Italy (National Football)

It wasn't a surprise that the Italian football federation (FIGC) pursued Antonio Conte to coach the Italian national team when Carlo Tavecchio was confirmed as the organization's president.  What was a mild surprise is that Conte accepted the position.

It is, of course, a risky move from Conte's standpoint.  Anything less than a run to the semifinals or beyond in Euro 2016 would be considered a failure and potentially set Conte's career at the club level back a few years.  It's an equally risky move for FIGC.  At a time when they need to sell the Azzurri to the public more than ever before, their choice is a man who has been divisive in the past.

In the end, though, Conte is far and away the ideal choice for the Azzurri.

From a purely tactical standpoint, Conte is one of the best young managers in the world.  His ability to select the formation and tactics that best suit the players he has available to him was the key to his stunning success at Juventus and at lower levels.  Remember, Conte got two clubs promoted to the top flight before he arrived at Juventus.

Some of Conte's detractors criticized him for tactical inflexibility toward the end of his tenure in Turin.  It's a shortsighted observation.  The 3-5-2 that turned Juve into a machine was, in fact, the end of a months-long tactical evolution.

Conte arrived at Juventus as a disciple of the unorthodox 4-2-4 formation.  It was that formation that he used to get Bari and Siena into Serie A.  But in the weeks after hiring Conte, Giuseppe Marotta bought Arturo Vidal from Bayer Leverkusen and signed Andrea Pirlo on a free transfer.  The 4-2-4 would not suit these talented new buys.  Conte had to adapt.

That adaptation took the form of a 4-3-3.  With Vidal and Claudio Marchisio flanking Pirlo, the Bianconeri midfield suddenly turned into one of the best in the world.  They even garnered their own name—MVP.

But Juve's strong start to 2011-12 masked a major shortcoming at left-back.  Conte tried Paolo De Ceglie and then slid Giorgio Chiellini to the position he started his career in.  Nothing worked.

The 3-5-2, which Walter Mazzarri was using to great effect at Napoli, offered a solution.  Conte had no left-back but three top-quality center-backs.  The shift to the 3-5-2 masked a big weakness in the back and emphasized a major strength.

It wasn't without speed bumps.  The extra midfielders initially crowded Pirlo's space, and Stephan Lichtsteiner took a while to adapt to life as a wing-back.  Conte even had to shift back to the 4-3-3 to work out the kinks at Vinovo.  But when it was perfect, he unleashed it on the rest of the Serie A and reaped the rewards.

As the formation's weaknesses were exposed in European competition, many clamored for Conte to change tactics back to a 4-3-3.  While he experimented with it twice against Real Madrid in last year's Champions League, he stuck with the 3-5-2 for almost the entire season.  His reason?  It simply fit his squad—which was bereft of true wingers and still lacked a left-back—better than any other.

Of course, as Italy boss he will face no such restriction.  The entire Italian player pool will be at his disposal, and he will be able to chose the players to use whatever set of tactics he sees fit.

Of special interest should be the double regista system that Cesare Prandelli stumbled upon in preparation for the World Cup.  When it was established that Pirlo and Marco Verratti could play at the same time without adversely affecting each other, defenses were suddenly deprived of the option to man-mark Pirlo.  If they did, Verratti would cut them to ribbons.  In this space before the World Cup, it was even posited that the new system could—if handled properly—propel Italy all the way to a fifth star.

Prandelli, of course, didn't handle it correctly.  After a good showing against England, things went south.  Verratti didn't play against Costa Rica, and Claudio Marchisio's red card changed the match against Uruguay.  Prandelli panicked, and the double regista system wasn't able to reach its full potential.

Conte, who told La Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Football Italia) that he would like to keep Pirlo in the national team for matches that mean something, has the tactical chops to develop this budding setup.  Pirlo would likely only carry on for another two years after rescinding his international retirement, but if Conte is able to take the double regista to the nth degree, it could do big things at the Euros.

Another major benefit to Conte as manager is the mentality he imparts to his players.

The Juventus of the Conte era were renowned for their grinta.  When the team fell behind, it stayed focused and fought its way back.  When inferior teams parked the bus and dared the Bianconeri to break them down, the team ground out three points.

Prandelli's teams played excellent soccer and changed the identity of the national team. But when things didn't go as planned, they sometimes failed to win ugly.

