The Backbone! Inter's Ace Helps Italy Avoid Tragedy: What If They Had Used Him in 2018 and 2022?

In Leverkusen, Italy played to a 0-0 draw with Ukraine, finally securing a spot in the European Championship after missing two consecutive World Cups. Coach Luciano Spalletti was overcome with emotion, shouting to his players, “Enjoy the tournament!” Players who had experienced the pain of missing major tournaments were elated and filled with joy. However, to be honest, Italy didn't play well in this do-or-die match. Spalletti's strength in organizing and managing the team came to the fore, but his weakness in adapting was also evident—taking over the national team mid-cycle with few proper training sessions left his strengths underutilized and his weaknesses exposed.

In the match against Ukraine, Spalletti didn't dare to rotate his players, leading to a team in poor physical condition. In the first half, Italy didn't create many chances but managed to control the situation steadily. In the second half, the team's stamina issues became apparent. Spalletti's attempts at substitutions backfired, making the team play worse with each change. Italy became increasingly passive, and by the end, they could only hang on defensively. In a scenario where a single chance or a deflected shot could deny Italy direct qualification, the do-or-die match turned into a heart-pounding drama. In injury time, Bryan Cristante's intervention when Mykhailo Mudryk fell in the penalty area made millions of Italian fans' hearts leap into their throats.

Italy's performance was understandable given the circumstances. Some long-standing issues were evident, such as the lack of a strong target man up front, a problem that previous coach Roberto Mancini couldn't solve over several years, leaving Spalletti equally helpless. As previously mentioned, many players carried psychological scars from missing the last two World Cups, leading to overthinking and heavy legs in crucial moments, resulting in subpar performances due to immense psychological pressure. It's human nature.

Therefore, Italy desperately needed a source of strength from mentally tough, fearless players who hadn't experienced the heartbreak of those World Cup playoff failures and could remain calm under pressure. This night, such players were in abundance, including Federico Dimarco. A standout figure was Francesco Acerbi. In this match, Italy had 65% possession and outshot Ukraine 10-2 in the first half. However, in the second half, stamina issues due to the lack of rotation surfaced. Spalletti's substitutions failed to make an impact, allowing Ukraine to gain momentum, equalize possession, and double their first-half shot count, tripling their entries into the attacking third. Ukraine had several corners, free kicks, and golden opportunities, making Italy's situation increasingly dire.

In the second half, Italy lost many physical battles but excelled in two critical areas: aerial duels and interceptions. This was crucial because Ukraine's most effective attacking strategy was crossing from the wings and direct passes into the half-space. Acerbi had a 100% success rate in aerial duels, accounting for half of Italy's headed clearances. He also made several crucial interceptions of dangerous passes, handling half of the team's interceptions, which was key to Italy holding the line despite being on the back foot.

After the match, many Italian media outlets rated Acerbi highly, describing his performance as “impeccabile” (flawless). For Acerbi, delivering such a steady performance in a high-stakes match was a form of redemption. At 35, Acerbi has been a part of the national team for ten years, mostly as a substitute or a backup behind star players. In Italy's two World Cup playoff defeats, Acerbi didn't get a chance to play. During the 2018 playoffs against Sweden, Acerbi wasn't even on the national team roster, with Daniele Rugani preferred. In the 2022 playoffs, Italy was eliminated by North Macedonia, and Acerbi was on the bench the entire match.

Watching the team fail from the sidelines, whether on the bench or at home, was a painful experience. Moreover, even though Acerbi was part of the national team, he was criticized alongside his teammates after missing the World Cup, described as one of the “creators of shame.” This was an unjust scapegoating for someone who didn't play.

On social media, many praised Acerbi after the match, discussing how his mental fortitude and zero mistakes under high pressure were remarkable. Some speculated about what might have happened if Italy had used Acerbi in 2018 or 2022. However, football isn't built on “what-ifs,” and past events should be left behind. The important thing is that this time, Acerbi wasn't a spectator. His efforts helped Italy avoid another tragedy. His heroic performance as a participant washed away the pain of being a helpless observer in the past, creating a tale of redemption and resilience.