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Domenech, Donadoni have plenty to answer for
Comments (2)
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 | 11:48 AM ET
I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of Raymond Domenech or Roberto Donadoni right now.
Both coaches have plenty to answer for after their respective teams stumbled through their opening games at Euro 2008.
First, Domenech and France.
I doubt he'd be willing to admit it, but you just know Domenech must be regretting his decision to omit David Trezeguet from his squad for this tournament after the French were held to a 0-0 draw by Romania.
With Thierry Henry out injured, Domenech paired Nicolas Anelka up front with Karim Benzema and the duo struggled to get a shot on net.
The problem, as I see it, is that they're too similar in style. Benzema would have benefited from playing alongside Trezeguet, who could have acted as a perfect foil for the Lyon star, holding up the ball and bringing him into the play.
Trezeguet is also France's third all-time leading scorer with 34 goals (only Henry and Michel Platini have more goals for Les Blues) so he should have been one of the first players Domenech selected for Euro duty.
But, alas, Domenech snubbed Trezeguet because of some petty dispute over the Juventus star missing a meaningless friendly. Instead of calling up Trezeguet, who was the second-leading scorer in Serie A last season with 20 goals, he picked the inexperienced Bafetimbi Gomis.
Well done, monsieur!
As for Donadoni, what was he thinking in starting Marco Materazzi?
The Inter Milan defender had a strong 2006 World Cup campaign (although he had the benefit of playing alongside Fabio Cannavaro), but it doesn't hide the fact he's a defensive liability.
Materazzi is a plodding and uncultured thug who shouldn’t even been named to the Italian squad, let alone take up a spot in the starting lineup. Without Cannavaro there to baby sit and watch over him, Materazzi was cruelly exposed as a second-rate defender in the Netherlands' 3-0 victory over the Azzurri.
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John F. Molinaro is a reporter for CBC Sport Online whose chief love is international soccer. John served as senior editor of Sports Online's Euro 2004 website, which helped him win a CBC.ca Award of Excellence, and was the driving force behind our coverage of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He holds an honours BA in sociology from York University and a print journalism diploma from Sheridan College, and is also the author of The Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of All Time (Stewart House, 2002).
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Comments (2)
hillbilly cat
toronto
I have a comment about Mr. Donadoni. The coach of a national team has the prime responsibility to select the best players available and allow them to play in their 'natural' positions.
Here, Donadoni clearly failed. No doubt, the loss of Cannavaro, capitan and strongest defender, had a detrimental impact on the Azzurri. However, there is no shortage of good defenders in Italy. Why he chose to start Materazzi is anybody's guess, when you consider he had just a mediocre year, in which he missed a chunk because of an
injury(ies). Grosso on the bench ? After the the success in 2006,with Grosso as
left-back, why would the coach want to change that ? Other questions can be raised about the mid-fielders: I don't know why Gattuso is even chosen to the national team, let alone starting for it. I do admire his determination and hard-work, but at the international level more is needed, namely exquisite skills. Same applies to Camoranesi. Play midfielders who are creative, and offer 'fantasia'.
I don't want to be an 'armchair' critic, but if I was Itay's coach, I wouldn't mess with success. Take the team that won in 2006 and just refine it: add a little here, drop a little there.
Italy produces amazing footballers. Set aside popularity and politics and whatever else, and the let the finest players shine.
And, oh yeah, play like you want to win. Bring some joy to the game. Score some goals and then put up the 'chain', or catennacio.
With such a wealth of good strikers, scoring goals should be a priority for Italy. Because your best defence is a good offence.
Italia, play the beautiful game that is bred in your bones. Make us all smile.
Posted June 11, 2008 01:30 PM
Pietro
Hillbilly cat...
Gattuso is the heart and soul of the National team. He is the ONLY one on the pitch that does any work.
Posted June 12, 2008 08:35 AM