The two coaches returning from the European title with the Under 19 and from the world final with the Under 20 were promoted. The project is to make the youth teams a direct source of the senior national team
The project now exists: Nunziata coach of the Under 21, Bollini as Mancini’s assistant, Lombardo hijacked in the Azzurrini staff, Viscidi still coordinator of the youth team. To clarify the new role of Evani, no longer number two of Mancio. The positions of Barzagli and Gagliardi are being defined, and they have already been contacted to return to the Azzurri. The choice of the head of delegation is more complicated, waiting for Buffon, the favourite, to decide his future. This is the federal project. The next few hours will be essential to put all the pieces in place and thus set up the work of the national teams, increasingly connected to each other, with a very specific objective: the 2026 World Cup in Canada-Mexico-United States. Forbidden to fail.
the two candidates
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The most complicated thing was the choice of the new Under 21 coach after the farewell to Nicolato. There were two strong candidates. Both with all the qualifications to aspire to the position. Carmine Nunziata, 56 years old on Saturday, managed to lead the Under 20 team to the world final (lost against Uruguay). We had never gone beyond that for third place. A surprising, offensive Italy, with notable individuals such as Casadei (top scorer of the tournament), Baldanzi, Pafundi, Prati, Desplanches… A few days later, Alberto Bollini, 57, led the Under 19 team in another final phase, which ended with a triumph against favorite Portugal who had defeated us 5-1 in the group. The reaction of character is beautiful, the attacking game is excellent, and here too cover singles: Hasa, Kayodè, Dellavalle, Faticanti, Ndour, Vignato. And so what?
the choice
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Mancini and the president Gravina evaluated the situation at length, with the collaboration of Viscidi, coordinator of the youth teams, and Vladovich, manager of Club Italia. In the end, Nunziata is chosen: former assistant to Mangia in 2012, and deputy to Di Biagio from 2013 to 2017, he will have to qualify for Euro 2025 in Slovakia. But the position proposed to Bollini will be just as prestigious: Mancio’s deputy in the national team. The coach had already wanted him alongside in the final phase of the Nations in Holland to get to know him and evaluate his work on the staff.
the project
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Nunziata and Bollini will effectively work for the national team of the future. Because the new federal project envisages that the U21s and U20s (who will now welcome the U19 champions) are the direct reservoir of the national team and play with the tactical system of the greats. Mancini will be the supervisor, he will suggest names, he will propose transfers. If a young man – one name above all, Casadei – were ready, he would skip all the categories. As it was with Mancio from day one, from Zaniolo to Pafundi. But now it will be a rule, not a practice. With Nicolato – informed before the European Championship that the contract would not be renewed – it had been impossible to harmonize the national teams. The speech is linked to Gravina’s proposal to UEFA for a reform of the Under 21 European Championship: the FIGC president would like to bring forward the date of birth of those who participate in a two-year cycle by one year. It would be a synthesis between U20 and U21, understandable given that today we reach the final phase at 23, not really “young”.
the other roles
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The domino effect will involve several federal roles. In Mancini’s staff, with Bollini as assistant, plus Nuciari and Salsano, Gagliardi, the former match analyst, could be added. The move of Attilio Lombardo to the Under 21 with Nunziata is almost certain. The future of Evani, until yesterday Mancio’s deputy, is still uncertain: he had been offered a position in the women’s national team. Barzagli could arrive in the national team. Confirmed supervisor of the Viscidi youth team who has set up a now indispensable job of scouting and evaluating young people, in view of the exact times of insertion in the various national teams. Then we will talk about the head of delegation, a role held in the past by sacred monsters such as Riva and Vialli. If Buffon says no to Saudi Arabia, it will most likely be his turn. Otherwise everything to be redone.
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