The Euro 2024 tournament was a little short of a disaster for Italy. Fans and observers had slim hopes that the Azzurri could successfully defend the trophy they had won three years earlier, but the scale of the disappointment was still immense.
A limp exit at the last 16 stage following three unconvincing performances in Group B somehow managed to be even worse than many expected. Since then, some fans have tried to forget about it by focusing on the upcoming Serie A season or trying non-football activities, like the Big Bass Bonanza slot game.
Those who could not put it out of their minds have been calling for manager Luciano Spalletti to go. We now know that is not happening now, so the focus must be on rebuilding the Italian team for the future.
There are signs of brighter prospects and some players who could help bring the shine back to Italy in the wake of the Euros.
Youth is the Key
Most observers agree that Italy must look to younger players as it tries to recover from this failure. The nation’s victory at the Under-19 Euros during the summer of 2023 was evidence that promising youthful talent exists to be mined.
Those players, alongside the better performers at Euro 2024, must now be brought to the fore. Here are some of the players who can help turn things around for Italy ahead of the World Cup in two years.
- Destiny Udogie
This Tottenham Hotspur starlet is widely considered a future leader of the Italian team. The left-back was forced to miss the Euros after sustaining a quadriceps injury, but he must surely be high in contention now.
Federico Dimarco took the first-choice left-back slot for the tournament and struggled badly. The Nerazzurri star reacted with a goal against France last week, while Udogie provided an assist for Giacomo Raspadori.
Udogie shares many traits with Dimarco, including his tendency to move forward to help build attacks. However, given the latter’s poor rating in his first big tournament, Udogie might also be a more solid defensive option.
- Mattia Zaccagni
Striker Zaccagni was part of the squad for the Euros, but his limited game time means that the failure does not tarnish him. His positive contribution was a goal against Croatia to help Italy out of Group B.
Many felt he should have been chosen for the last-16 game against Switzerland ahead of Stephan El Shaarawy. Zaccagni showed enough potential to suggest he will play more of a role as Italy look to bounce back quickly.
- Riccardo Calafiori
Although he may have put through his own net in the group match against Spain, Calafiori made a few other errors during the tournament. Now that the country is analysing what went wrong at the Euros, it is essential to focus on the big picture rather than individual mistakes.
If further evidence were needed of how highly rated the 22-year-old defender is, his big-money move from Bologna to Arsenal this summer should provide it. Calafiori combines excellent positional sense and marking abilities with height and physical strength.
That makes for a potent mix, and he will showcase it on a bigger stage from now on. He should also be a fixture for his country in future international matches.
- Giorgio Scalvini
Right alongside him at the heart of the Italian defence should be another young star, Giorgio Scalvini of Atalanta, who is currently recovering from a knee injury. He is just 20 years old, but that makes it the right time to start playing him regularly in preparation for the next World Cup as soon as he returns to action.
Scalvini has played for Italy at every level from U15 upwards and has made eight senior appearances so far. His height makes him an imposing figure at centre-back, and he makes the most of it when it comes to aerial battles.
When combined with his comfort on the ball and fine distribution, it has earned him comparisons with the Italian great Alessandro Bastoni. Inter appear to share that belief and are keeping tabs on his progress at his current club.
Every top Italian team is built on a solid defence, and players like Scalvini and Calafiori represent the next generation, which is part of that tradition.
The Italian national side have a rebuilding job to undertake after the let down of the Euros, but there is talent available to enable them to compete at the next World Cup.