Luciano Spalletti will name his first Italy squad in September and La Gazzetta dello Sport examines his potential decisions highlighting that the new Italy coach will be dealing with short of options in central defence.
Spalletti has recently been named as Italy’s new coach and will make his debut away in a 2024 EURO qualifying match against North Macedonia on September 9, followed by a San Siro meeting with Ukraine on September 12.
The ex-Napoli boss will name his first Italy squad between September 1 and 2 ahead of his first two games in charge of La Nazionale and La Gazzetta dello Sport has tried to predict his decisions.
Apparently, there are no doubts in goal where Gigio Donnarumma, Alex Meret and Guglielmo Vicario will be called up. Gigio was the starter under Mancini and it remains to be seen if he’ll keep his status with Spalletti in charge, noted Gazzetta.
Giorgio Scalvini, Alessandro Bastoni and Alessandro Buongiorno were probably the best centre-backs in Serie A Round 1, but Inter‘s Francesco Acerbi didn’t play due to an injury and the same is true of Atalanta‘s Toloi. Likewise, Federico Gatti and Nicolò Casale were not involved for Juventus and Lazio, Leonardo Bonucci is not part of Juventus’ plans, while Gianluca Mancini, Guglielmo Baschirotto and Alessio Romagnoli didn’t impress in the first Serie A game of the season.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Federico Dimarco are expected to be the starting full-backs on the right and left respectively. Inter’s Matteo Darmian should be called up too, while Juventus’ Andrea Cambiaso or Tottenham’s Destiny Udogie may be given their debuts after some good displays in the opening competitive games of the season, while Leonardo Spinazzola doesn’t seem fit enough.
Spalletti will have a lot of options in the middle of the park. Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Barella will surely be called up. Manuel Locatelli, Bryan Cristante, Samuele Ricci and Tommaso Baldanzi did well in their Serie A opener. Cesare Casadei scored on his Leicester City debut and was the best scorer and MVP in the U20 World Cup. Will it be enough to get his first Italy call up or will Spalletti leave him for the U21 squad?
Lorenzo Pellegrini and Jorginho could also be called up, while Marco Verratti is unsure of getting a place in the squad being out of PSG’s plans, just like Bonucci at Juventus.
Fast forward to the attack, Domenico Berardi, Moise Kean and Wilfried Gnonto have yet to make their competitive debuts this season. Lazio’s Mattia Zaccagni was disappointing on his 2023-24 debut, while Giacomo Raspadori, Matteo Politano and Federico Chiesa were in scintillating form.
Ciro Immobile, Andrea Belotti and Federico Bonazzoli scored on their season debut, while Gianluca Scamacca put in a good performance when introduced from the bench in Atalanta’s 2-0 win over Sassuolo on Sunday.
Mateo Retegui was disappointing, just like the entirety of the Genoa squad in their loss 4-1 home loss to Fiorentina, but the Argentine-born striker still has a chance of being called up by Spalletti.
call balotelli and give him a chance we need a strong phyiscal presence up front no short weak players
wow, what a selection of players for Spalletti in midfield. Italy will be able to dominate most teams with such a strong midfield. The defense and goalkeeping i think is solid as well with de Marco and De Lorenzo able to push up and create offense from the back. The problem remains the striker position with a lack of a prolific goalscorer, but this selection of players should be able to produce enough offensively and find goals from other positions to go a long way in the European championship.
I have to agree with Enrico 4 !!! I’m sure it sounds crazy to most of you, but why not give Balotelli a chance it’ll be his last chance, and he may make good on it !!! a big body upfront is always welcome and he knows how to play with his back to goal when he wants to. I can hear the chance of Super Mario. In my head.!!!
Italy must slove their biggest problem , goals from the wingers and MIDFIELDERS , as per goal scoring MIDFIELDERS, castroveli,benaventura, tonali, casadei, Pellegrini,nicolo berrella, sensi ,as per wingers grifo orsolini chiesa, GIVE RASPADORI THE CENTRE FORWARD SLOT , HE CAN PLAY ANYWHERE IN THE FRONT 3 OR BEHIND THE FRONT 3, but as a centre forward he would be deadly on the counter attack .
potentially azzurri will rise & shine with spalletti.
Call balotelli
Enrico, what are you smoking? Balo is 8 years past his prime.. I could do more out there..
I really like Baldanzi. I’d put him and Casadei on this squad. Yes, they have to qualify, but it’s time to give more youth a chance.. both are offensive threats.. you don’t necessarily need a designated striker.. It’s nice to have, but you have to make due..