Oddo: Italy's young talents need more support

Former national team player Massimo Oddo believes the problems Italy's national team has faced in recent years are still ongoing. Oddo stated that if the team wants to return to the very top, these problems must be solved at their source.

According to Oddo, work with young players is needed. He argued that the goals of young players should be different from what they are today, and that coaches should receive the same kind of support. Noting that the talent exists, and that players at Under 15 and Under 17 level show it, Oddo said that many children get lost along the way for reasons outside the pitch. Oddo also listed the excessive number of foreign players and excessive impatience among the problems.

Oddo, who coaches Milan Futuro, said he thinks the system works, and that the real problem is that players reach the first team too late. According to Oddo, abroad players are playing first-team football at 17, while in Italy many young players wait in the Primavera, and these years hold back the development of their talent. Stressing that 20 is too late, Oddo also said he did not expect Lazio, coached by Gattuso, to be leading Serie A, adding that the team is impressive in terms of ideas, identity and spirit.