002: Where have all the strikers gone?

003: What next for Italian football?

In Episode 003 of The FORZA CALCIO Podcast, we take a hard look at the uncertain future of the Italy national football team following yet another failure to qualify for the World Cup. How did a four-time world champion fall this far, and more importantly, what needs to change? I am joined by That Milan Podcast host Matt Santangelo, and we break down the deep-rooted issues affecting Italian football today, from a struggling youth development system to a lack of opportunities for emerging talent at club level. We also dive into the coaching concerns, questionable coaching philosophies, and whether the identity of Italian football has been lost in the modern game. Is this just a transitional phase or a sign of deeper structural problems within the FIGC and Serie A? And what can be done to bring Italy back to the top of world football? All that and more in Episode 003 of The FORZA CALCIO Podcast. 🇮🇹⚽ ▶️ Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-forza-calcio-podcast/id1865925383]▶️ Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3TbokaVtLBUr1jM6y9cuP5?si=90a76b5896694024] 🔗 Links & Promos ▶️ Subscribe to the newsletter: forzacalcionewsletter.substack.com [http://forzacalcionewsletter.substack.com/]▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forzacalcioworld/ [https://www.instagram.com/forzacalcioworld/]▶️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forzacalcioworld [https://www.tiktok.com/@forzacalcioworld] 🤝 Support the guests Matt Santangelo ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/@thatmilanpodcast?si=fM_6zjjL2CuWCU0l [https://www.youtube.com/@thatmilanpodcast?si=fM_6zjjL2CuWCU0l]▶️ https://www.instagram.com/matt_santa22/ [https://www.instagram.com/matt_santa22/]▶️ https://x.com/Matt_Santangelo [https://x.com/Matt_Santangelo] New episodes coming soon.🇮🇹⚽ FORZA CALCIO Get full access to FORZA CALCIO at forzacalcionewsletter.substack.com/subscribe [https://forzacalcionewsletter.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

002: Where have all the strikers gone?

In this episode of The FORZA CALCIO Podcast, we dive into one of the biggest talking points in Italian football: the decline of the traditional Italian striker. I am joined by Uncle Sharma, Interista and YouTuber talking all things Nerazzurri and Calcio! From legends like Bobo Vieri, Pippo Inzaghi, and even creative attackers like Francesco Totti, we explore what’s changed and why Italy isn’t producing elite forwards in the same way it once did. We break down the tactical evolution of the game, the development of players in Serie A, and whether youth development in Italy is holding back creativity and flair. Is this a real decline or just a shift in what a modern striker looks like and a failure to tactically evolve? We also highlight the positives, emerging talent, system success, and whether Italy even needs a world-class number 9 to compete at the highest level. It’s a balanced, honest discussion with strong opinions, comparisons across generations, and plenty of debate. 🎙️ If you love Italian football, this one’s for you. ▶️ Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-forza-calcio-podcast/id1865925383]▶️ Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3TbokaVtLBUr1jM6y9cuP5?si=90a76b5896694024] 🔗 Links & Promos ▶️ Subscribe to the newsletter: forzacalcionewsletter.substack.com [http://forzacalcionewsletter.substack.com/]▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forzacalcioworld/ [https://www.instagram.com/forzacalcioworld/]▶️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forzacalcioworld [https://www.tiktok.com/@forzacalcioworld] 🤝 Support the guests Uncle Sharma ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOe5T5uFI-Kp9CNHGfqmnDQ [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOe5T5uFI-Kp9CNHGfqmnDQ]▶️ https://x.com/rsharmzz [https://x.com/RSharmzz]▶️ https://www.instagram.com/theunclesharma/ [https://www.instagram.com/theunclesharma/]▶️ https://www.tiktok.com/@uncle_sharma [https://www.tiktok.com/@uncle_sharma] New episodes coming soon.🇮🇹⚽ FORZA CALCIO Thanks for reading FORZA CALCIO! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. Get full access to FORZA CALCIO at forzacalcionewsletter.substack.com/subscribe [https://forzacalcionewsletter.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

001: THE CURVA

Curva, Tifosi & the Matchday Experience Italian football doesn’t start at kickoff, it starts in the streets, the bars, the chants, and the Curva. In Episode 1 of The FORZA CALCIO Podcast, I am joined by Scott and Christian as we dive into the heart of calcio culture: the Curva, the tifosi, and what matchday truly feels like in Italy. From the build-up before the game to the noise, colour, tension, and emotion inside the stadium, this episode is about the people who give Italian football its soul. We talk about:• The role of the curva in Italian football culture• The positives and negatives of fan culture in Italy• Chants, banners, rituals, and unwritten rules• How the matchday experience in Italy differs from everywhere else This is one of those conversations that dives into fan culture in Italy, giving firsthand experience of the ups and downs of following your team in the country from those who do it regularly, so whether you’re a casual calcio fan or you’re like me, a diehard calcio aficionado, you’re going to want to stick around. ▶️ Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-forza-calcio-podcast/id1865925383]▶️ Listen on Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/3TbokaVtLBUr1jM6y9cuP5?si=90a76b5896694024] 🔗 Links & Promos ▶️ Subscribe to the newsletter: forzacalcionewsletter.substack.com [http://forzacalcionewsletter.substack.com]▶️ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forzacalcioworld/ [https://www.instagram.com/forzacalcioworld/]▶️ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forzacalcioworld [https://www.tiktok.com/@forzacalcioworld] 🤝 Support the guests Scott Balaam, founder of Tibbs News and Calcio Amore▶️ https://www.tibsnews.co.uk [https://www.tibsnews.co.uk]▶️ https://www.tibsnews.co.uk/category/calcio-amore/domenica-bastardi/ [https://www.tibsnews.co.uk/category/calcio-amore/domenica-bastardi/]▶️ https://x.com/scottbalaam [https://x.com/scottbalaam]▶️ https://www.instagram.com/scottbalaam/ [https://www.instagram.com/scottbalaam/] Christian Waugh, former sports journalist and goalkeeper coach at Lago Patria FC▶️ https://www.instagram.com/christianwaughh/ [https://www.instagram.com/christianwaughh/] New episodes coming soon.🇮🇹⚽ FORZA CALCIO Get full access to FORZA CALCIO at forzacalcionewsletter.substack.com/subscribe [https://forzacalcionewsletter.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]

Welcome to The FORZA CALCIO Podcast

Welcome to The FORZA CALCIO Podcast, the home of Italian football, its stories, its drama, and its soul. If you love calcio, not just the goals, but the tactics, the culture, the chaos, the history, you’re in the right place. I’m Luke, and this podcast is an extension of FORZA CALCIO, the newsletter built for people who live and breathe Italian football, from Serie A title races and tactical battles, to legendary clubs, iconic players, and the moments that define the game in Italy. So what is The FORZA CALCIO Podcast? This is where we go deeper. Each episode, we’ll explore: * The biggest stories in Italian football * Tactical breakdowns and trends shaping Italian football * Club histories and rivalries * Players past, present, and future * Fan stories and moments from on the ground in Italian curvas * And the cultural side of calcio, why it feels different, why it is different This isn’t hot-take football content. It’s thoughtful, informed, and passionate, just like the Italian game deserves. Get full access to FORZA CALCIO at forzacalcionewsletter.substack.com/subscribe [https://forzacalcionewsletter.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_4]