With Luciano Spalletti admitting it might be time to take Jorginho off penalty duties, there are several other Italy players ready to step up.
The Brazil-born Arsenal midfielder has failed to convert his last four spot-kicks for Italy, starting with the EURO 2020 Final shoot-out against England, two in as many 2022 World Cup qualifiers with Switzerland and Friday’s dismal effort against North Macedonia.
While initially Spalletti had said he was keeping the faith with Jorginho in future, today he gave a different version of events when speaking to Sky Sport Italia.
“We have other penalty specialists too and perhaps it would make things difficult for him if we sent him back to the spot the way I did in the press conference the other day. We are evaluating other situations too, let’s say.”
Jorginho has not successfully converted a penalty for Italy in normal time since the Nations League against Poland in November 2020.
The primary alternative would be Sassuolo captain Domenico Berardi, who had in fact offered to take it against North Macedonia until Jorginho asked him for the opportunity.
Berardi has converted 51 spot-kicks in his career, failing to convert eight, most recently against Milan in August 2022.
His only attempt for Italy at senior level was the Nations League Final Four against Belgium in October 2021.
Giacomo Raspadori is another candidate, although at senior level his only attempt was saved in August 2023 when Napoli faced Sassuolo.
Federico Dimarco barely ever takes penalties for Inter, but did have a strong record at youth level and scored three for the Italy Under-19 squad at the 2016 European Championships.
Matteo Politano is another option, converting nine out of a total 12 in his career.
It is so unfortunate that Italy played a great game, finally beat Macedonia and soundly 5-2 but we keep dwelling on the penalty shot. We need to move on and give someone else a try.
Anyone but him, he misses on purpose you can tell he is anti Italy, miss treated as a kid by the system has family in Brazil, you too would miss.
Barella can take penalties as well.
You’re saying him missing penalties is a secret protest against Italy because the system is against him? Yet he’s successful football playing for top team and was Italy’s best player at the Euros…..Lol
Many players on the National team can take penalty shows. The clown is no longer needed to do that!
@Youranumpty – he was good at the Euros but I wouldn’t say the best..
Time to change him. He missed 4 very important penalties, 3 of them cost Italy big time. This last one, good thing it didn’t make a huge difference in the final result. .and particularly at his request, should be a sign that he should never be allowed to take another penalità shot.