Former Italy coach Arrigo Sacchi has asked England manager, Gareth Southgate to shoulder the responsibility for the team’s inability to win Euro 2020.
In an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sacchi said that the Three Lions would have been crowned champions if the manager had stuck to his pressing game.
He queried the decision of Southgate to have copied Italy’s defensive pattern of play after England scored early in the final.
He said; “The English copied us: they scored a goal and then everyone back defending, just like those teams who are still faithful to Rappan, who invented Catenaccio last Century,” wrote Sacchi in La Gazzetta dello Sport.
“Perhaps (Gareth) Southgate thought he was playing against an Italian team that only knows how to defend and counter.”
“Starting a defender, Kieran Trippier instead of Bukayo Saka, already said so much about Southgate’s tactics, as evidently he didn’t know much about the ideas of his colleague Roberto Mancini.
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“We had feared the English would try to copy the performances of Austria and Spain, based on pressing, which had caused problems for the Azzurri.
“Thank you to (Roberto) Mancini, who gave the Nazionale a style of attacking football in a difficult moment for our sport. I hope the Italy masterpiece can give enthusiasm and set the example for Italian coaches to renew and evolve their ideas.
“Their ability to be protagonists on the field, their collaboration and the football ideas that guide and illuminate them increased their courage, understanding and personality.”
2 Comments
Sacchi talking about the usefulness of the high press system. It works. A team that is good at pressing high up the pitch is a nightmare to play against. Look at how Bayern Munich used high press to neutralize Barcelona’s tiki taka.
Very true @ Pompei. What I observed during the Euro, was the evidence of Pep Guardiola football philosophy of high energy, high press, keeping possession to wear opposition down, closing up opponents and winning balls quickly to regain possession etc amongst the top teams, England inclusive. You have to have a team of extremely fit and quality players to play that way. Nigeria ala SE should start to get into that frame of mind.