idk how they managed to not qualify but goddamnit they pulled it off. well done Ventura.

Giovinco laughing up in the 6 rn.

and LOL.

This is kinda like USA missing qualification. In Olympic basketball.

>This is kinda like USA missing qualification. In Olympic
>basketball.

yesterday was Jorginho first cap for italy in a competitive match. this for the best DM in Serie A...right.

second, this dork coach really thought it was a good idea to put on De Rossi when you need a goal, rather than Insigne. and De Rossi even tried to get the coach to put Insigne in
http://www.goal.com/en/news/i-thought-it-was-better-to-send-on-insigne-de-rossi-explains/1iihfklgglz9m1e23ojr93016y

especially those playoff games. Talk about having no plan B. Actually did they have a plan A? Making Sweden look like 2006 Italy, smh

I'm sad because Italy is always a plus for a WC/Euro IMO, at least on a prestige-level, but one look at that squad doesn't bode well for the next few years

Apparently FIFA hadn't managed to sell the WC rights for Italy yet. Broadcasters knew this was coming?

>I'm sad because Italy is always a plus for a WC/Euro IMO, at
>least on a prestige-level, but one look at that squad doesn't
>bode well for the next few years

If they take this as the come-to-Jesus moment that the Mannschaft had in the early aughts and start building a future around players like Bellotti, Bernadeschi, Pellegrini, and Rugani, then this too can pass. There's a really nice wave of young Italian talent coming up, probably the best they've seen since the 90's.

>
>>I'm sad because Italy is always a plus for a WC/Euro IMO, at
>>least on a prestige-level, but one look at that squad
>doesn't
>>bode well for the next few years
>
>If they take this as the come-to-Jesus moment that the
>Mannschaft had in the early aughts and start building a future
>around players like Bellotti, Bernadeschi, Pellegrini, and
>Rugani, then this too can pass. There's a really nice wave of
>young Italian talent coming up, probably the best they've seen
>since the 90's.

the frenchies that I know are schadenfreude about this one, a couple even more so than about the dutch failing to qualify.

if nightripper still posted here, I know what he what he would write.

This is unequivocally great

Belotti is a potentially transcendent star and they not only don't build a team getting him the ball but leave him on the bench for a must-score, must-win world cup qualifier. All because he plays at Torino. Or this team is lacking a creative, dynamic forward option in the wake of Totti, so you still refuse to even look at Giovinco because he plays in MLS? Stupid, they deserve what their stubborn federation gets.

"2 of the best 3 teams in the world", "possibly the teams who will meet in next summer's WC final"

https://imgtc.com/w/Z4pkivs

https://www.clippituser.tv/c/gldbrv

Two of the world's most arrogant countries watching this shit from home.

quote me

It won't even be a GoD
they're so trash they'll lose to some no-name squad,
a WC regular (please let it be Mexico even though I hate them)
and they'll get 3 points from Iran or some shit

i dont know enough to make a proclamation about the WC itself but it's crazy to see where they are now versus where they were three years ago. they are lucky to be alive, literally, but they haven't played like it.

it's a shame chile got squeezed out. i think of the SoAm teams brazil obviously is playing at a real high level. colombia could have a run in them but they need all their core guys fit at the same time, something that they haven't had yet. falcao looks great. james and cuadrado just good at times. if they have 2014 cuadrado and 2014 james with 2017 falcao, they can wreck shit. probably they will fizzle out early though.

like yeah theyre not playing well but they have a squad that could make it happen if they lock in for a month.

but its argentina so i expect a lot of easy clutch misses.

i wish they could figure out a way to get dybala and messi to play well together.

USA, Italy, Netherlands, Chile, Ireland, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Wales, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Togo, Ghana, Algeria, China, New Zealand...

That sounds pathetic AF but vaguely interesting

FOH, trying to make some UCL/Europa League shit