Why Italian football is now thriving
Italian football is in a good place right now, with several teams challenging Juventus for the title on the domestic front and the national team having a clear identity under Robert Mancini.
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The latter hadn’t been a problem for Italy for a long time, in fairness. Historically, the Azzurri were built on a solid defence, boasting tactically astute, ruthless players who could grind out wins – usually without conceding a goal.