Is catenaccio one of the reasons why Italian football is so stale?

Question

Catenaccio describes a tactical system in football with an emphasis on defence and tactical fouls. In Italian catenaccio means "door-bolt" and it means a highly organized and effective backline defense which is intended to prevent goals.

Nowadays, catenaccio is used mainly by weaker teams, in order to reduce any technical gap against stronger ones by showing a more physical approach to football.Catenaccio is often thought to be commonplace in Italian football ...in particular the italian National football team.

The catenaccio system is often criticized for reducing the quality of football games as a spectacle.

wikipedia.org

JUVE: UNLESS U SEND CANNAVARO OVER TO PUSH ME, WHY WOULDE I FALL??

***************10 POINTS***********************

TO THE ONE ITALIAN FAN THAT WOULD ACTUALLY PRESENT A **REAL** SOCCER ARGUMENT TO THE ISSUE OF CATENACCIO!!!!!! (I FEAR I'LL LET THIS ONE GO ON VOTING)

Answer 1

Great!
It seems as you are close to finish your 'Touzours'Guide: How to bashing Italians in football by using wrong questions' (don't let me know wich editor will print it, Y-a forum gives a complete collection), you are running out of points to check 'ancient football' wiki section!

It needs to say:
1. I never understand how catenaccio really works. Because the matter is - YOU NEED TO BE THE FIRST TO SCORE, and, if you were able to score, why the hell you stop attacking?
I guess this attitude was working fine in ancient times, when tactics and organization weren't developed as in modern football and it was easier to score lot of goals. If you check 1954 - 1966 WCs you will see amazing final scoring amount in most match. But scoring against a properly covering opponent was an hard task because teams weren't trained to face a defensive attitude. 2. The catenaccio's father was the GREAT NEREO ROCCO, coach in Triestina, Padova, Milan. In Milan he trained some guys who wrote the next Italian football history, as future Italy coaches Giovanni Trapattoni and Cesare Maldini (father of the world class defender Paolo). I agree with wiki where they put catenaccio's end as competitive tactic at the end of the '60s. ... and I agree with Tozours, catenaccio's attitude was fading but not canceled...
3. In '70s, Italian Football Federation disallow foreign player to join Italian championship. This had 2 effects - first, diminishing Italy and Italian Clubs level - second, it RAISES the care in training youngsters. Many aged supporters love that years: Juventus won UEFA cup in '77 with Italian players only - this is a record; Italy came to Argentina 1978 WC with a young, competitive and impressive team; the same team with few replacements, founded on 'Juve's block' (7 players out of 11 were playing in Juventus), won 1982 WC. Everyone knows Paolo Rossi hat trick in Brazil match. In Italy Claudio Gentile harshly controlling Maradona all over Argentina match, (he was following him until the opponent's box!) is celebrated as Rossi's hat trick. Since 1982 foreign players were allowed again. Defensive attitude and the skill to score at every opportunity were the main traits of Italy and clubs. The style of playing was a development of catenaccio - 'contropiede', 'counterattack'. The master was Trapattoni.
This means to play with a main defensive attitude, ready to spot any good opportunity to counterattack an unbalanced opponent. Juventus collect many Euro Cups in this way.
4. Since Arrigo Sacchi was ruling European football when coaching Milan AC (1988-1991), in Italy 'counterattack style' was slowly replaced by 'ripartenza veloce' = 'fast break attack'. It means you are always ready to spot good opportunities to make a fast attack getting the ball from your opponent, but this behavior doesn't mean you are playing with a defensive style.
Sacchi was next hired as Italy coach in 1994 USA WC, but the team was poorly performing. He need to switch to a basic tactic, having a great ball possession, controlling the match, and ... Roberto Baggio to solve any trouble ...
5. Marcello Lippi lead Italy collecting great performance with a powerful 4-3-1-2, attacking, impressive and entertaining
*** I know here many thinks entertaining means diving, cheating, faking. I mean another thing - have great plays and tireless match **** Nov 2005, Italy-Holland 3-1. Mar 2006, Italy-Germany 4-1 (many Germans called Klinsmann to leave coaching).
When facing 2006 WC having Totti recovering from a broken leg in February, Nesta injured, Del Piero out of fitness, many lesser injuries (Zambrotta, Gattuso, Perrotta), De Rossi banned for 4 match, he WISELY switched to a more defensive and unimpressive 4-4-2 to better cover Totti slow movements and a new defensive line-up. We all know how it works. Needs to say having a key player injured and switching tactics are usually deadly troubles in a major competition as WC is. Lippi was great.
6. Catenaccio in 2006? You're joking.
Italy had their best match against Germany, the scorer was an UNKNOWN DEFENDER who was attacking in the opponent's box at 119'. I guess Nereo Rocco never allowed a defender to pass over midfield line. Next, Germans try an all-out attack forcing Italy in their box to draw the match. And here's counterattack. Main actor - Fabio Cannavaro, Captain and defender, with 2 breaks. Here's the video.

