Vibrant and velvet might be this Italian team, but they have neither forgotten nor forbidden the soul of their football. All the negative stereotypes of Italian defensive arts – niggling and pinching and sly shirt tugging – are unnecessary for Paolo Maldini and his lineage of defensive artists and craftsmen. This was another tribute to the great Italian defensive tradition–man‑marking and the ability to win one‑on‑one challenges, which has gone out of fashion in this era of zonal marking. Spinazzola is the attacking nerve (though he’s exceptionally schooled in the fine virtues of Italian defence). Together, they are an impregnable force, keeping themselves relevant even as Italian football has shed its over-emphasis on defence.

Source: Indian Express July 03, 2021 19:09 UTC