Fabio Capello claims the goalscoring records of Tammy Abraham and Romelu Lukaku in Serie A were signs that Italy’s World Cup humiliation was on the cards.
Italy won last summer’s European Championships, but that success largely papered over the gaping cracks which have been exposed during Italy’s attempts to qualify for Qatar 2022.
A defeat against North Macedonia in last night’s play-off put the final nail in Italy’s hopes of joining the world’s elite international sides in November, but Capello says the warning signs have been there for a while.
The former England manager pointed to the success Chelsea strikers, past and present, have enjoyed in recent years and also told Italian managers they had become obsessed with trying to emulate Guardiola’s pattern.
‘Italian football has imitated Guardiola for 15 years,’ Capello told Sky Sport Italia.
‘There were no vertical passes or physical strength, there is no habit to making challenges. On the other hand, we should follow Jurgen Klopp’s playing style.
‘The only ones doing that in Italy are Atalanta and look at their results. Vincenzo Italiano is trying something similar, same as Alexander Blessin at Genoa who is offering even something more than Klopp. The German way is the model to follow, we don’t have the technique to look at the Spanish one.’
‘There is a high pace in European competition and we are not accustomed to it,’ the ex-coach continued.
‘There are not enough young Italian players, but there is a wrong idea at its base. We are the country of the back pass to the goalkeeper.
‘Victor Osimhen, Romelu Lukaku and Tammy Abraham were just normal strikers abroad. They became champions in Italy. This should raise some questions.
‘Sometimes, I am surprised to read some stats. ‘That player made 45 passes…’ Ok, but how many were key passes? How many of those passes were useful?’