Conclusions
1. Catenaccio doesn't exist in modern football
2. Italy has defensive traditions and great defenders since catenaccio years (how many people heard something about Grosso and Materazzi before this WC?)
3. Attacking teams could be more entertaining, but everyone wants to WIN. All-stars attacking unbalanced Brazil poorly lose against France. They were wise, careful and controlled the match, and they deserved to win.

Answer 2

Catenaccio is the traditional and prefered Italian playing style.
There was one point where most of the teams in Serie A favored it.
To play defensive is easy, but to play a good defense isn't.
Thereby lies the difference between catenaccio and the defensive game adopted by smaller teams.
Its not pretty, but you got to admit that its terribly effective.
A win is a win, agree?

Answer 3

"catenaccio is used mainly by weaker teams"

So if the WC champs are the weaker team, who is the strongest?

It works to stop even a team like Brazil in 1994 finals from scoring a goal. It worked in this tournament to stop every single solitary team the Italians played. Every one was held goalless except for a cheap French PK and an own goal. If you couple that with solid striking from many players (not just one everybody marks) you get... well.... world cup champs

Answer 4

It might be criticized but hell does it work?!?! If it helps Italians win the World Cup then let them use it. Considering that Italy won 4 times and France won once - when they were playing at home - I'd say that Italian football isn't the staler of the two.

Answer 5

That's good Touzours, finally a technical soccer related question. I too disfavor a defensive system that makes the game stale.

Several years ago, the New Jersey Devils of the NHL executed their defensive scheme known as the "neutral zone trap" well enough to win several Stanley Cup championships. Many purists including myself felt that although genius by design, the scheme took the excitement from the game of ice hockey.

Answer 6

Doesn't it make sense to get your own house in order first before you raid your opposition's goal?
What's the point of scoring five goals if you're going to let in six.
As for the catenaccio system reducing the quality of the game as a spectacle, this may have been true in the past but under Marcello Lippi the team played with true Italian flair and passion as was demonstrated in the Italy v Germany game, not only was the defence impenetrable but they attacked with verve and style.

Answer 7

Not something I've ever done. I don't take the financial part as telling someone not to increase their income in order to live. Life is expensive. People who have always been friends and family to me still are. Sure we have different faiths but how else are they going to see what a Witness is like if I stay away from them? I don't judge them. I've been in their shoes, so to speak.

Answer 8

You're always digging and digging to find something against the Italians...you're only making the hole bigger for you to fall flat on your face!
I won't have to send anyone...I'll push you myself!
Even if I were to give you a real soccer arguement you would only believe what Lady_Starlight has to say..so what's the point?
I rest my case!

You're upsetting my little girl Deamon_chick...

Answer 9

You INCOMPETENCE about soccer drives you to find information on the net (mostly incorrect) about the game and that is the perfect example on how people like you open the mouth without thinking!
On the other hand... it is understandable... all these BSs are coming from a French LOSER

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**** <--- 4 (FOUR) stars!!!!

btw: no one is able to discuss with you about football, because you are such an IGNORANT person in that matter! You can stick your 10 points wherever you like, or you can use them to count before you open your mouth! LOSER!

Answer 10

touzours just stop this hate!!!!i'm so upset now and just only to answer this Q will make me blow up...the thing about the italians...all around here already forgot about that all...just be a normal dude and let it pass away....France will try her luch next WC and maybe it will win but let this WC already written like ITALIANS WON THE IT ok???

thanx juve

Answer 11

And French Vs Spain what is?
Italy not use catenaccio but if you want,Italy used Catenaccio Vs French because there was Zidane hahahahahhahahahahha