Madrid (Spain), 20 April (LaPresse) – “Italy has forgotten its DNA”, which is to “think defensively”, and must “rediscover it”. This was stated by former Dutch footballer Ruud Gullit when speaking about the Azzurri’s third elimination from the World Cup, in an interview given to a group of Italian newspapers, including LaPresse, during the Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid. “Now you have no strikers, you have no defenders, and your DNA has always been like that,” he said. “I always faced the best defenders in the world in Italy, and Italy was always strong because when you defend well you always have the chance to gain an extra point, but now, almost every opportunity the opposition has could turn into a goal. It wasn’t like that in the past. The last time Italy won anything was when they had a solid defence with Chiellini, Bonucci – defenders who understood how to defend but also how to launch an attack,” “that’s how you win trophies” and “that’s what’s missing right now,” Gullit remarked. The former footballer said he hadn’t expected Italy to be knocked out, but that having forgotten its DNA was a sign that things could “go wrong”. ‘There’s no striker; there’s an Argentine who’s become an Italian as a striker,’ and ‘Italy,’ I repeat, ‘no longer has these players who defend intelligently. I’m not saying you have to park the bus, but you need defenders who know how to defend.’ According to Gullit, Italy should play “by focusing on its best qualities” and not try to imitate the style of play of Spain or PSG. As for who might be a good manager for the national team, the Dutchman did not commit himself, arguing that it is important “to have young players”. ‘Look at Barcelona, they ran out of money and had to bring in young players, and look how many there are now,’ he said. ‘It’s better not to have the money,’ he quipped.