re: Germany/Italy Match Thread (2 p.m. on ESPN2)

quote:

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I'm more convinced after watching this tourney that Giovinco was not chosen not because he wasn't good enough but because he didnt fit how Conte planned to play. He knew what Italy was and how he needed to play. It almost worked.

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You're absolutely right about Conte wanting to stick with the 3-5-2 and preferring forwards that fit the system best.


However, I really disagree about that necessarily affecting Giovinco.


What you're explaining is less why Giovinco didn't make the team because he did choose a number of attacking players that didn't really fit the 3-5-2 any better than Giovinco.

It explains why Conte left the most creative forward Italy had available, Lorenzo Insigne on the bench along with the most in-from stiker, El Sharaawy and the dynamic young winger Bernadeschi.

These players are way ahead of Giovinco and even if Conte had been choosing the roster to fit a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, some players like Franco Vazquez, Manolo Gabbiadini and Dominico Berardi could have been chosen over Giovinco as well.


Giovinco has had multiple chances over the years to impress with the Italian NT but has always struggled a bit against elite defenders just like he usually did against the top of the table sides in Serie A.