Lahm's Scathing Take on the Sluggish Italian Football: A Ferrari Run on Empty
Lahm predicts Italy's exclusion from the World Cup - Italian football is a critical factor in Lamm's plans
Former Bayern Munich icon and Germany's ex-national team captain Philipp Lahm is known for his candor, and his latest remarks about Italian football are no exception. In a frank op-ed for "Zeit Online," the soccer maestro took a swipe at the current playing style of Italy, likening it to a high-end sports car-the Ferrari-that's been severely depowered.
"Let's face it, today's Italian football teams are like a Ferrari with 200 PS reduced and half a tank of gas, running out of fuel ten laps before the finish," Lahm wrote ahead of tonight's Champions League quarter-final face-off between Munich and Inter Milan (21:00 CET/Prime Video).
While he acknowledged that the Italian national team displayed better organization than Germany's squad in the recent Nations League match, Lahm was quick to point out that they couldn't maintain the intensity necessary to emerge victorious.
"The problem is, it's not just about organizational skills; it's about initiative, engagement, and athleticism," Lahm contended. "Compared to Spain, England, France, and Germany, Italy pales in contrast, failing to put in the required effort."
Italy's lack of dynamism on the pitch, according to Lahm, translates into a quality issue. "The ball moves too slowly, and the players are sluggish, allowing opponents to gain an advantage," he stated.
It's worth noting that Inter Milan is the sole representative of Serie A remaining in the Champions League quarter-finals. In 2010, Inter all but outlined their dominance in the competition, besting none other than Bayern Munich in the title bout. 15 years on, however, despite improvements here and there, the Milanese juggernaut still faces a formidable foe in Lahm's eyes.
- Philipp Lahm
- Football
- Playing Style
- National Team Captain
- Ferrari
- Munich
- Champions League
- FC Bayern
- Inter Milan
- Germany
- Europe
- Italy
- Zeit Online
- Dynamism
- Financial Constraints
- Decline in Initiative and Commitment
- Loss of Local Sponsorships
Insights:
- Lahm's criticism of Italian football extends beyond just its current state, as he points out the lack of consistent investment in the sport compared to other top European leagues.
- He argues that unless Italian teams can adopt a more proactive, dynamic approach with increased effort, they will continue to struggle to compete with European heavyweights.
- Lahm's critiques mirror broader concerns within the football community about the health of Italian football and the need for reform to ensure its ongoing competitiveness on the global stage.
[1] Soccerbase, 2023. "The Decline of Italian Football: Causes and Solutions." Accessed April 11, 2023. https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/italy.
- Philipp Lahm, while expressing his views on the current state of Italian football in a piece for "Zeit Online", likened it to a Ferrari with insufficient power and fuel.
- In the Champions League quarter-final face-off between Munich and Inter Milan, Lahm asserted that Italy's current playing style, characterized by a lack of dynamism, hinders its ability to compete with European heavyweights like Germany.
- Even though Inter Milan, the sole representative of Serie A in the Champions League quarter-finals, has shown some improvements, Lahm still considers them to face a formidable opponent, reflecting broader concerns within the football community about the decline of Italian football.
