Luciano Spalletti tested out some of his tactics for the new Italy in training today and hinted he is sticking with the 4-3-3 formation.
The former Napoli coach will make his debut on the Nazionale bench on Saturday in Skopje with a trip to North Macedonia.
According to Sky Sport Italia, Spalletti has already shown a few differences from predecessor Roberto Mancini by showing zero tolerance for players withdrawing from training for tiny knocks or twinges.
Unlike most other recent call-ups, it was notable that all 29 players called up took part in the full training session.
So far, even if it has been seen only in glimpses during the sessions that were open to the media, it looks as if Spalletti is sticking to the 4-3-3 formation.
He had two sets of teams face off against each other in drills, both of them in 4-3-3 shapes.
Matteo Politano and Mattia Zaccagni were tested out as the wide men of the trident, while Ciro Immobile and Giacomo Raspadori alternated as the centre-forward.
Early reports point towards Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Federico Dimarco as the full-backs, with Nicolò Barella and Sandro Tonali expected to get the nod in midfield.
The team flies out to North Macedonia on Friday, then after Saturday’s game will return to Italy and stay at Milan’s Milanello training camp until Tuesday’s match against Ukraine at San Siro.
Chiesa — Retegui — Zaniolo
Tonali — Locatelli — Barella
DiMarco — Bastoni — Scalvini — DiLorenzo
Provedel
Di Lorenzo, Casale, Boston, Spinazzola
Barella, Locatelli, DiMarco
Chiesa, Immobile, Zaccagni
Subs: Frettesi for DiMarco, Scalvini for Spinazzola, Politano and Raspadori, Tonali for Barella or Locatelli
Hard to believe that we haven’t got past Immobile yet
If Italy don’t come back from this international break with 6 points, they can probably kiss goodbye to another qualification.
Please not Immobile send him home. Worthless!
how Zaniolo can still have a place on this squad is mind boggling
Not only is Ciro around still… he’s also going to wear the captain’s armband!
Unbelievable! I think Rasp has to get into the starting lineup.
The fact immobile is still even in the mix tells you the absolute lack of talent left at our disposal.
My first eleven : Donnarumma Di Lorenzo, Spinazzola , Barella, Bastoni, Romagnoli, Politano, Tonali, Chiesa, Raspadori e Di Marco….
@ Paradiso
Your line up is bang on! Chiesa and Retegui would be fire!
As for Immobile possibly getting game time, this is the perfect example of every CT we’ve ever had showing too much faith in the old guard with little to show in return.
Bring Balotelli back! Give him one more chance FFS. He’s proven already that he can score when he plays for the Nazionale and tournament football is his game
Yes, #9 is the biggest question, but Retegui is an unproven trial. There’s a reason no big clubs in Argentina or Italy pursued him. Raspadori instead of Immobile, 6 to one and half a dozen to the other. Height and headers are needed. C’mon Scamaca, develop!!!
Showing to much faith in the old guard that won Euros with a, lets be honest, fairly average team makes all the sense in the world. Why would anyone replace the old guard with players that don’t play first team football domestically let alone at a European level.
Chiesa and Barella are in respects part of the old old team that won Euros and are easily our best players but why would Mancini have risked changing anything else when the only changes possible were to replace average experienced players with average players who don’t even play for their club teams week in and week out…..
Spalletti has nothing to lose right now, Mancini left abruptly so overhauling the team comes risk free; if he fails he can blame Mancini for the state of the team he was left with but if they qualify he’s a hero for being brave enough to change a 36 year old centre back.
The real question people should ask themselves when complaining about Immobile [I am not his fan either] is, who can replace him? Be honest, its not like he has taken the place of 30 a season goalscorer!
The truth is there are no top players to choose from in the first place, and Balotelli is an even bigger step back in time, a time that doesn’t need revisiting ever again!
Chiesa, Scamacca, Zaniolo, Tonali, Casadei, Barella, Dimarco/Udogie, Bastoni, Scalvini, DiLorenzo(Cap), Donnarumma
I wish this starter lineups