Roberto Mancini has confirmed that he won’t resign as Italy coach so tomorrow’s game with Turkey will be the first one of a new course which will feature many changes.
Mancini said that he won’t step down after failing to qualify for Qatar 2022. During a press conference today, he said that he’s happy that his job has been appreciated and revealed he will change a few things from the next matches.
“We can look at the potential of young players. The current team, with some addition, could have won the World Cup. There are many things we need to see. Surely, we’ll change something from the next games. We must look at the Euros in two years and prepare the team to qualify. This is our job,” the CT said.
His first chance to turn things around will come in tomorrow’s match with Turkey, the other team eliminated from the World Cup play-offs. Nine players have pulled out of the Italy squad for different reasons.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Sandro Tonali, Nicolò Zaniolo and Gianluca Scamacca are expected to start in Turkey tomorrow. Zaniolo and Scamacca hadn’t been included in the 23-man squad for the match against North Macedonia last week.
Gigio Donnarumma will likely start in goal, while Giorgio Chiellini will play one of his last games with the Azzurri at centre-back. The veteran defender will probably end his international career in June.
As per the same report, Alessandro Bastoni is the leading candidate to replace him at centre back starting from the Nations League matches in June. Tonali could become one of the centrepieces of the project, replacing Jorginho.
Scamacca is seen as the future striker of the Azzurri after Ciro Immobile failed to impress, with La Nazionale scoring just 15 goals in 55 appearances with the Azzurri. On some occasions, Mancini could also switch to a 4-2-3-1, allowing Tonali and Locatelli to play together in their preferred tactical system.
Italy’s potential XI vs. Turkey: Donnarumma; De Sciglio, Acerbi, Chiellini, Biraghi; Tonali, Cristante, Pessina; Zaniolo, Scamacca, Raspadori.
Italy’s future XI: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Bastoni, Spinazzola; Barella, Tonali (Locatelli), Verratti; Berardi (Zaniolo), Scamacca, Chiesa.
Un doppio play diverso e Scamacca centravanti: due tracce della nuova Italia #nazionale https://t.co/dBFDtcDDWc
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) March 28, 2022
If this is true, than I’m even more supportive of Mancini staying than I was previously. These are the players that need to be integrated. Scamacca has to be the #9 and we need Tonali, Zaniolo starting.
Non-inclusion of Scamacca and Zaniolo for the decider v Macedonia, as well as still starting with Jorginho instead of Tonali were very costly errors from Mancini.
Hopefully he will regain his approach that he had at the start of his time as Azzurri head coach.
Excellent team that will do very well. I do not think Jorginho should be dismissed unless he does not want to. He is still a very good player so should be in the squad. I would keep Sensi who will do very well once he starts to play regularly. I would even keep an eye out on Nicolo` Fagioli and Raul Bellanova.
What is it with him and donnarumma? Someone else should have a chance in goal
Lorenzo Pellegrini of Roma needs to become a core player. He is one of Italy’s best attacking talents and one of few who can produce a bit of magic and score goals.
Replace Insigne with Wilfried Gnonto or Caprari. And please give an opportunity to Parisi instead of Emerson.
I said it before, Italy have still got a great side! Won the euros! Unbeaten in 37? Record holders! Now after this failure they have become useless? No I don’t think so! Spinnazola is huge to the way Italy play, Locatelli should play more and let’s not forget Chiesa Bonucci we’re out! As was Di Lorenzo! Just bad timing this playoff! Mancini has done well and when everyone is fit he can swap out some older players! As for the forwards! Only thing I’d have done is maybe given Quagriarella or Caputo another go for these playoffs
@JM could not agree more. Pellegrini is such a dynamic player. Great with set pieces, an actual goalscoring midfielder which when Barella is off his game Italy don’t really have.
Calabria for Di Lorenzo
Pellegrini alternating with Barella (based on his current form)
Zaniolo ahead of Berardi
Not sure about Bonucci, he’s 39 next world cup, if we play him at the next euros it’s another chance missed to prep a younger centre back for the future, surely it’s best to give someone new a chance.
WORLD CUP 2026 LINE UP WITH THEIR AGES
Donnarumma 26
Calabria 29 Bastoni 27 Scalvini 22 Spinazzola 33
Veratti 33 Tonali 26 Barella 29
Zaniolo 26 Scammacca 27 Chiesa 28
SUBS
Luis Felipe/Mancini both 30, Romagnoli 31, Luca Pellegrini 27, Di Lorenzo 32, Locatelli 28, Pellegrini 30, Fratessi 26, Pessina 29, Berardi 31, Moise Kean 26
Others in contention and their ages at World Cup 2026
Destiny Udogie LB 23
Edoardo Bove CM 23
Nicolò Rovella CM 24
Sensi 30
Jorginho 34 – (only as a squad backup at that point)
Raspadori 26 – (I think he’s got lot to prove still, has yet to do anything for Italy, had the Ciro and Insigne factor as it stands, he’s lacking character in the team, lets hope he proves otherwise)
Sebastiano Esposito CF 23 – (so long as he fixes his attitude)
Pietro Pellegri 25 – (if fitness enables him)
And perhaps we’ll get an under the radar Roberto Baggio type player pop up which would more than likely mean a current youth player that will be 18-21 come 2026, wouldn’t that be nice.
Future line up will have to be Donnrumma; Lazzari/Calabria, Bonucci/Mancini, Bastoni, Spina; Barella/Frattesi, Veratti, Sensi/Pellegrini; Chiesa, Scamacca, Zaniolo/Zaccagni
@Dio, way to far ahead of yourself… so m many factors/variables…