More often than not, Juve was able to win ugly when the situation called for it.  Take the team's March 16 contest against Genoa.  The game was smack in the middle of the team's Europa League round of 16 tie against Fiorentina and proceeded dully for 88 scoreless minutes.  But in the 89th minute, Pirlo dropped a perfect free kick into Mattia Perin's goal, taking home three points and ensuring that only a colossal collapse would deprive them of the scudetto.

It's that type of game that Italy needed against Costa Rica or Uruguay this year, and the type of game that they didn't play.

As said before, the move has risks for FIGC as well as Conte.  For the first time since 1966, Italy has failed to reach the knockout stages in successive World Cups.  The federation needs to sell the team in a way that it hasn't had to in the past.  Conte, who is famously gruff with the media, is at first glance an unlikely salesman.

It doesn't help that he became a symbol as captain and then coach for Juventus, often considered the most divisive team in Italy.  You either love the Bianconeri or you hate them.  Will those who fall into the latter camp accept Conte as readily as another candidate?

Victories will certainly help things along in that regard, as will the patriotism that comes with wanting the national team to succeed.  It's also valid to point out that since 1998 all but one manager of the Azzurri has either played for or coached Juve, and none of them suffered public rejection until the product on the field went sour.

As time passes, Conte's passion for the job will probably win over some of his detractors.  There will be those who will be against him to the end, but they should be the minority, vocal as some might get.

In the end, Conte was the best candidate to take the Italy job.  His tactical awareness, mentality, and the relationship he has with the team's Juventus core are all major points in his favor.  He also represents an infusion of youth in the manager's office that has been needed for a while now.  Time will tell if he can bring Italy silverware.  But there is no doubt that he is capable of doing so, and that he is the best man for the job.

The strained relationship between Antonio Conte and Juventus proved to be a boon for the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), who on Thursday handed the 45-year-old the reins to its national team following the exit of Cesare Prandelli.

According to Eurosport, Conte has agreed a two-year contract with the FIGC that will make him the third highest-paid manager at the international level, with only Fabio Capello and Roy Hodgson earning more than his €4.2 million annually.

Kit manufacturer PUMA will contribute more than half of Conte's salary—an unusual piece of business that demonstrates just how vital the Italian football hierarchy thought his appointment to be.

"He has shown he is the best in Italy and one of the best in Europe," remarked former Juventus and Italy striker Fabrizio Ravanelli in an interview with TuttoMercatoWeb.com, as relayed by Football Italia.

"This is a dark moment and he is the best choice possible."

It was only last month that Conte blindsided the Bianconeri with his sudden resignation, and in announcing his decision, he seemed to hint at a row over transfer policy at the club.

"It may be more difficult to keep winning with Juventus," he said at the time, as per Goal.

But winning was all he did in Turin, where his three seasons yielded three Serie A titles as he helped Juventus climb out of the hole they had dug for themselves during the "Calciopoli" period.

He'll now be expected to mastermind a similar revival with Italy, who crashed out of the 2014 World Cup at the group stage.

"He won three league titles in great style in Italy and I think the decision is very apt," stated legendary Azzurri goalkeeper Dino Zoff, according to Football Italia.

"I don't know what he can bring that is new. The squad of players is quite restricted, but I think he is capable of producing a competitive Italy soon."

Given that Euro 2016 qualifying is set to begin in less than a month, Conte will have little time to make his preparations, to tinker.

Not that Conte has ever been one for excessive experimentation.

After arriving at Juventus, he quickly determined which players he trusted and which players he didn't, and during his tenure at the club, his team selections rarely went beyond his comfort zone.

In other words, he can be expected to make quick decisions regarding the players at his disposal. Trust, perhaps more than anything else, is a Conte managerial hallmark.

Of course, his teams will also be efficient with the ball and easy on the eye.

"Antonio Conte is the best for whoever loves football," added Ravanelli. "There is no one better for anyone who supports the Nazionale."

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Former Juventus boss Antonio Conte is set to take over as manager of the Italian national team, replacing Cesare Prandelli, who stepped away after the World Cup.  

Italy confirmed the hire on Thursday via its Twitter account:

Sky Sports News reported on Conte's contract with the team:

James Horncastle shared when Conte would be introduced:

The Daily Mail originally reported that the sides reached an agreement after speculation linking him to the job picked up steam following his departure from the Vecchia Signora:

Conte, who was a longtime midfielder for Juventus before returning to coach the side, also played for Italy during his career (20 appearances, two goals). Now the Italian Football Federation is hoping he can help revitalize the national team.

