Europhiles Notebook - Italy's Qualifying Campaign Snapshot

Forwards Italia!

A smooth qualifying campaign is not something Squadra Azzurri is known to do.  In fact, comfortable progression to a major tournament is rarely the Italian way. Past campaigns have all had the familiar mix of slow starts, creative atrophy and lethargic finishing coupled with player and managerial discontent in the shadow of press dissatisfaction. How fitting then, that after Italy’s worst ever showing at a World Cup, a complete overhaul ensued (another rarity on the peninsula) and one of the smoothest ever runs through a qualifying campaign has followed. Euro 2012 is still some distance away but Polkraine is in sight. Only a catastrophic meltdown over the remaining four games will see Italy miss out on automatic qualification from Group C.

Admittedly, the quality of the opposition has been somewhat lacking and while no one will be commending Italy for beating Faroe Islands 5-0, Italy have scored 11 goals from their five completed games and only conceded one. Contrast with previous shaky starts, where losses to Wales and France, draws at home to Lithuania and Yugoslavia as well as unconvincing wins over Georgia, Bulgaria and Cyprus have prompted both derision and disbelief.

Cesare Prandelli’s teams have so far displayed a brand of bold, fresh football. Italy have been confident in possession, clear in approach and comprehensive in delivery. An abandoned home game against biggest challengers Serbia was awarded 3-0 to them, but in truth Italy had a positive, assured mindset going into that match and would have probably won.

A whole host of newcomers have been given caps, with youngsters and fringe talent granted extended runs in the squad. Qualifying campaigns are treated with skeptical suspicion in Italy as the national team often does just enough to make it through while talent from smaller clubs have often felt disenfranchised. Prandelli has shrewdly eliminated both in one fell swoop by clearing the deadwood and bringing in fitter, hungrier replacements.

Seven different goal scorers have appeared on the score sheet, as a 0-0 draw away to Northern Ireland remains the only blot on their qualifying campaign.  Newcomers like Thiago Motta, who scored the winner away to Slovenia, goalkeepers Salvatore Sirigu and Emiliano Viviano have blended in splendidly with the recalled pair of Antonio Cassano and Giuseppe Rossi. Italy have the best defence in qualifying so far, with only one goal conceded - a remarkable achievement when you consider the brand new defence that has been used with three players making their debuts in 2010 or later and another three only totaling 20 caps between them.

All over, a younger generation has been let off the leash as Rossi is joined by Sebastian Giovinco, Andrea Ranocchia, Domenico Criscito, Ricardo Montolivo and Claudio Marchisio, in cementing their positions in the team. Italy will never be a team of youngsters but when the only player over 30 in the squad is veteran captain and goalkeeper Gig Buffon at 33, you know the future is young.  Further afield Davide Santon, Lorenzo Di Silvestri, Mario Baloteli and Leonardo Bonucci have featured sporadically with the latter even netting a goal at Estonia, as Italy has an enviable strength in depth.

Italy are not just heading in the right direction, they remain locked on target.  And on this form, should be contenders for a spot in the final at the Olympic Stadium in Kiev.