Italy created the best chances against Turkey thanks to high pressing, but they moved the ball too slowly to cause trouble for Vincenzo Montella’s side. Here are three talking points from Italy’s first pre-Euro 2024 friendly.
Bryan Cristante had the best chance for the Azzurri at the Stadio Dall’Ara last night, but the performance from Luciano Spalletti’s men was too sloppy to deserve a win against Turkey.
It is still not time to panic, but what did we learn from last night’s draw in Bologna?
Better pressing than the build-up
The main problem was that Italy moved the ball too slowly against a team that defended with a low block to keep things tight at the back. Quite predictably, it’s the same scenario we can expect in less than two weeks when the Azzurri will make their Euro 2024 debut against Albania. Turkey looked very organised under Montella, but the Azzurri did little to cause trouble for their opponents. Aside from the Cristante header, which came from a corner kick, Italy had the best chances after winning the ball high up the pitch. It is a good sign because it proves that players are absorbing what Spalletti wants and are fit enough to do so.
New striker, different approach
Scamacca wasn’t even on the bench as he had played two days earlier for Atalanta against Fiorentina. Mateo Retegui started and only had a real chance to hurt when he sent a shot over the crossbar with a bicycle-kick attempt. With the Genoa striker on the pitch, the wingers and the attacking midfielder – Lorenzo Pellegrini – tended to go too quickly inside the box, or at least they tried to, giving more reference points to Turkey’s defence. When Giacomo Raspadori was introduced for a few minutes in the second half, alongside Davide Frattesi, the Azzurri tried to attract their opponents outside the box, and the diminutive Napoli striker had a good chance seconds before the full-time whistle but was denied by Altay Bayındır.
Who will be cut?
The squad currently has 29 players, so three will be cut on June 6. One could be Ivan Provedel, who was sent to the stands alongside Scamacca and Nicolò Barella. The two remaining will be outfield players. Those who seem more at risk are Michael Folorunsho, Samuele Ricci, and one between Riccardo Orsolini and Mattia Zaccagni. Folorunsho and Ricci spent the whole game on the bench. Orsolini and Zaccagni played 45 minutes each but failed to impress. Roma winger Stephan El Shaarawy also spent the entirety of the game on the bench, but contrary to Zaccagni and Orsolini, he can play in different positions in attack and midfield, and his international experience will probably give him the edge over the Lazio and Bologna wingers. Those who didn’t play last night will be deployed in a friendly at Coverciano today, against Italy U20. Then all players will return home, and only 26 will come back to the training centre on June 7. Spalletti will announce the final 26-man squad a day earlier, on June 6.
Lethargic Italy … God forbid the worst when the tournament kicks off.
It seems ominous that the AZZURRI will not make it to the next stage and will be coming home early.
i agree i hope they do well i think the finishing will cost them they should have belootelli a chance i wish them well