Torino talisman Samuele Ricci has earned plaudits for his dynamic performance as Italy came from behind to beat France 3-1 on Friday. Luciano Spalletti’s side recovered from a first-minute deficit to stun the Parc des Princes at the start of their 2024/25 UEFA Nations League campaign.
Ricci failed to make the Italy squad for EURO 2024. However, Bryan Cristante and Jorginho faced mass criticism for their underwhelming showings in a deep-lying midfielder’s role. The duo’s disappointing tournament forced Spalletti’s hand in September’s international break.
After Torino’s lively start in Serie A, Ricci has regained his place in the national team, registering his first senior start for Italy on Friday. It was a resounding success, with Gazzetta dello Sport describing the 23-year-old as a player ‘with the naturalness of a veteran.’
Formerly linked with several top Italian clubs, Ricci showcased his class against one of the best European teams. He was the ‘puppet master’ for Italy last night, pulling all the strings in the midfield alongside Newcastle United star Sandro Tonali.
The latter has returned to football fields following a nine-month suspension for breaching betting rules, marking his Italy reunion with a delightful assist for Inter stalwart Federico Dimarco. Ricci couldn’t make his name visible on the board.
Yet, he excelled, completing 59 passes while boasting an eye-catching 92% pass completion rate. The Torino ace fared equally well at the back, helping Italy defend against the likes of Antoine Griezmann and Kylian Mbappe.
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