Roberto Mancini Tactics For Italy 2018 – Tactical Analysis

It was dubbed a disaster and a catastrophe.

Some called it the apocalypse.

After Italy missed their first World Cup in 60 years, something had to change.

Out went Giampiero Ventura, and his chosen replacement is former Manchester City and Inter manager, Roberto Mancini.

Mancini started work in May with a win over Saudi Arabia, a loss against France, and a draw against the Netherlands.

As the UEFA Nations League has now started with games against Poland and Portugal, Italy once again underachieved.

Our tactical analysis examines how Mancini sets up the team and some of the issues he has already faced.

Italys Nations League Struggles  A Quick Round-Up

As mentioned above, Italy need something to believe in again after the failure to reach the FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Unfortunately for Mancinis men, they failed to provide this hope in the games against Poland and Portugal.

In the first game in Bologna against Poland, Italy struggled in the first half.

It went a goal down in the first period when Chelsea midfielder Jorginho was dispossessed, allowing Poland to counter-attack.

Italy came out better in the second half and managed to salvage a draw thanks to a Jorginho penalty after the winger Federico Chiesa had come on and won the spot-kick.

In the second game, away against Portugal, Mancini made changes to all but two players, with only Gianluigi Donnarumma and Jorginho retaining their places in the starting eleven.

He also changed the formation from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2.

Portugal were the better team throughout and edged the game 1-0 after AC Milan flop Andre Silva scored the only goal of the game.

Mancini made changes to both players and tactics between the two games.

The Poland game featured a 4-3-3 formation, with Donnarumma in goal, Davide Zappacosta, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, and Cristiano Biraghi in defense, a midfield trio of Lorenzo Pellegrini, Jorginho, and Roberto Gagliardini, and a front three of Federico Bernardeschi, Mario Balotelli, and Lorenzo Insigne.

Against Portugal, Mancini set up in a 4-4-2 with Donnarumma in goal, Manuel Lazzari, Mattia Caldara, Alessio Romagnoli, and Domenico Criscito in defense, Chiesa, Jorginho, Bryan Cristante, and Giacomo Bonaventura in midfield, with a front two of Simone Zaza and Ciro Immobile.

Roberto Mancini Formation

Mancini used a 4-3-3 in his first three games in charge and stuck with the shape for the clash with Poland.

They had a nice positional structure in possession, with the wingers and full-backs starting at full width, while Jorginho, at the base of midfield, dropped to help Bonucci and Chiellini with ball progression.

The more advanced central midfielders moved higher and looked to find space behind Polands midfield.

You can see their attacking shape below.

The shape provided them with natural triangles and good passing angles across the pitch as Italy attempted to build attacks from the back.

Jorginho would always position himself behind Polands first line of pressure (where Polands second striker often marked him), which gave Bonucci and Chiellini lots of space against Robert Lewandowski to build the play.

Italys passing was quite good in this game, and despite the draw, I saw some promising signs in their attacking play.

One of the patterns that was increasingly visible was the movement and combinations of the two wingers, Insigne and Bernardeschi.

Im a big fan of both, and Bernardeschi, in particular, is an extremely underrated and very clever player.

With the left-footed Bernardeschi on the right and the right-footed Insigne on the left it was expected to see them move in towards the centre as often as possible.

They did this in a very structured was, however.

The scene below is a good example.

Insigne (yellow) has kept the width on the right until the ball is about to enter the final third.

This is the time when left-back Biraghi (white) can provide the same level of high width.

Insigne can then move into the half-space and look to get on the ball between the lines.

As you see on the opposite side, Bernardeschi (black) maintains his width.

This pattern resembled the one when Italy attacked on the right.

Bernardeschi would then move inside when Zappacosta provided high width, and Insigne would then remain wide on the opposite side.

This approach provided Italy with good coverage of the entire pitch in their attacking play, which had been severely lacking against Portugal.

Defensively, Italy looked to press Poland high up the pitch.

Mario Balotelli would lead the press and get