Opinion: Italy bow out but with heads held high

Italy exited the tournament after losing to Germany 6-5 on penalties in the Euro 2016 quarter-finals

While all the buzz surrounded Germany reaching their sixth successive Euro semi-final and continue their pursuit of becoming only the third team in history to follow up a World Cup win with a Euro triumph, it was the men clad in blue who won hearts on Saturday.

The tears flowing down Italy skipper Gianluigi Buffon’s eyes at the end of the match not only spelled an end of an era for the 2006 World Cup winner but it also marked the new direction the Azzurri would be taking as manager Antonio Conte will now turn his attention towards the maimed Chelsea

PHOTO: AFP

While everyone had known that Italy, infuriatingly defensive throughout their campaign, would attempt to suffocate Germany, no one could have predicted that they would be able to make such a cagey affair surprisingly enjoyable.



Italy, for all their shortcomings, managed to achieve something that very few teams in the world have the guts to do — stand tall in front of this current crop of Germans. While it may seem surprising, but throughout the game it were the Italians who were in complete control. It was they who dictated play and it was on their tunes that the Germans danced.

Joachim Low’s men, who are used to making others dance on their tunes rather than the other way around, were visibly frustrated by it and tried everything they could think of to break the Italians, but failed on every attempt.

The only point where Italy were actually out-witted was when Mario Gomez fed a sublime pass to Jonas Hector which led to the opening goal of the match. Apart from that pass, Italy’s back-line had predicted and dealt with almost every shot, pass or piece of trickery the Germans had tried to conjure.



Such was the perfection of the execution of Conte’s plan that as soon as Italy conceded the goal, they went in a frenzy, pressed and outplayed the Germans and successfully broke them within the next 13 minutes when Jerome Boateng’s comical handling of the ball forced the referee to award the Azzurri a penalty and subsequently the equaliser.

And once Italy had gotten level, they went back in their Spartan-like shell and fended off the Germans for the remainder of normal and extra-time.

PHOTO: AFP

When penalties came, it was all to play for and Italy, who have a real poor record when it comes to penalties, luckily had more than once chance to extend their domination over the Germans in major tournaments to nine games. But they failed to take advantage of the opportunities that came their way and in the end Hector fired the Germans into the semi-final after Matteo Darmian, one of the four Italians who failed to convert their penalties, had previously seen his effort saved by Manuel Neuer.

The lack of experience this Italian side had was on show on Saturday. The Azzurri certainly seemed to be affected by the exodus of the golden generation of Italians who had mesmerised the world of football in the past decade. But despite having a relatively mediocre squad, Conte still managed to get the most out of them and that is highly commendable.

The ‘parking the bus’ strategy, while highly detrimental for the long-term future of the sport, has now become part of modern football and despite it being highly infuriating for those who love the free-flowing style of play, it is one of the most efficient tactics which many managers are adopting nowadays and Conte is no different.

PHOTO: AFP

He understood his strengths and weaknesses and knew the best way to use them. For that he commands respect. And for the players who, despite not being the best in the world, carried out his plan to the letter, they also deserve all the plaudits they could get.

Certainly not many would have expected Conte to win the Euros with this squad. Even Conte would have known in his heart that he cannot guide this team farther than this, therefore for all it is worth, this entire campaign was one commendable display of grit and determination from the Italians.

They certainly did bow out of the competition but they did that in trademark Italian fashion; with style.