Time for a break, time for (first) assessments. The championship stops for the national teams and we take advantage of this to take stock with Robert Beccantini, historic signature of The print and, more generally, of Italian sports journalism. A long career spent in stadiums all over the world (nine World Cups, nine Olympics and eight European Championships) and in the palaces that count (he was a juror for the Golden Ball) has certainly not dented his passion for football, indeed the eye of the Head (as his fans call him on social media) is always attentive, as is his pen, rich, pungent and never banal.
Beccantini, lots of goals, lots of draws and the usual, inevitable surprises: what impression did the first three matchdays of the championship leave on you?
“August football is a vague indication: even more so with the market closed on the edge of the third day. By the way: an abomination. So, slowly forward: very slowly. Last season, Inter and Milan led with full points. Today, no “clear run” and four in the lead: Juventus, Inter, Toro, Udinese. In 2022, at 7, there were even six: Atalanta, Lazio, Milan, Napoli, Roma, Torino. We are normal”.
Let's start with reigning champions Inter: do you think they are still the favourites?
“Yes. Absolutely. Mature, grown up. In practice, Inzaghi can count on two teams. Here, in the context of smoky tracks, is the most solid foothold. Unless the burps from a full belly weigh down his march”.
Juventus has started a very expensive revolution: can it win right away?
“I don't think so. Allegri-bis hasn't managed it in three years, let's give Thiago time. In my grid, Juventus was and remains fourth. Net of the popular support for the new course”.
Insiders have high hopes for Napoli, but the first few games have shown several cracks: will Conte's presence be enough to be competitive at the highest levels?
“He lost clearly in Verona, liquidated Bologna and won a seat with Parma. But be careful: Conte is Conte; Napoli doesn't play cups; Lukaku immediately made a splash when he arrived. Not to mention the Osimhen case, finally resolved, and the arrival of McTominay, a type of attacking midfielder who intrigues me. In my predictions, Napoli remains second”.
Let's get to the bad news, so to Milan. Until a few weeks ago they were talked about as the anti-Inter par excellence, but then the matches arrived...
“I had placed him in third place, behind Inter and Napoli. Already seven points less. Fonseca's impact has not been the best. There is a lack of leaders in the squad (and, I fear, also in Ibra and his Camelot). There is a lack of balance, as documented by the goals: 5 scored, ordinary administration; 6 conceded, too many; and all, or almost, carbon copies. Positive impacts from Morata (aside from the injury), Pavlovic and the Roman pennies of Abraham. Clear agreements: Theo Hernandez and Leao are not champions, either they understand it or we must make them understand it. And they are not leaders”.
Roma, Lazio and Atalanta also started badly: where would you place them in a hypothetical grid?
“I agree. For the Goddess, three away games out of three; injuries; people coming and going; catchphrases (Koopmeiners, Lookman). In my 'lineup': Atalanta fifth, Roma sixth, Fiorentina seventh, Lazio eighth. Roma with Dybala's about-face, the addition of Dovbyk, the departure of Lukaku and Abraham; Lazio at the end of the cycle: out, after Milinkovic-Savic (in 2023), Felipe Anderson, Luis Alberto, Immobile. Above all Immobile. Open construction sites, in the capital (and not only). De Rossi and Baroni, serious people, do not delude themselves and do not delude. And woe betide anyone who neglects Vanoli's Granata: play, not just heart”.
Finally, a reflection on the National team. Spalletti took full responsibility for the European blunder, promising greater tactical clarity and less pressure: will it be enough to restart?
“I hope so, but I fear it won’t be enough. The players go out on the pitch. And it’s not as if we left out any Messi-types or Cristiano-types from the German expedition. No Italian was included in the list of 30 drawn up for the Ballon d’Or. This is us. The average between the European title of 2021 and the fiasco of 2024”.
