EMPOLI, ITALY - JUNE 9: Luciano Spalletti manager of Italy during the International Friendly match between Italy and Bosnia Herzegovina at Stadio Carlo Castellani on June 9, 2024 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)
EMPOLI, ITALY - JUNE 9: Luciano Spalletti manager of Italy during the International Friendly match between Italy and Bosnia Herzegovina at Stadio Carlo Castellani on June 9, 2024 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Multiple reports claim that Luciano Spalletti will rely on Giacomo Raspadori and Mateo Retegui in attack for Friday’s Nations League game against France.

Italy are training under the rain at Coverciano this morning and will fly out to Paris in the afternoon.

Multiple sources, including Il Corriere dello Sport and Sky Sport Italia, claim Spalletti has already chosen the strikers for tomorrow’s game, with Raspadori and Retegui starting up front.

Spalletti picks Italy strikers for Nations League game against France

Spalletti tested the strike partnership during a training session behind closed doors on Wednesday.

It is confirmed that Sandro Tonali will start at the Parc des Princes, making his first international appearance since September 2023.

Samuele Ricci and Davide Frattesi should join the Newcastle midfielder in the middle of the park.

There are mixed reports on Alessandro Bastoni, who has recovered from muscle fatigue. The Inter star was expected to rest against France but was included in the starting line-up tested at Coverciano on Wednesday.

20 thought on “Spalletti picks Italy strikers for Nations League game against France”
  1. Has Italy ever had a weaker set of forwards than in recent years?
    Italy hasn’t produced a great centre-forward since the 90s.

  2. Why does he persist with Raspadori? He doesn’t start at Napoli and he hasn’t scored in months. I am really worried about the next two games.

  3. @Pietro. Luca Toni was a monster for Fiorentina but when he put the Azzurri shirt on he wasn’t great at all.

  4. @Pietro/Bob
    No, nothing dramatic intended at all. Both Luca Toni and Del Piero WERE from the 90s.
    Toni wasn’t great for Italy and Del Piero wasn’t a centre-forward. So you’ll have to choose better.

  5. Seriously Italy is this all we really have as forwards in this country, its so laughable its not funny ??????????????????????????

  6. @Pietro.
    No, he is a product of the 90s. I said Italy haven’t produced a top centre-forward since the 90s. Toni wasn’t produced in 2004. He was playing for 10 years by that stage.

  7. @Pietro.
    No, he is a product of the 90s. I said Italy haven’t produced a top centre-forward since the 90s. Toni wasn’t produced in 2004. He was playing for 10 years by that stage.

  8. @Pietro
    Toni played from the mid 90s. That means he was PRODUCED (look it up) as a footballer in the 80s and 90s. Easy enough. He didn’t magically turn up in 2003 as say “Hey, any chance of a game?”
    And you can’t even get when he played in Serie A correctly. It was 3 years from ’00 to ’03.
    Quit with the charade, please.

  9. Yep. He was produced in the 80s and 90s.
    And make sure you know where he was playing between 00 and 03 before telling me what I know.
    Italy haven’t produced a top centre-forward since the 90s. Toni was produced in that era. You know he was, but you can’t admit you’re wrong. Sorry.

  10. Really? You said he was “playing in Serie B until 2003.”
    What league was Luca Toni playing in during the three seasons of 2000-01, 2001-02, and 2002-03?

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