Most people didn't expect much from Italy at Euro 2016, but no team has looked better so far. The italians have yet to concede a goal in the tournament and held one of the world's best players, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, without a shot on goal.
Sweden were bad. Sweden have Zlatan and only Zlatan and Zlatan isn't even good enough to beat Italy's defense by himself (the full list of players at Euro 2016 who could maybe beat Italy's entire defense on their own and score: Zlatan, Ronaldo). The three center backs and Buffon are too well-drilled and too familiar with each other to get beat by something un-spectacular.
Italy's defense was not the question mark coming into the tournament, though. They left all their most well-known attackers at home. Sebastian Giovinco got left behind because he plays in MLS. Andrea Pirlo got left behind because he plays in MLS and is a petrified tree stump with excellent touch. Mario Balotelli got left behind because he is Mario Balotelli.
Italy's top five international scorers on the squad coming into Euro 2016: Danielle de Rossi (18 goals), Giorgio Chiellini (six), Graziano Pelle (five), Antonio Candreva (four) and Stephan El Shaarawy, Leonardo Bonucci and Emanuele Giaccherini (three apiece). Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are both on that list. Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are both center backs.
Italy's strategy is to hold out as long as possible with the defense and hope the offense can cobble together a goal. Against Sweden, the strategy worked perfectly, with a 0-0 draw seeming the worst-case scenario until Eder ripped Sweden apart and scored.
WATCH #Eder dance through that #SWE defense!https://t.co/sXklx7djOL
— In2Sports (@In2SportsInc) June 17, 2016
The "waves crashing against cliffs" strategy won't work against teams with more than one good player, you're thinking, and you're wrong. It worked perfectly against Belgium because Marc Wilmots is incompetent. OK, you're thinking, but it won't work against teams with more than one good player and a competent manager. Perhaps not, but how many of those are in Euro 2016?
Contact The18 Staff Writer Sam Klomhaus at Klomhaus@The18.com or follow him on Twitter @SamKlomhaus