He hasn't discussed his situation much since stepping down. The Guardian noted one thing he did mention, which alluded to being able to maintain success with the club. "It may be more difficult to keep winning with Juventus," he said.

Now he'll get a chance to take on a new challenge.

The Azzurri won the World Cup in 2006 but have been knocked out in the group stage in each of the past two FIFA showcases. Their only notable results since that triumph eight years ago were a second-place finish in Euro 2012 and coming in third at last year's Confederations Cup.

Given the amount of talent in the national team pool during those cycles, better results were certainly expected from both the federation and the team's supporters.

So they turn to the 45-year-old boss to bring some of his magic to the equation. He enjoyed immense domestic success with Juventus, highlighted by three straight Serie A titles.

WhoScored passed along an impressive stat to further illustrate the club's dominance during his reign:

Horncastle notes he's expected to assume a hands-on approach with the national team:

Juventus was filled with members of the Italian national team, so that should make the transition for Conte a bit easier. A key task right away is sorting through which veterans are staying on for another World Cup cycle.

Italy is a side with a lot of experienced players but also a strong pipeline of young talent. Finding the right players to fit his system, which will likely continue to revolve around the 3-5-2 formation, is going to take some time.

Success at the club level doesn't always guarantee similar results at the international level. That said, it's hard to imagine Italy finding a better option for the next four years and potentially beyond.

Antonio Conte's resignation as Juventus manager comes at a perfect time. The Italy job is still vacant following former boss Cesare Prandelli stepping down, and the FIGC would be wise to hire Conte as the coach of the national team as he possesses all the attributes required.  

Conte's future with Juve has been in the news for a while. The 44-year-old was considering his future back in May. Eventually the manager stuck around, but didn't sign a contract extension past 2015.

Now's the time for the Italian FA to pull the trigger and appoint Conte as the new manager. If anyone can deliver the culture change that some have called for, it's him.

One of the major issues during the 2014 World Cup was all of the reported unrest within the squad. Antonio Cassano and Mario Balotelli were the two that were allegedly causing those issues. Conte has been able to balance egos and cut any of that nonsense out of his team.

Conte is also a manager that players love because of his passion and attention to detail. Carlos Tevez has likened the former Juve captain to Sir Alex Ferguson, via ESPN FC.

I think he's already on the same level [as Ferguson]. 

He's not lacking anything. He shows that in every game and in every competition he's involved in. He's a top, top coach.

Andrea Pirlo also praised Conte in his autobiography, I Think Therefore I Play, quoted in Gazzetta dello Sport, via Football Italia.

I have dealt with many coaches in my career. Conte is the one who surprised me the most. He needed just one speech, with many simple words, to conquer both me and Juventus. We arrived together on the Planet Juventus.

He presented himself to us on the first day of pre-season training in the gym at Bardonecchia. He already had fire running through his veins and moved like a viper. ‘This squad, dear lads, is coming off two consecutive seventh-place finishes. It’s crazy. Shocking. I am not here for this, so it’s time to stop being crap.

If Arrigo Sacchi was a genius, then what is he? I expected him to be great, but not that great. I thought of a coach with a lot of grit and charisma, but instead I discovered he has much to teach his colleagues in terms of tactics and technique.

Going back, there is one thing I wouldn’t do again—choose the locker right next to Gigi Buffon at the Juventus Stadium, the one in front of the door.

“It is the most dangerous spot in Turin, especially at half-time. Conte storms in and—even when we are winning—throws anything he can get his hands on towards the wall, which is my spot. He’ll throw anything he can find, almost always plastic bottles full of water. Very fizzy water.

He becomes a beast and is never happy, as there is always some detail that isn’t perfect and he can see in advance what could happen over the next 45 minutes.

One time we were losing to Milan and he couldn’t get over it. ‘Against them! I can’t understand how we can’t be beating them! They even play badly.'

If Pirlo holds Conte in that high regard, then certainly every other member of the Azzurri will follow. 

The only issue is Conte's tactics. Some questioned his lack of success in the Champions League, citing his 3-5-2 system as the problem. However, when he arrived at Juve, there were strong rumors of Conte using a 4-2-4. He eventually changed that to a 4-3-3, then the 3-5-2.

Italians won't have to worry about tactical naivete from Conte. If he's been able to change on the fly at Juventus, he'll do the same to get the best out of the Nazionale. 

