Italy will forever rue the day Antonio Conte took a phone call from Stamford Bridge. Every passionate celebration and animated instruction from a Chelsea touchline will remind Azzurri fans of what their side lacked in their failed World Cup qualification.
The San Siro was too quiet for the final 30 minutes of Italy’s World Cup qualifier against Sweden. The impending history smothered the fans’ voices while Sweden’s tightly-packed defence did the same to Italy’s attempts at an equalizer. The team needed a goal to keep their hopes alive, and two to rescue their pride. But what the Azzurri needed was a shot of passion, a shout and a spark from the touchline that would jolt the side and stadium back to life. Unfortunately for Italy, the man to do that is no longer there. He left for Chelsea after Euro 2016.
Giampiero Ventura, who left the San Siro as Italy’s former manager, was conspicuously silent throughout the match. His side, like most, reflected his style. They were tense, tentative and vulnerable to the mood of the fans. None of those are immediately damning. The lack of fire, though, is.
A national team manager’s job is primarily to organize and motivate. This is especially the case when the team is experienced as individuals, as a side and as winners. Italy had six starters aged 30 or over, three of whom won the World Cup in 2006.
Antonio Conte, with his inimitable will and passion, could take the manager’s role a step further. He implemented his fluid “chameleon” style of play. Conte had the advantage of knowing many of the players from his Juventus squad. They were familiar with his tactics and his temperament. His ability motivate and strategize went hand-in-hand, and the team played the way he lived and coached.
Giampiero Ventura did not bring such relationships to the Italy job. Worse, he had neither the tactical vision nor the inspiration to create something distinct and successful on the pitch. For much of the World Cup qualifying process Italy looked like they were playing just to qualify. By the end, they were playing to avoid missing out. Playing to avoid a negative rarely if ever produces a truly positive outcome.
Ventura’s only mark on the Azzurri was being the first Italian to miss the World Cup in 60 years. Italy needed the levels of emotion that Antonio Conte exudes every day. In the absence of that training ground and touchline fire, the first emotional moment of the night was Gianluigi Buffon’s tearful apology and retirement interview.
Antonio Conte’s Chelsea resembles his Italy side more than his Italy side resembles what the squad became under Ventura. No one can ever accuse Conte of apathy or tepidness. Chelsea fans – let alone Roman Abramovich – should watch and hear Antonio Conte with an extra level of appreciation after what happened at the San Siro.
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The fans can return the favour by keeping the noise up at Stamford Bridge or wherever they follow the men in Blue. Abramovich can do his part by ensuring Conte has what he needs to succeed and stay at Chelsea.