And now the fear is real. To fail to access the World Cup 59 years after the last (and so far only) time, to definitively close a cycle, to come to terms with what, numbers in hand, would be one of the biggest failures (if not the most great) of our football history. The defeat in Stockholm (1-0, goal by Johansson with decisive deflection by De Rossi in the 61st minute) forces us to deal with the specter of not qualifying for the World Cup, something unthinkable not only at the beginning of the Ventura cycle but even up until a couple of days ago, before coming to terms with Andersson's Sweden, but above all with our limits. It's those, in addition to a good dose of bad luck (own goal, but also sensational post by Darmian) and an at least questionable refereeing (ask Bonucci, nose broken by an elbow from Toivonen, to ask), that led us to lose this game and to force us to appeal not only to the San Siro audience but also to the saint himself. In fact, it no longer makes much sense to rely on tactics and technique: our (alleged) superiority over the Swedes has not been seen, but above all we have lacked courage and this, on balance, is the most frightening aspect .
Because on Monday, beyond a Milan completely dressed in blue and ready to do its part (already 70 tickets sold, we are almost sold out), it would be useful to put on the plate the greater experience of some elements in competitions from in or out, otherwise it's going to be really tough. The script has already been glimpsed in yesterday's final 20 minutes: Sweden perched to defend, without however renouncing that physicality (to the point of intimidation) which evidently inhibited the Azzurri. The viewfinder, needless to say, is all focused on Ventura: it would be up to him to load the team properly, as well as send it onto the field with ideas and a proper formation. Yesterday's 3-5-2 didn't scratch Andersson's team at all and it's hard to think that in three days who knows what "genius" could emerge. Let's say it out loud: Insigne can't be seen on the bench and the coach knows this too, but in general, however, it can't be just one man who changes things but a whole system of play, which moreover will be deprived of someone like Verratti (disqualified ). "San Siro will have to take us by the hand" sighed Ventura after the match, as if he were speaking to himself and not to all of Italy. However, on Monday the public will not be enough: it will take the will to win but above all the courage to do it. Otherwise the Azzurri will write one of the blackest pages in their history and the coach will be forced to change jobs, or even emigrate.
