For the national team comes the revolution. Antonio Conte will be the new coach of Italy. This was announced by the new FIGC president Carlo Tavecchio who will present it to the press next Tuesday. Conte will earn 3,6 million a year for two seasons, but more than half of the salary will be paid by a pool of sponsors, among which the German Puma stands out. Basically he will earn like at Juve, infinitely less than what Fabio Capello pockets on the Russia bench.
“Italy – declared a radiant Tavecchio – needs a leader and Conte is the right person”.
With Conte everything will change: the methods of work and preparation (plus internships and continuous contacts with the clubs) and the formation of the national team. The Juve block will be confirmed on the pitch but with the inclusion of the most promising young players (from Verratti to Darmian and De Sciglio, from Berardi to Destro and Florenzi).
Balotelli, who has never impressed Conte, will be reconvened but also downsized: after the flop of the Brazilian Mundial he will no longer be the point of reference for the attack and will have to earn his place.
In reality Conte, who won't stick to just one formation but will vary between 3-5-2 and 4-3-3 depending on the circumstances, already has the formation in his head and will reflect his usual convictions. In defense he will rely on the Juve block with captain Buffon in goal, Bonucci and Chiellini in the central positions flanked by Inter's Ranocchia whom the new coach has esteemed since the days in which he coached Bari. I decide.
In midfield the playmaker will again be Andrea Pirlo, happy to retrace his steps and return to the national team after the Brazilian disappointment. De Rossi and Verratti (or Marchisio) will play alongside Pirlo. On the wings there will be Darmian and De Sciglio, with the possible additions of Florenzi or Giaccarini.
Wide forward for Destro and, if he's OK, for Pepito Rossi. Balotelli will be in the match but, as has been said, he will not start as owner. There will also be space for Immobile but above all for promising young players such as Berardi and Gabbiadini.
Conte will also bring his staff (Alessio, Carrera and Bertelli) with him, he will also coordinate the youth teams (taking Arrigo Sacchi's place) and will immediately get to work in view of the first official appointments in September. The qualifiers for the 2016 European Championships are upon us. But it couldn't have started better for the bench. Good luck, dear Conte.
