In case you haven't already noticed, Italy failed to qualify for the World Cup.
The tournament has, sadly, not suffered in their absence. A generation is used to it by now and besides other nations are carrying on some of their traditions.
Here's a checklist:
Recycling the same coaches? ✅
Being the outlier playing three at-the-back? ✅
Playing it too safe when faced with a gifted opponent? ✅
Scoring a break-away goal against the run of play? ✅
Suffering penalty shootout heartbreak? ✅ 💔
In Monterrey on Monday, the Netherlands, a football nation diametrically opposed to Italy, seemed to lose their religion against Morocco.
Total Voetbal became, if not catenaccio, then gioco all'italiana. Ronald Koeman dropped a midfielder for an extra defender. Tijjani Reijnders gave way for Nathan Ake. A centre-back, Micky van de Ven, played left wing-back, against Achraf Hakimi.
The choices were predictably met with some consternation back in Amsterdam.
@JamesHorncastle explains how the Netherlands' World Cup exit sparked an identity crisis.
