⚽ Italy – Key Euro Statistics ⚽
Appearances in euros: 10
European titles: 2
Finest end: Winners (1968, 2020)
Euro document: G21 E18 P6
Objectives scored: 52
Largest victory: 3-0 (vs Türkiye and vs Switzerland in Euro 2020)
Participant to observe: Federico Dimarco
World rating: nineth
Group calendar:
- June, 15: Italy vs Albania (BVB Stadion, Dortmund, 21:00 native time/19:00 GMT)
- June twentieth: Spain vs Italy (Enviornment AufSchalke, Gelsenkirchen, 21:00 native time/19:00 GMT)
- June 24: Croatia vs Italy (Leipzig Stadium, Leipzig, 21:00 native time/19:00 GMT)
The way to comply with our Euro 2024 protection: Euro 2024 on Al Jazeera
Italy arrives on the Euro Cup as defending champions, however the title comes with out aura; has been regularly eroding since that unbelievable summer season evening at Wembley, London, in 2021.
Lower than a yr after their biggest Euro glory, the Azzurri confronted the ignominy of lacking out on the 2022 Qatar World Cup after a shocking injury-time purpose noticed them lose the playoff semi-final to the minnows of North Macedonian soccer.
Their Euro 2024 qualifying marketing campaign was equally tense.
After their first two qualifying matches (a loss to England and a win over Malta), Italy was rocked by the resignation of coach Roberto Mancini after greater than 5 years in cost.
He was changed by Luciano Spalletti, whose first match in cost was a 1-1 draw, which was additionally in opposition to his 2022 nemesis, North Macedonia. With only one win of their first three video games, qualification for Euro 2024 all of a sudden seemed precarious.
A streak of three wins in 4 video games noticed Italy enter the ultimate group recreation in opposition to Ukraine realizing {that a} loss would take them to the playoffs. A tense goalless draw ensured a direct move to the Euro Cup because of their superior head-to-head document.
The guess went fallacious
Along with their qualification issues, the Italian crew’s preparations have been rocked by a betting scandal through which police visited the nationwide crew’s coaching middle in Coverciano earlier than their qualifying matches in October to query Sandro Tonali and Nicolo Zaniolo. The duo subsequently left the camp and Tonali obtained a 10-month suspension from the Italian Soccer Federation.
Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli additionally obtained a seven-month ban after being discovered responsible within the investigation, however was included in Italy’s ultimate 26-player squad for Euro 2024.
His inclusion is indicative of the dearth of attacking choices in entrance of Spalletti.
Zaniolo and striker Domenico Berardi have been dominated out of the match by harm, whereas Marco Verratti and Lorenzo Insigne not play for his or her golf equipment in Europe and have fallen out of nationwide favour.
Accidents have hampered Federico Chiesa’s progress, with the 26-year-old Juventus ahead but to regain the shape that noticed him gentle up Euro 2020.
Gianluca Scamacca, who scored 19 objectives for Europa League winners Atalanta this season, is anticipated to steer the entrance line however has scored only one purpose for Italy in his 15 appearances.
Giacomo Raspadori is the opposite attacking choice at Spalletti’s disposal, however he has solely managed 12 objectives within the final two seasons.
Protection is the very best type of assault.
All of this factors to a facet that might be constructed round its protection. Unsurprisingly, the Azzurri will not be wanting expertise on this division – their 30-man preliminary squad consists of 11 defenders.
Of those 11, 4 have been from Inter Milan (earlier than Francesco Acerbi’s late withdrawal by harm) and, given the Nerazzurri’s parsimonious protection this yr, Inter’s three remaining defenders are more likely to begin in Germany.
The 22 objectives Inter have conceded in Serie A this season are the bottom amongst all golf equipment in Europe’s high 5 leagues. The feat was achieved by enjoying a protection of three. So replicating a system with a gaggle of defenders already snug enjoying in it appears nearly a no brainer for Spalletti’s nationwide crew at Euro 2024.
The coach used a three-man protection for the primary time throughout his tenure within the March 2024 friendlies in opposition to Venezuela and Ecuador, with Italy profitable each. The pattern dimension is small however the ceiling might be excessive.
A backline consisting of Alessandro Bastoni and Alessandro Boungiorni, Acerbi’s doubtless substitute, with Federico Dimarco and Matteo Darmian as full-backs is, on paper, among the best defenses at Euro 2024.
However will that be sufficient to advance within the match?
Spalletti admitted in an interview with Sky Italia that there are different nations which are at a better stage than Italy however he backed his crew to compete with them.
“Our purpose is to return from Germany and listen to the Italians say, ‘We’re pleased with you,'” he stated.
Drawn into a tricky group that features Spain, Croatia and Albania, even reaching the quarter-finals would go a great distance in the direction of Spalletti attaining his purpose.
If the Italians handle to drag off an unlikely coup within the match, they are going to be part of Germany and Spain because the document three-time European champions.
⚽ Italy’s ultimate squad for Euro 2024 ⚽
Captain: Gianluigi Donnarumma
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris St Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspur)
Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Raoul Bellanova (Torino), Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino), Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Gianluca Mancini (Rome)
Midfielders: Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Nicolo Fagioli (Juventus), Michael Folorunsho (Hellas Verona), Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan), Jorginho (Arsenal), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)
Ahead: Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Genoa), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio)
You’ll be able to comply with the motion on Al Jazeera’s devoted Euro 2024 match web page with all of the match build-up and stay textual content commentary, and keep updated with the group standings and real-time match outcomes and occasions.
