The truth is probably in the middle for Italy between the disgusting display against Switzerland in the Round of 16 of Euro 2024 and the recent glitzy performance at the Parc des Princes versus France. Nations League matches are glorified friendlies, so it’d be foolish to rejoice too much for two victories. Still, there’s the foundation for something lasting and at least a little bit successful.
The Azzurri looked like a big work in progress during the summer competition, partially understandably so. The fact that they made it past the group stage was pure luck. They crashed back to earth quickly after the fever dream of the late equalizer versus Croatia. It wasn’t all for naught, as it would have been tough to confirm Luciano Spalletti on the bench following an abrupt exit.
The Summer Mess
It didn’t take long for everybody to turn on the coach, but he was by far the best option available after the departure of Roberto Mancini. He didn’t do himself any favors with some odd choices and hesitance. However, since no messiah is waiting in the wings, continuity is a more powerful tool than changing just for the sake of it.
The former Napoli boss seems to have learned from his mistakes. At the Euro, Italy were stuck between two schemes. The manager insisted on 4-3-3, seemingly changing his mind after calling up a squad more suitable for 3-4-2-1. They couldn’t have looked more disjointed versus Switzerland and in stretches of the first three games.
The Tactical Direction
Spalletti vowed to stick with one formation going forward, 3-5-2. While there’s no right tactic per se nor one that has more chances to pay dividends than others, he has to adapt to the men at his disposal to the best he can. This one has de facto become the most widespread in Serie A in recent years. Mechanisms matter more in the back than in other roles. Pretty much all the top defenders either play in a three-man line or are very nice fits for it, like Riccardo Calafiori, who has somehow thrived in the other type of rearguard despite his style. In the end, attitude and pace matter more than numbers. The gaffer can put his imprint on those even if his preferred choice would be something else.
Expectations should be reasonably high for Italy ahead of the 2026 World Cup. It won’t be a cakewalk, but the expansion of the pool of participants will make the qualification a lot easier and missing out even more catastrophic.
The Stars
The Azzurri have high-end talent all over the formation, but lack crucial pieces to be closer to the predictable favorites. Despite the occasional blunder and the aura of controversy that always follows him around, Gianluigi Donnarumma is one of the best goalies in the world. All the Inter centerpieces, Alessandro Bastoni, Federico Dimarco, and Nicolò Barella, aren’t in a European powerhouse simply because of their attachment to the Nerazzurri.
Davide Frattesi is superb but joined one of the few sides where he’s not a full-time starter. Sandro Tonali is world-class and didn’t need much time to show it after his suspension. Alessandro Buongiorno didn’t move to the Premier League only because Antonio Conte persuaded him and Napoli splurged to get him.
Riccardo Calafiori and Destiny Udogie did make their way to the Premier League, and they have a lot of room to grow. Andrea Cambiaso is getting better every month. Veterans like Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Lorenzo Pellegrini are still going fairly strong. There are a few more readily available if the youngsters don’t pan out.
The Missing Links
The attackers are notably absent from the list of elite contributors. It’s nothing new, as not having a star striker has held back Italy in recent years as Ciro Immobile has never been able to put up the same numbers as with Lazio, and other options have struggled to emerge completely.
The prospects are quite grim too. The search regards both a no.9 and a dynamic and pacey second fiddle. Federico Chiesa and Nicolò Zaniolo have the most quality on paper, but hoping they’ll break out, or rather go back to their heydays and stay there consistently, avoiding injuries, risks being a ‘Waiting for Godot’ situation. Their summer switches might end up hindering their game time. Spalletti and Mancini have leaned a lot on Giacomo Raspadori, who’s a good fit for a two-man frontline, but it’s tough to improve when you are a backup at your club and have slim chances of getting elevated from such a role.
Mateo Retegui will enjoy the Atalanta bump in the coming months, and perhaps he’ll manage to keep the momentum when he plays with the national team better than Gianluca Scamacca did in the Euro. That’s a big question mark. After his so-so season at Genoa, he doesn’t appear to be the prince that was promised to lift the whole offensive phase. Plus, the fact that the top two center-forwards will compete for minutes in a few months is far from ideal.
The Lack of Options
Moise Kean will do better at Fiorentina because the only way for him to go is up after his years at Juventus, but it’s very optimistic to think he’ll be the answer. Willy Gnonto and Simone Pafundi won’t be despite Mancini’s attempts to anoint them early. Tommaso Baldanzi is one of the best talents produced by Serie A in recent campaigns, but he quickly became a second or third choice at Roma. Other forwards are either too young or at least a transfer away to even aspire to be close to level necessary to help solve the problem.
A proactive playing style and midfielders and wingbacks producing in spades can make up for the lack of a top-shelf offensively duo, but everybody needs to be at their A game for that to happen consistently, which is particularly challenging in a major tournament. Spalletti and his staff will have the work cut out for them and will necessitate some lucky breaks too for Italy to raise the bar and become a real menace rather than staying incomplete.
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