventus manager Antonio Conte taking his place—and Conte was soon handed an early boost to his reign when playmaker Pirlo told him he would still be available, per ESPN FC.

While Italy no doubt have to make changes to reinstate themselves as challengers among European or world nations, there is still much that Pirlo can offer the team, and he should remain a focal point for Conte's Italy, just as he was for his Juve.

Euro 2016

Italy are in a six-team Group H for qualifying, with Croatia being their toughest opponents. With two automatic qualification spots in the group for Euro 2016, Italy should certainly be assured of making the finals without any trouble at all, though they will naturally be aiming for first place.

Norway and Bulgaria will pose trouble if taken lightly, though neither are anywhere near their former impressive levels, while Azerbaijan and Malta are the minnows of the group, both eminently beatable.

Italy begin away to Norway, face a tough three-game run of Croatia home, Bulgaria away, Croatia away in the middle and finish up at home to Norway. Injuries and form cannot be predicted, but it is a group which should allow Conte the freedom to ease new faces into the side, guided by the experience and proven ability of the likes of Pirlo, Daniele De Rossi and Giorgio Chiellini.

Central Midfield Shape

The idea for Italy's most recent past has been to field a 1-2 shape midfield, with wide players supporting the striker or strikers.

One holding, controlling player patrols the centre of the pitch in front of the back line, while two sit further ahead, offering passing ability and creativity, drive and pressing, depending on the formation of the rest of the team and the players being selected. 

In either case, Pirlo has a role to play: Few can utilise space and time on the ball as well as he from the controlling role, while De Rossi or Marco Verratti can perform similarly in both roles.

Those three players could, perhaps indeed should make up a talented regular midfield base for Conte to start building his team on—though Pirlo misses out through injury this time around. Claudio Marchisio seems likeliest to benefit early on, with Andrea Poli and Marco Parolo relative newcomers to the international scene by comparison.

Conte's Selections

In neither recent setup has a real No. 10 been chosen, with either wing-back supporting two up top—one of whom drops off naturally—or else wide forwards flanking a central No. 9.

Antonio Conte's initial squad seems to indicate that 4-3-3 is a realistic option to start with, given the number of wide options in attack he has chosen, but of course there will be the possibility to switch to 3-5-2 at a moment's notice.

Furthermore, the likes of Mario Balotelli, Giuseppe Rossi and Alessio Cerci are all missing from the first Conte-era squad, all attackers who offer a direct threat and good movement in the final third when in form—traits which the intelligence, awareness and execution on the ball Pirlo can provide would continue to exploit.

There is no reason to suggest Italy are in a period of such tremendous misfortune that they couldn't cope in midfield, and certainly much less if Pirlo was not to return. Indeed, if a top-class No. 10 player presented himself, there might be an argument for Pirlo to no longer be a starter...but Italy do not possess such a player at this time.

They can, however, still call upon Andrea Pirlo, and even at 35 years of age he will thus remain integral to the new building ideas of the new coach for Italy's upcoming tournament qualification campaign.

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