Conte will be able to change the culture and instill some grit back into the Azzurri squad, something they desperately need. Tactically, he's a lot more flexible than Roberto Mancini or other potential candidates as well.

If the players want to operate under Conte, then it would be a smart decision to hire him. They'll give it their all to win. It's the manager's obsession. If his team isn't doing enough to be successful, Conte will make the necessary changes.  

The question that remains is if Conte would be willing to manage a national team right now. He's in his mid-40s, which is still very young in coaching terms. If a big club comes calling, like Monaco and PSG have done in the past, Conte might pass on Italy.

It still wouldn't hurt to try and pursue Conte, especially with someone of his pedigree available on the market.

Roberto Mancini has not always been ready to serve his country. As a player, he brought his own international career to a premature end, telling Arrigo Sacchi not to select him for the 1994 World Cup (as referenced in this contemporaneous report from Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera).

Tired of playing second fiddle to Roberto Baggio, Mancini’s patience had finally snapped during a friendly against Germany in March of that year. For once, the Divine Ponytail was not present, meaning Mancini got to play from the start. But instead of being given a full 90 minutes, he was replaced by Gianfranco Zola at half-time. 

Looking back now, Mancini regrets his decision to walk away. He told Italian football website Storie Di Calcio that he feels no bitterness toward Sacchi, blaming himself for being the sort of character who required absolute backing from his coaches. In an interview with newspaper Corriere dello Sport this week, Mancini added that he would do things differently if he had his time again (quotes in Italian).

Asked in the same conversation whether he would be interested in succeeding Cesare Prandelli as Italy manager, Mancini responded in the affirmative. He said that he was proud to be linked with the vacancy but stressed that he had not been contacted so far by the Italian Football Federation. 

That is no surprise. After all, it was not just Prandelli but also the Federation’s president, Giancarlo Abete, who resigned in the wake of Italy’s group-stage exit from Brazil. The governing body will hold an election to find the latter’s replacement on 11 August. It is unlikely that any manager will be appointed before that date.

None of which has stopped the press from speculating. Gazzetta dello Sport named Mancini, Massimiliano Allegri, Francesco Guidolin, Luciano Spalletti and Alberto Zaccheroni as the most likely candidates for the job. A poll of their readers found that more than half wanted the former Manchester City boss. 

Mancini’s popularity is easy enough to understand. His is by far the most impressive managerial CV amongst that group, featuring three Serie A titles and one Premier League title—not to mention a combined six domestic cup triumphs between Italy, England and Turkey. 

His respect for supporters is also appreciated. Mancini famously purchased a full-page advert in the Manchester Evening News after he was sacked by City, thanking  the club’s fans for "three unforgettable years”. They responded by raising £7,000 to purchase an advert in Gazzetta dello Sport to say “Grazie” in return. 

But popularity alone does not qualify a manager for such a high-profile job. Is Mancini the right man to succeed Prandelli? What might he do differently to his predecessor?

On the surface, there are plenty of similarities between the two. Both are tactically versatile, Mancini varying his formations at Manchester City at first between a 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 before eventually experimenting with a three-man defence—just as Prandelli did with Italy.

Both have tended to rely on full-backs to provide width for their teams. Perhaps in Prandelli’s case that was simple pragmatism. Toward the end of his tenure at Fiorentina, he had Juan Vargas and Marco Marchionni hugging the flanks up front, but for a variety of historical reasons, Italy have tended not to produce true wingers.

Mancini endorsed at least one part of Prandelli’s World Cup strategy during his aforementioned interview with Corriere dello Sport, saying that he too would select Andrea Pirlo and Gigi Buffon if he were picking an Italy side today.

He was less forthcoming on the subject of which parts of the team he might change. Although he did highlight the potential of young players like Marco Verratti and Ciro Immobile, it is only fair to point out that both started Prandelli’s final game in charge against Uruguay.

And if there is one concern about Mancini’s candidacy, it is that he would not appear to be any better qualified than his predecessor to handle Italy’s greatest conundrum: Mario Balotelli. The manager was reported by the Manchester Evening News to have been involved in a training-ground scuffle with the striker toward the end of his tenure at City, having previously struggled to get the best from the player. 

Balotelli’s misadventures in Manchester were well-documented, from bathroom fireworks to needless red cards against Arsenal and Dynamo Kiev. There were high points, too, not least the assist he provided on Sergio Aguero’s title-winning goal in 2012, but it speaks volumes that the Premier League club should eventually sell him to Milan for less than they had paid to acquire him two years previously. 

