Italy finally going to the World Cup without a #10 headache

May 15th, 2010 | by: francesco | View Comments

Italy has always been known to produce some of the best creative players in the world. We’re talking about the #10 players, the players that can change games at any instant, the players that are worth the whole ticket price. In Italy, this player is called the “fantasista” (literally one that creates fantasy). Because of Italy’s traditional defensive mindset, years ago there was only room for one creative player on the field, and with usually two of these players on the roster, the whole debate would commence as to who would start and who would ride the pine. There have been many of these debates throughout the years.

You could go all the way back to the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, where Italy had two of the best creative players the peninsula has ever produced on the roster: Sandro Mazzola and Gianni Rivera. Italy manager Ferruccio Valcareggi believed that Rivera and Mazzola could not play together on the field, creating the famous “staffetta” (the Italian term for relay race). While fans had their opinions about the situation (favoring Mazzola, favoring Rivera, or wanting Valcareggi to field both and create a Brazilian-style attack), Valcareggi’s staffetta solution meant that Sandro Mazzola would play the first 45 minutes and then at half-time Gianni Rivera would take his place and play the second 45 minutes. Italy reached the final with this method, but they lost to Brazil 4-0.

In more modern times, Italy has still always had this problem about fielding only one creative player. At the 1990 World Cup, Italy manager Azeglio Vicini had the following dilemma: Sampdoria striker Gianluca Vialli, who was expected to have a great tournament, or the young emerging Roberto Baggio, who had just been transferred to Juventus and was highly talented. After two disappointing games from Vialli, Baggio took over and showed all his talent, leading Italy to third place (even if Vicini started Vialli over Baggio in the semi-final).

At the 1994 World Cup in the United States, although both Roberto Baggio and Gianfranco Zola were on the roster, there were no arguments as to who the starter would be. Baggio was in the form of his life and lead Italy to the final and Zola was the understudy.

Fast forward 4 years to France ‘98 and we encounter one of the national team’s biggest debates: Baggio or Del Piero? Roberto Baggio had arguably the best season of his life, scoring 22 goals for Bologna and finishing top scorer of Serie A. Alessandro Del Piero was the emerging star of Italian football and seen by many to be Baggio’s heir. He also had a great season, scoring 32 goals in all competitions, playing a Champions League final, and winning the Scudetto. However an injury late in the season hindered his form. Although Baggio started the first two matches (because of Del Piero’s injury struggles), after that manager Cesare Maldini chose Del Piero. The Juventus striker failed to shine and could never get going, meanwhile an in-form Roberto Baggio was left to wither on the bench.

And then to conclude, 2002 and 2006, the era of Totti-Del Piero. As Francesco Totti emerged onto the international stage at Euro 2000, the new debate of #10’s began with Totti vs. Del Piero. At the 2002 World Cup, manager Giovanni Trapattoni firmly chose Totti. He made it well known that Totti was Italy’s leader up front and a lot of the weight was on his shoulders. Totti even took the #10 kit from Del Piero. Totti started all 3 group games, and Del Piero subbed in late for him in 2 of them, even scoring a late goal vs. Mexico. In the Round of 16 game vs. South Korea, Trapattoni finally did what passed Italy managers failed to do: play both players at the same time. Totti and Del Piero were on the field at the same time in dream trident with Christian Vieri. It was working, as Italy were winning the match, but then in the 61st minute Trap decided to go defensive and take off Del Piero. We know how it went from there.

Four years ago at the 2006 World Cup, it was again Totti-Del Piero. Totti recovered amazingly from his serious injury and Lippi decided to bring him to the World Cup. He was out of form, but Lippi couldn’t deny his sublime technique. Lippi chose Totti. Totti started all three group games, and Del Piero made sub appearances in the first two. In the Round of 16, Lippi dropped Totti and decided to field a trident of Del Piero-Toni-Gilardino. The game was 0-0 and late on Lippi subbed off Del Piero for Totti. Totti came in, provided the pass to Grosso that caused the penalty kick, and finished it to put Italy through. From then on out it was Totti all the way, although Del Piero got his chances to shine (scoring vs. Germany and scoring a penalty vs. France).

Now we come to 2010. Marcello Lippi recently named his 30-man preliminary roster for the World Cup. If you search the roster for a name like Totti or Del Piero, they aren’t there. Neither is Italy’s other great fantasista, Antonio Cassano. Only two traditional number #10 type players are on the roster: Andrea Cossu and Antonio Di Natale. Cagliari’s Andrea Cossu is a unpredictable player that has excellent technique, but most probably he won’t make the final cut. Which leaves one: Antonio Di Natale. The Udinese captain has had the season of his life, scoring 28 goals so far in Serie A and leading Udinese from the relegation basement to safety. Although he has played 31 times for Italy and scored 9 goals, Di Natale has never really replicated his club form with the national side. Sure he has been brilliant in some games, but his national team performance record is very inconsistent. And yet, Lippi is putting faith the 32 year old Neapolitan to be Italy’s talisman this summer. With no real other fantasisti on the roster besides Giuseppe Rossi, who is 1) more of a striker 2) we don’t even know if he’s making the cut, Antonio Di Natale is Italy’s lone creative player in the attacking department. There are no national debates or arguments this year, it’s either Di Natale or no Di Natale. It’s a big weight to carry, and if Lippi had brought another creative player like Totti I think it would be easier on Di Natale. If Totti was even used as a sub, at least we know that if Di Natale is having an off day Lippi could throw on Totti and see if he can create something. But now Italy has Di Natale with no back-up. As an Italy fan, I hope he continues his club form in South Africa this summer, but his Azzurri record makes me believe otherwise. Time will only tell, but one thing is for certain, no headaches for Lippi this summer with journalists constantly asking him which player is going to play.

For more on Italy and the World Cup, check out Julian and Paul’s Italy World Cup Blog.