Gab Marcotti

They're there to win games.

And so they spend so much time working on tactics.

That's why most Italian players, whatever you can criticize them, but tactically they know what they're doing.

Yeah, yeah.

And at under 17, under 18 level, that can work.

But if you're not working on the individual technique of a player, if you're not working on the mentality and encouraging them to take chances and make mistakes, I'll tell you right now, if Ryan Shirky had been born and raised in Italy, like he should have been, he should have been playing for Italy in that game.

Yeah, but you know where he'd be playing right now if Ryan Shirky had been playing in Italy?

he'd be some cult hero in city of b somewhere right like oh look sure he's so talented oh but he's crazy oh we can't trust him he's too talented oh what he's what 21 years old 22 years old oh well maybe in a couple years he'll be ready for city yeah this is the nonsense mentality which i hear time and time and again and i've been hearing it for 20 years and i thought it might have changed and i wish people would realize you know who won the world cup in 1982

Who did?

Some of our audience may not know.

Yeah, Italy?

Yes.

And you know who started three games in that tournament and started a final?

An 18-year-old defender.

Right.

Beppe Bergomi.

And he's a bit special, though.

They don't come every day.

Listen, listen, listen.

I've known Beppe Bergomi a long time.