Antonio Conte’s training camp providing more questions than answers

In the second of our Italian Euro 2016 Blog Network instalments, Aaron Pires Mammoliti of Forza Italian Football explains how Antonio Conte's last-minute tinkering may lead to the Azzurri heading to France under familiar clouds of uncertainty and controversy.

The European Championships are set to kick off in just three weeks and for the Italian national team, Antonio Conte’s training camp has brought with it more questions than answers.

The Chelsea-bound boss enjoys dancing to his own tune. While most national squads have already announced their preliminary rosters for this summer’s tournament, Conte pencilled in 28 names for a four-day retreat, excluding players with official club matches to play during this time frame. The result was a whopping nine new faces to Conte’s setup, seven of which have never seen an Azzurri camp before and Conte’s decision, after announcing in March that no new faces would be introduced into the fold, has left Azzurri supporters collectively scratching their heads. Admittedly,  part of the confusion has been necessitated by injuries to a pair of key figures in Claudio Marchisio and Marco Verratti. The two were expected to carry out most of the heavy lifting in the middle in the park but in their unfortunate absence, Conte has been forced into reshuffling his set up. Coppa Italia victors Juventus will find quartet Gianluigi Buffon, Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli shoo-ins to make the final squad. With several additional Azzurri fringe players between the Bianconeri and fellow finalists AC Milan, a number of apprentices in Conte’s squad are likely there merely to fill the ranks in the meantime. While the experience may become advantageous in the long run, it clouds the immediate future with a sense of uncertainty. Should these interns manage somehow to leave a strong impression on Conte, however, his work is made all the more difficult, a talent pool of 30-35 players potentially turning into one of upwards of 40, which is not necessarily a positive so close to a major tournament. Conte has been criticised in the past for not sticking with one defined group of players in one defined set-up. This will certainly not be helped by the fact that at a time when most coaches are further narrowing down their search, Conte is in fact expanding. Also left uncertain are the futures of Major League Soccer options Andrea Pirlo and Sebastian Giovinco. While the bearded wonder is playing out the twilight of his career on a diminutive converted baseball diamond in New York, the Atomic Ant has set North America ablaze with his record-shattering exploits in Toronto. Both players were omitted from the recent training camp, but considering the fact that camp coincided with MLS matches for both players, Conte may have included the two in the ‘unavailable’ category rather than the ‘unwanted’ one. In the case of Giovinco specifically, 30 goals and 18 assists in 45 matches would, in most cases, assure safe passage onto an Azzurri side void of both dynamism and goal-scoring form. Nevertheless, without an explicit mention and a general lack of interest for football across the pond, only Conte knows for sure whether or not the two North American stars are still in contention for a spot this summer. Rumours of a tactical switch were confirmed on Wednesday when Conte decided to revert from his recent 3-4-3 to a comparatively more conventional 3-5-2. A change of tactics is often accompanied by change in personnel and the emphasis now switches from wingers to strikers. The impact this carries on the Azzurri roster is uncertain, but this may open up an extra spot for a striker who many have previously been considered an outsider looking in. Italy will feature in a pair of friendlies in preparation for the big show that, for the Azzurri, begins on June 13th against Belgium. May 29th will see them host Scotland, before concluding their preparations a week later away to Finland. One would expect the group to take the field against Scotland to be Conte’s preferred starting XI but given the overall lack of preparation, Conte may be forced to tinker with his team on the fly while in France. Ambiguity can unquestionably be used to one’s advantage; the element of surprise a useful weapon in a knockout tournament. Uncertainty among the squad itself, however, may not be so beneficial and a lack of cohesion could very well prove to be Italy’s downfall this summer. The situation is made worse by the fact that this over-sized collection of players have spent the past two years plying or hoping to ply their trade for a coach who is destined to leave the moment he finally decides on a set group and style of play. While a decision regarding the future coach will reportedly be reached and announced before the commencement of the tournament, the environment in which the players find themselves in may not be conducive to success. History has proven, however, the Azzurri are a side that thrive on uncertainty and controversy. As they soldier on in search of their second European championship, there will definitely not be a shortage of this familiar pairing in France.