Italy-Croatia: a draw is enough. But if we lose, blue becomes darkness

Here we are, as if facing another apocalypse. A week ago, after the not irresistible success over Albania, it seemed that nobody could stop us any more. Croatia, a team of old warriors heading for retirement, we didn't give a damn.
Now, after the scorching fall with Spain, we are back to the old national vice: the whining and complaining with the first j'accuse that can turn into an avalanche: why doesn't tizio play? Why did Caius stay at home? Why don't we put the other one in instead of that one? Spalletti himself, seen as a granitic and enlightened leader up to now, no longer seems as granitic and enlightened as before.
Whispers that become cries. But does the coach really still let Di Lorenzo play? Does he really give Jorginho another chance? And Chiesa? Again? But did the doctor order it? And down everyone, hypothesising new graft, changes of module, tactical variations. As every time things go wrong for us, we all become professors, all technical commissars hypothesising the strangest solutions. The only difference, compared to the past, is that all these suggestions, both on TV and in the bars, are said in whispers, on the premise that Spalletti 'naturally has his finger on the pulse of the situation and therefore his decisions should be respected, but...'.
So many thoughs.

We cross our fingers hoping to pass the round. Tonight we have two out of three results at our disposal, a draw is enough to pass the round. Yet we are already starting to have our funeral before time. Croatia itself, which has taken three slaps from Spain, in just a few days we have transformed it into a group of formidable giants who will sell their skins dearly. Italy, which has only won once with the Croatians in a friendly in Genoa in 1942 (let's be fair...), on the other hand, has shrunk like a badly washed shirt. And thank goodness for Donnarumma, the good goalkeeper who saves us from the bad guys, otherwise we would no longer know which saint to vote for. Let's think about Scamacca: before this European Championship, in the Azzurri, he had only scored one goal out of eighteen matches. Not exactly Paolo Rossi. Yet he arrived in Germany accompanied by the general applause of the commentators. All agreed: here finally is a real centre forward! Other than Immobile, other than Belotti. After two blank matches, frankly disappointing but not only through no fault of his own, Scamacca has already been dumped. Gone, like an old bicycle left in the box to rust. Now the bomber going for the most is Retegui, a young man of good will, for goodness sake, but from here to get excited, it takes a lot. Maybe he will score three goals against the Croatians, but we'd better not mistake him for the Messiah.

In short, we have ended up in the usual Italian-style psychodrama. Either we are phenomena, set up according to the new liquid theories of modern football, or we are again donkeys good only to return to the old catenaccio. But why do we Italians always go overboard in football? In this European Championship, even the super favourites, England, France and yesterday Germany, have not always shone, on the contrary. The English, for example, got a modest draw against Denmark, which certainly does not do honour to a team that, with people like Bellingham, Foden, Saka and Harry Kane, costs as much as an aircraft carrier. And with that? Have English supporters gone into depression? We don't think so, perhaps they are more worried about Brexit. Yet they haven't won anything since 1966. France itself, with all its star players, has not impressed. A few highlights, but it needed an own goal to beat Austria. Yesterday, the Germans drew with Switzerland in extremis. Belgium and Portugal also started with the handbrake. No hysteria, though. Poor Lukaku had three goals cancelled out for ridiculous offsides. What is Big Rom supposed to do? Shoot himself in the head? Scream conspiracy?

The truth, going back to Italy, is that we do not want to face reality: the reality is that our football, not club football, is now modest. For years we have not been producing talent as Spain, England, France, Holland and even Germany do. In 2021 we won the European Championship, of course, but it was the last act of a generation on its twilight path. It was no coincidence that Mancini fled to Arabia. Spalletti then took over a team that had fallen apart. With patience he rebuilt it, but without the outstanding players we had in the past. Our league, so stuffed with foreigners, no longer nurtures young talent in key roles. And it shows. Inter in attack has Lautaro. Milan had Giroud. Juventus' bomber is Vlahovic. Roma relies on Lukaku and Dybala. Napoli has Osimhen. Then we have to rely on Scamacca and Retegui in front. In midfield the only one with real European weight is Barella. We had Tonali, but we lost him for the well-known reasons. So our flagship is Donnarumma, but it's never a good sign when the goalkeeper is always the best. We have a problem: that of a football that is getting poorer and not only because of debts, but we continue to pretend nothing is wrong hoping to find the star that had accompanied us in 1982 with Bearzot and in 2006 with Lippi.

So first to delude ourselves and then to feel sorry for ourselves is useless. Twice in a row we have been excluded from the World Cup. Evidently for some reason. Although there is probably a better Italy than the one seen with Spain. However, much more grit and determination is needed. You can be less good, but still play. Don't play the part of the sheep resigned to sacrifice. Already this attitude, and not those frightened faces the Azzurri had, would help. As the saying goes? He who has no head has legs. And those who do not have good feet, let them at least feel them in the contrasts. And finally, starting with Spalletti, a little more cheerfulness wouldn't hurt. A smile helps. Even in winning.