La National plays tonight, but it seems that few have noticed. In fact, less than ten thousand tickets have been sold for the match against Malta, at 20 pm at the Artemio Franchi in Florence. It's the fault of an opponent who doesn't warm hearts, the small national team that lies, with a mere little point, at the end of our group, but also the fault of a blue that seems increasingly faded.
The latest releases of our have weakened the Conte effect, that ephemeral wave of enthusiasm (or at least of curiosity) that had involved the people of stadium or living room coaches. A few draws too many (three in a row, in the group), plus the defeat in the friendly against Portugal, in the last outing.
And then a general feeling of a tired, orderly team (except for the crushing against Bulgaria), but devoid of charm. The charm of the number 10, a noble species that after a long flowering (a hereditary axis formed, roughly, by Baggio-Zola-Del Piero and Totti, not to go too far) seems to have now become extinct.
But the charm also of the centre-forward, the one called upon to slap her in relentlessly, giving back the only possible logic (that of the goal) to the maneuver of a national team historically attentive, first of all, not to take them.
And precisely the attack remains the weak point of this version of the Azzurri. The warning issued by Conte during the week ("Only those who are regulars in the clubs will play") is only an observation of the end of the Zaza-Immobile project with which the coach had started his cycle, and of the difficulty of finding a center forward to erect at the point of reference.
Tonight Graziano Pellè will play, the export centre-forward who made his fortune between Holland and England, after never having been a prophet in his homeland. At least he always plays for Southampton. On the other hand, the native Eder, protagonist of a great start to the championship, and one between Candreva and Gabbiadini should evolve on either side.
In front of Buffon the four line formed by Bonucci and Chiellini in the center, and Darmian and Pasqual on the sides, while in midfield, between Verratti and Bertolacci, the everlasting Pirlo, the first in blue after the start of his twilight experience in the States. To warm our lukewarm hearts we still need the Master.