Italy might not need to rely on Balotelli in future as they have over the last four years. The emergence of not only Immobile but also Mattia Destro, Domenico Berardi, Lorenzo Insigne and Simone Zaza will give the next manager more options than Prandelli enjoyed for much of his tenure. A healthy Giuseppe Rossi and Stephan El Shaarawy could also go a long way to improving this side.

But Mancini still comes with red flags. His poor record in European competition is troubling, suggesting that he lacks the tactical nous to outwit the world’s very best coaches. He was also reported to have lost the support of his players long before he was sacked at City, with the Telegraph’s Mark Ogden writing that “the manager had no remaining allies on the playing staff by the time he lost his job.” 

Then again, Mancini had already led the team to its first league title in 44 years by that point. Prandelli, for all the good will he generated with a brilliant run to the final of Euro 2012, never won a trophy with Italy. Indeed, his most prestigious piece of managerial silverware remains the Serie B title he won with Verona in 1999. 

It is also true that Prandelli has never managed a team with resources like City’s. He will relish the opportunity he has now to achieve domestic success in Turkey with Galatasaray. But Mancini is ready for his shot at something bigger. He is not a perfect candidate, but he might just be the right man for the job. 

Last week, my Bleacher Report colleague Anthony Lopopolo published a list of five players Italy should drop heading into qualification for Euro 2016.  Among those players was goalkeeper and captain Gianluigi Buffon.

The argument had less to do with ineffectiveness on Buffon's part and more with the fact that it may simply be time for the guard to change.  No. 2 keeper Salvatore Sirigu proved in the opener against England that he can handle high-profile international duty.  Buffon is 36 years old, and injuries have always been a part of his career.  It may just be time.

It's not the worst of arguments.  I, however, believe that the argument for keeping Buffon around is stronger.

The first thing to think about when considering Buffon's future is that he can still play.  He was strong in the two games he did play in the World Cup.  Squawka.com recorded that over his first two starts he was successful on 100 percent of his punch attempts and on 90 percent of his distribution efforts from the box.  Indeed, he only misfired on six passes in the entire tournament.

A look at game tape for Juventus over the last three years shows just how well Buffon's game has held up.  Add to that the one major unmeasurable that has always separated him from his peers—his unparalleled ability to keep the defense in front of him organized—and it's clear that he's still one of the best goalkeepers in the game and more than worthy of Italy's No. 1 shirt.

Also to be considered is the fact that Sirigu is not the lone representative of Italy's future between the sticks.

If he were, making the transition to him now would be the smart move.  Unfortunately for Sirigu, one of the most promising goalkeeping generations in Italian history is coming up in his rear-view mirror.

Simone Scuffet, Nicola Leali, Francesco Bardi and Mattia Perin all have the potential to be Italy's starter once they've fully developed.

Bardi has been capped at the U21 level 26 times and was the starter for the Azzurrini at the U21 European Championships in Israel last summer.  

Scuffet broke out at Udinese this season after keeping six clean sheets in 16 games as an 18-year-old.

Leali's performance at Brescia in 2012 provoked a bidding war that was won by Juventus, who currently intend for him to replace Buffon when he hangs up his gloves at Vinovo.

Perin has dazzled the last few years at Pescara and with parent club Genoa, attracting the interest of clubs like Arsenal and Italian giants AC Milan.  He was rewarded for his excellence with a place on the World Cup roster.  His first cap is only a matter of time—and if he keeps progressing, the No. 1 shirt will likely follow.

It is sad that Sirigu, who will be 31 by the time the next World Cup rolls around, may get caught between a long-lasting legend ahead and a promising youth movement behind.  The Sardinian has been at PSG since 2011.  

The French champions are flush with cash, and if they thought they could spend to get a better keeper, they would.  The fact that he's still the starter there speaks volumes about how highly he's regarded.

But unless injuries or an abrupt visit from Father Time intervene between now and the Euros in France, Buffon remains Italy's best option.  He is still in top physical shape.  The intangibles he brings to the table are immense.  

On the field his ability to organize his defense plays a huge role in the team's success.  Off the field his experience and leadership as captain will be valuable to a team that will soon be transitioning to a younger generation.  

On the whole Italian goalkeepers just tend to age well—just look at Buffon's fellow Juve legend Dino Zoff.

Sirigu is by no means unworthy, but Buffon is still one of the best in the world.  Until something changes, Italy is still best served with him in goal.