5 reasons why Italy would be right to sack Gian Piero Ventura

#1 Tactical blunders

Italy v Spain - FIFA 2018 World Cup Qualifier

If there ever was a match that described everything wrong with Italy's tactical set-up under Gian Piero Ventura, one needn't look further than their 3-0 humbling at the hands of Spain in September. The result inevitably derailed Italy's campaign and prevented them from finishing at the top of their group.

Against arguably the best midfield in the world boasting the likes of Iniesta, Silva, Isco and Thiago, Ventura inexplicably decided to play a 4-2-4 formation. The result was inevitably disastrous, with Veratti and de Rossi being completely overrun in the middle of the park.

His utter misuse of Italy's best attacking player Lorenzo Insigne has also baffled Italian fans. Insigne was asked to play in a central midfield role, a position he is completely unfamiliar with, in the first leg against Sweden.

To make matters worse, he was left on the bench as an unused substitute in the second leg, when Italy desperately needed a goal and would have benefited from some creativity in the final third. The decision to leave Insigne out of the game left de Rossi fuming, and the latter reluctantly came on late in the second half, thoroughly shocked at his manager's decisions.

Ventura had several chances to understand the players he had at his disposal but failed to deliver on most of his promises. With Italy shockingly sitting this World Cup out, the clock is ticking on Ventura's reign as manager of the Azzurri.