I AM the Football Star-Chapter 515 - 141: Missing the European Cup?

"The Wolf is Coming! The Newly Promoted Team Leads with Six Goals, Tops the Serie B Leaderboard!"

"Is a Triple Jump Coming? San Remo’s Odds of Promoting to Serie A this Season are Plummeting!"

"Sixty Goals this Season; Player Scores Hat-trick in Serie B Debut. Will He Dominate the Serie B Scorers Chart?"

"Luck or Skill? San Remo’s Tactical Analysis Class!"

"Arrogant? San Remo Changes Strategy to Experiment in the Second Half. How Can They Go Far with Such Arrogance?"

The first round of Serie B quickly wrapped up.

San Remo also gained some attention, their performance surprising everyone.

But there weren’t many related news stories.

Because the life-and-death battle belonging to the Italy National Team was already reaching its end.

There are only four games left in next year’s European Cup qualifiers.

Between September 2nd and 6th, two of those will be completed.

All Italians were waiting for good news from the front lines.

However, it was unacceptable that... a few days passed, and the Italy National Team had one draw and one loss, nearly announcing their failure to qualify.

On the brink of disaster!

According to the current standings, they must win the next two games and have several other competitors slip up; only then can they directly qualify for next year’s European Cup finals.

If even one requirement isn’t met, they will have to go to the playoffs.

And if they lose the next two games, they won’t even get to the playoffs.

This would be a first in the history of Italian Football.

From European Cup champions to missing the European Cup, Italy only took twelve years.

For a while, the entire Italian Football scene was filled with grievances.

Everyone was angrily blaming the Football Association’s inaction and wrong policies.

Some even criticized the current national team Head Coach Vincent, believing he cannot deploy strategically, using only a few players mechanically. Especially when it comes to selecting and using young players, he’s too conservative.

For example, Sevajos and Pompey, who were called up this time, didn’t receive any playing time, seemingly just a show for the public, a change in form but not substance.

In response, Vincent was left speechless.

He indeed had this problem.

But... Every one of these four games is a life-or-death battle, who dares to let newcomers and young players play?

You should know, if Italy had won all four games, they could qualify directly and secure a spot in the finals.

Of course, Vincent had to give it a shot.

Now, having failed, everyone dumps the blame on him?

If he had played the young players and lost, would he be blamed for putting too much pressure on the young players, being too eager to test them? 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Darn it!

Vincent could clearly feel that among those opinions, there was the shadow of the current Italian Football Association president, Martivini.

Martivini just wanted to remove him and make way for Maniero.

In response, Vincent refused to resign himself to fate and fought back.

Vincent: "Even the best chef can’t cook a delicious meal without rice. I personally believe I’ve done my best; it’s an undeniable fact that Italy is inferior to other footballing nations in terms of football talent."

"The team’s cycle of talent isn’t my responsibility; it’s the responsibility of society as a whole. I can only make the arrangements, but I can’t cultivate a batch of new stars capable of fighting hard battles in a short time; no one can."

"What? You say Maniero can do it?"

"I know Maniero just led the team to win the European Youth Championship, but youth team matches are entirely different from senior team matches. If you know anything about football, you’d know the difference."

"Of course, I personally am indeed willing to invite Maniero to become the assistant coach of the Italy National Team. I think neither I nor he wants Italy to miss out on next year’s European Cup, right?"

Vincent cunningly set a trap.

It was an open plot!

Maniero had no choice but to respond.

He invited Maniero, but if Maniero refused to join the Italian National Team’s coaching staff at that moment, Vincent would have something to say.

Maniero’s reputation would also suffer a hit.

After next year’s European Youth Championship, or if there’s simply no European Youth Championship, when Maniero competes for the Italy National Team head coach position, this would be a stain.

But if Maniero joined.

Then... If they don’t achieve results, Maniero will have to take some of the blame.

If they do achieve results, Vincent will be the one to benefit.

Either way, Maniero won’t get the better end of the deal.

These thick-skinned and cunning tactics, foreigners play them remarkably well too.

But Vincent did not expect that almost less than two hours after he told the reporters, Maniero gathered reporters to submit his own "application to join": "So far, I have not received any invitation regarding a position with the national team, but..."

"I personally express my willingness to make any sacrifice for the sake of saving Italy. This includes, but is not limited to, becoming a member of the national team’s coaching staff, becoming Vincent’s assistant."

"Italy cannot be without the European Cup, Italian fans cannot be without the European Cup! For the interests and desires of the vast fans, I undoubtedly am willing to do anything for Italy."

Maniero’s response came so quickly that it exceeded the expectations of Vincent and the upper echelons of the Football Association behind him.

Because everyone knew, Maniero and Vincent could not work together.

It’s not that they had a conflict, but that their positions were different, representing different interest groups.

The simplest issue, joining the coaching team with only two qualifying games left, if Italy really doesn’t make it to the European Cup this time, how should the blame be split?

Of course, Vincent would definitely bear the blame.