Lu Yang!
In the twenty-three-man roster officially announced by the Italian Football Association for the European Youth Championship hosted by Germany this year, the last name surprisingly is Lu Yang!
This move has left everyone puzzled.
"Why would Maniero bring Lu Yang? And not someone else? Is this giving the team one less player?"
"Lu Yang? If I remember correctly, he’s still recovering from injury, right?"
"Just had surgery a month ago, can he even stand on his feet?"
"It’s incredible; I know Maniero appreciates Lu Yang, but I didn’t know he appreciates him this much... This is a bit reckless, isn’t it?"
"He’d rather waste a spot than call up someone else? Maniero is being too selfish, isn’t he?"
"He just doesn’t want to call up players selected by the previous head coach; he wants to prove his coaching abilities."
"Reckless! Though he’s a celebrated Italian veteran, he can’t treat the European Youth Championship so carelessly; it holds great significance for Italy right now!"
"To be fair, Maniero’s move does not bode well for Lu, completely placing Lu in the spotlight."
"If Lu is smart enough, he should step forward and refuse Maniero’s call-up and leave the opportunity to others."
"Alas, Italian football has lost its purity; Maniero and Martivini are colluding, ignoring national interests for Martivini’s re-election."
"Maniero is an idiot, no explanation needed!"
The Italy National Youth Team’s roster has sparked huge controversy.
Taking a player to Germany who needs at least another six months to recover is absolutely absurd!
This might be the most expensive ticket for Italy in this European Youth Championship.
Undoubtedly, Lu Yang’s view from the bench would be absolutely first-class.
This list has also sparked discussions across Europe.
Even the English media, which previously praised Lu Yang and thought he deserved a three million euro salary, are a bit stunned this time.
We said Lu Yang is excellent, but that’s for the future, not now.
Even after Best broke his leg, he wouldn’t have been selected for the England National Team.
Did Italy already admit defeat?
Are they just here to experience the atmosphere in this European Youth Championship?
Considering Lu Yang only turns eighteen on the eve of the European Youth Championship semifinals, if you say that bringing Lu Yang this time is for familiarization, for the next European Youth Championship, it makes sense; by then, Lu Yang would still be eligible to participate.
But... in short, this eighteenth birthday may turn into an unpleasant memory for Lu Yang.
Because he’s destined to endure it under the ridicule of all of Europe and a disastrous defeat.
Moreover, such a decision is very unfair to those players who are already twenty-two or twenty-three this year and will not have the opportunity to participate in the next European Youth Championship.
The head coach of the England Youth Team remarked on Maniero’s action: "We don’t focus on the Italy Team; they are not part of our key opponents this year. Our target is to win the championship. Our only opponents are the Spanish, French, Belgians, and Germans!"
This statement undoubtedly shows contempt for the Italy National Youth Team.
But actually, there’s a reason.
This year’s European Youth Championship finals have three groups, four teams per group, with the first in each group advancing to the semifinals, and the best second from the three groups also advancing to the semifinals.
Twelve to four!
The format is extremely harsh.
Group B is a shoo-in group, with Germany, Denmark, Austria, and Serbia.
To say that the German Football Association, as hosts, had no influence, people would not believe it.
Because frankly speaking, Germany is the only strong team in that group; the other three, whether at the youth or national level, do not count as even second-tier football powerhouses in Europe.
Group C is fiercely competitive, with France, Belgium, Portugal, and Romania, all formidable. Especially France and Belgium, a definite clash of titans.
And Group A is equally troubling.
Group A has England, Spain, Italy, and Poland.
Among them, England and Spain were the two best performing teams in the qualifying rounds, incredibly strong!
England has an abundance of young stars, virtually every position filled by future stars lauded by English media. Led by Mancini, they are the most expensive team among the twelve youth teams!
Mancini alone is valued more than almost all other teams’ entire roster in this competition!
And Spain equally boasts a superstar Enriquez, ranking neck-and-neck with Mancini in the Golden Boy Award, dominating the top two positions.
French have numerous young black stars, Germans excel in tactics, discipline, and physical prowess, Belgians are in a talent boom, and Portuguese players have birthed a platinum generation under the influence of a superstar.
Among many football powerhouses, only Italy remains stagnant, with tactics not outdated but relatively cautious, a lack of top-tier talent among players, and personalities dulled, turning them unfit for significant roles.
In such circumstances, not just England and Spain, even the head coach of the Poland Youth Team declared, "We need to find ways to score against Italy."
The pushover is clearly visible.
And many Italians believe these choices are due to Maniero’s selections.
The "Republican Newspaper," as the mouthpiece of Martivini’s rivals, immediately stepped up to question Maniero’s series of maneuvers.
From Maniero completely overturning the predecessor’s tactical system to the controversial roster for this competition, especially Lu Yang’s inclusion—the criticism was intense, resembling a trial at the scene.