Sunday, April 5, 2020

Preparations of a Host (or Defending Champion)-Part Two (Italy 1988/90)-Part a (Fall 1988)


Azeglio Vicini was appointed as Italy Manager in the aftermath of the 1986 World Cup and the reign of Enzo Bearzot. Vicini had been in the National Team set-up for many years. He had been Assistant to Bearzot and the Manager of the Under-21 squad. His task was to rejuvenate an Italian squad that had stagnated since the 1982 World Cup triumph. His long-term goal was to prepare a team for the 1990 World Cup that Italy were to host.
However, the immediate objective was the 1988 Euros and he would use the qualifiers as well as the Finals to mold a team in line for the 1990 primary objective.


Photo From: Soccer International, Volume 1, Issue 2, February 1990
(Azeglio Vicini)



Upon taking over he elevated many of his former Under-21 charges and started phasing out some of the veterans during the Euro qualifiers as well as the friendlies.
He rebuilt the defense based on the Inter-AC Milan axis. Since the retirement of Dino Zoff, Italy had no settled number one and alternated between Franco Tancredi (AS Roma) and Giovanni Galli in the latter years of Bearzot’s reign. Vicini immediately installed Inter’s Walter Zenga as his number one and he would remain so for the rest of his tenure.
He discarded Sampdoria’s Pietro Vierchowod as his stopper and made Inter’s Riccardo Ferri as his choice.
Inter’s experienced yet still young veteran Giuseppe Bergomi remained as right-back. In fact he would become his captain following the eventual International exits of Cabrini and Altobelli.
For the left-back position, he maintained Antonio Cabrini late into the qualifiers before (temporarily) choosing Napoli’s Giovanni Francini. However, he would in turn be eclipsed by the teenage Paolo Maldini (AC Milan) just months ahead of the Euros.
It would for the position of Libero that Vicini would make the most significant appointment. Following Gaetano Scirea’s International retirement following the 1986 World Cup, it had been assumed that Roberto Tricella was being groomed to be his successor. Instead, Vicini preferred AC Milan captain Franco Baresi for the task.
In midfield, Vicini installed AC Milan’s Roberto Donadoni on the right wing. Fernando De Napoli (Napoli) maintained his place in midfield that he had gained in the run-up to the 1986 World Cup. AS Roma’s young midfielder Giuseppe Giannini was handed the reins of playmaker in the new Vicini regime.
Napoli’s tough midfielder Salvatore Bagni had Vicini’s confidence into the qualifiers, but AC Milan’s Carlo Ancelotti would overtake his position ahead of the 1988 Euros.
Upfront Sampdoria’s Gianluca Vialli was to be Vicini’s forward and main avenue for goals. Inter veteran Alessandro Altobelli was kept in the squad, but Vicini’s ultimate goal was to partner Vialli with his Sampdoria club-mate Roberto Mancini. Bearzot had blacklisted Mancini after he had broken curfew in New York in 1984 in a Tour of North America. Upon taking over Vicini ended the exile and ushered the talented Mancini back into the squad.
The Euros were generally positive for the Italians and despite being eliminated in the semifinals, the future looked bright for this young team.
Vicini now had two years of friendly matches to iron out a team that he had built.



I. 1988/89 season (Fall 1988)

Preparatory Friendly match Number 1-Norway (October 19, 1988, Pescara)

Italy’s first friendly of the season was against Norway at Pescara. During the 1988 Euros, Vicini had built a settled squad consisting of Zenga in goal, Bergomi-Baresi-Ferri-Maldini in defense, Donadoni-Giannini-Ancelloti-De Napoli in midfield and Vialli-Mancini upfront. For this match, he maintained all the players except Ancelotti. His injuries and unavailability would be a constant theme in the run-up for the World Cup and would make his next appearance in 1990 just months ahead of the World Cup. His absence would allow Vicini give a debut to new Inter midfielder Nicola Berti, who would have a magnificent season for a record-breaking Inter side.
Napoli defender Ciro Ferrara as well as Juventus’ Luigi De Agostini would make substitute appearance. The pair were dependable cover in defense (though De Agostini could also cover in midfield).
AS Roma striker Ruggiero Rizzitelli would also appear as a substitute.
Napoli’s Francini was called up but saw no action. Roberto Baggio, having a wonderful season with Fiorentina, was called up for the first time ever but for this match he had to contend with being on the bench only.
Italy were rarely troubled in a rather easy win (2-1) and the highlight was Ferri’s impressive indirect free kick goal.

Date: October 19, 1988
Competition: Friendly
Venue: Pescara -Stadio Adriatico
Attendance: 15,000
Italy 2-Norway 1 (Giuseppe Giannini 18 pen, Riccardo Ferri 29 / Sverre Brandhaug 40 pen)
Italy: Walter Zenga, Giuseppe Bergomi (captain)(Ciro Ferrara 46), Paolo Maldini (Luigi De Agostini 64), Franco Baresi, Riccardo Ferri, Nicola Berti, Roberto Donadoni, Fernando De Napoli, Gianluca Vialli, Giuseppe Giannini, Roberto Mancini (Ruggiero Rizzitelli 46)
Note:
1-In bold, new caps.


Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No. 43 (Issue 717), October 26-November 1, 1988
(October 19, 1988, Italy 2-Norway 1)


Photo From: Guerin Sportivo, No. 43 (Issue 717), October 26-November 1, 1988
(October 19, 1988, Italy 2-Norway 1)



                                         Photo From: (Screen capture)
(October 19, 1988, Italy 2-Norway 1)




                                            Photo From: (Screen capture)
(October 19, 1988, Italy 2-Norway 1)



Preparatory Friendly match Number 2-Holland (November 16, 1988, Roma)

Italy’s next match was against the recent 1988 Euro winners Holland for the occasion of the Italian Federation (F.I.G.C.)’s 90th Anniversary at Rome.
Italy’s AC Milan contingent were facing their club-mates Frank Rijkaard and Marco van Basten (soon to be Ballon d’Or) on the opposing side.
This match is mostly remembered as Roberto Baggio’s debut for the National Team. He was chosen to partner Vialli upfront as Vicini appeared to be having doubts about Mancini. A dependable partner for Vialli would be the main doubt and worry for Vicini for the rest of the preparation phase and into the World Cup.
Juventus goalkeeper veteran Stefano Tacconi earned a rare start with an unchanged defensive four. Ancelotti had to once again withdraw due to injury and Luigi De Agostini stepped in his place. Donadoni also missed this match, allowing Rizzitelli to start. It would be his last match and would be out of contention for the World Cup (though he would make a comeback in the tail end of Vicini’s reign in 1991).
Vialli, set up by Baggio, settled the match with a solitary strike.
Conclusions could not be drawn from a dour match against an opposition containing many inexperienced players and missing many regulars, most notably AC Milan’s own Ruud Gullit.
Zenga’s absence earned the late Napoli goalkeeper Giulliano Giuliani a call-up (his one and only). While Tacconi was firmly set as Zenga’s back-up, the position of third goalkeeper was still up for grabs.
Giovanni Francini was once again called up, but ignored.
The other newcomer call-up was that of Fiorentina striker Stefano Borgonovo (also sadly passed on since). He was having a wonderful partnership with Baggio at Fiorentina (on-loan from AC Milan) and knocking in the goals. He would have to wait a bit longer for his debut.


Date: November 16, 1988
Competition: Friendly (F.I.G.C. 90th Anniversary match)
Venue: Roma – Lo Stadio Olimpico
Attendance: 27,878
Italy 1-Holland 0 (Gianluca Vialli 44)
Italy: Stefano Tacconi, Giuseppe Bergomi (captain), Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Riccardo Ferri, Luigi De Agostini (Nicola Berti 81), Ruggiero Rizzitelli  (Ciro Ferrara 52), Fernando De Napoli, Gianluca Vialli, Giuseppe Giannini, Roberto Baggio
Note:
1-In bold, new caps.



Photo From: France Football, Issue 2231, January 10, 1989
(Giuseppe Giannini and Frank Rijkaard, November 16, 1988, Italy 1-Holland 0)




Photo From: World Soccer, February 1990
(Gianluca Vialli, November 16, 1988, Italy 1-Holland 0)




Photo From: Guerin Sportivo
(November 16, 1988, Italy 1-Holland 0)



Photo From: World Soccer, February 1990
(Giuseppe Bergomi, November 16, 1988, Italy 1-Holland 0)




Preparatory Friendly match Number 3-Scotland (December 22, 1988, Perugia)

Italy’s last friendly of 1988 was at Perugia vs. Scotland. Vicini maintained his settled defensive formation (along with another substitute appearance by Ferrara). He experimented in midfield, as Donadoni, De Napoli and Ancelotti were unavailable with Giannini as his only regular starting. Nicola Berti earned a second start, while Giancarlo Marocchi (Juventus) and Massimo Crippa (Napoli) earned their debuts. The pair would also struggle to make a lasting impact in the National Team and would generally remain as alternates.
Vialli naturally started upfront, but once again Vicni would try out a new partner for him upfront. Inter’s Aldo Serena (on his way to be Capocannoniere) earned a well deserved recall to the National Team. At this point Mancini’s starting prospects seemed bleak and he had to contend as a non-playing substitute for this match, along with Baggio.
Napoli’s Luca Fusi earned a recall as well, but he would also struggle to make a lasting impression and settle for minutes here and there.
Giovanni Francini earned a call-up for the last time, as he would be out of contention and no longer under consideration.
Italy would win comfortably against a non-threatening Scottish side. Giannini would once again score from the spot. Berti, thus far, the only successful newcomer would increase his prospects by scoring for the first time for the National side.

Date: December 22, 1988
Competition: Friendly
Venue: Perugia -Stadio Renato Curi
Attendance: 27,600
Italy 2-Scotland 0 (Giuseppe Giannini 48 pen, Nicola Berti 70)
Italy:  Walter Zenga (Stefano Tacconi 50), Giuseppe Bergomi (captain) (Ciro Ferrara 50), Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi, Riccardo Ferri, Giancarlo Marocchi, Massimo Crippa, Nicola Berti, Gianluca Vialli, Giuseppe Giannini, Aldo Serena  
Note:
1-In bold, new caps.



Photo From: France Football, Issue 2229, December 27, 1988
(Franco Baresi, December 22, 1988, Italy 2-Scotland 0)




Photo From: (Screen capture)
(December 22, 1988, Italy 2-Scotland 0)




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