[Thunderball]

Despite being an Italian fan, and actually liking the way they play (when they do it well), I'll do my best to give a balanced post-mortem.

What went wrong? In a word, everything. Specifically, the coach was wrong, the selections were wrong, there were critical injuries, the starting 11s were baffling at times, Toni was isolated, and yet, when he was given good service, managed to squander that too.

What went wrong today? Again, nothing. This was the absolute best that group could muster with the current leadership. They certainly did try to get to the PKs, because they did not have the horses to win in regulation. They expected Buffon to bail them out of superior Spanish spot kickers. Casillas isn't a better goalie... he didn't face the quality of shooters Buffon did. Grosso and Camoranesi were the only two I felt worthy of being in a shootout situation, and lo and behold, they made it look easy. The excuse that Pirlo wasn't there doesn't hold water. If you play for a shootout, don't take Cassano off, don't sub him out with Di Natale, and don't keep chaff like Ambrosini around.

Why did it look so bad? The system was/is outdated. The hardnosed tactical counterattack requires several very key components that are either worn out with age, or are not compatible with the Italian system. When its played properly, its actually quite entertaining. Firstly, the Italian system requires 2 elite and experienced CBs. Italy had one potentially elite CB in Chiellini (in his first international tourney) and a bunch of junk that can't crack a decent club lineup. Mistake #1. The system also requires elite wingbacks capable of running the field, creating opportunities and playing relatively error-free football. Zambrotta is not that player anymore, he is increasingly error prone. Grosso is still, but even he is 30, and time is ticking away. The mistake here is not so much fielding these two, but failing to bring in youthful depth, such as Pasqual or even De Ceglie. The next crucial piece to the Italian system is a "trequartista", essentially, a shallow-lying AM. This player is the lynchpin to the Italian attack. Totti was this player in WC2006 and has since retired from international play. There are only two players on Italy that come close to this skillset... Pirlo and Camoranesi... but they are not playmaking forwards by any means. To compensate, they tried three things, and all were terrible ideas. 1. They played Pirlo as a deep-lying midfielder, which he is not... he needs the freedom to play the whole field and unleash his great passes... essentially, he's a better Beckham. 2. They tried to play Camoranesi as a wing-forward, which he's not. 3. They made Toni the lone focal point, with the other strikers asked to play wide. The result is simply firing garbage at him expecting to turn it into gold... even midtable Serie A clubs don't pull that crap. To make matters worse, he was not sharp at all.

The Bad News: This team is at the end of its term... they are old. Cannavaro will be 36 in 2010. Zambrotta, Grosso, Pirlo, Del Piero, Toni, Camoranesi, Panucci, Ambrosini and Gattuso will all be retired or even more past their prime. As well, there are no obvious candidates to partner Chiellini at CB, to take Grosso and Zambrotta's spots at wingback, or to be that elusive trequartista. They are playing ugly football because they don't have the right players to play that system right. The forwards, while individually talented do not fit in this team.

The Good News: The bright spots of this team were primarily young. De Rossi, Chiellini, Aquilani and Cassano had decent tournaments and still have much to give. As well, if Italy replaces its moron coach, the U23 and U21 teams are loaded with excellent talent. Cannavaro might be spry enough to partner Chiellini and solve the CB problem. There are some quality unproven youngsters like Pasqual and De Ceglie to take the wingback positions, and there is a brilliant 20 year old prospect by the name of Sebastian Giovinco, who has the potential to be the next Totti. Gigi Buffon is still one of the three best keepers in the world, regardless who you ask... and goalies have a long shelf life. Also, Carvalho Amauri got his Italian passport, and at 27, is the clear replacement for Luca Toni. He is a quicker and more mobile version... and also happens to be Brazillian by birth. As well, rumblings from the Italian press say that the escape clause on Donadoni's contract will be used, and WC winning coach Marcello Lippi is eager to come back with two great assistant coaches, one rumored to be either current U21 coach Pierluigi Casiraghi or his assistant, Gianfranco Zola.

Its always darkest before the dawn, and its certainly been a black tournament for Italy.