Fixtures, predictions and greatest gamers

For the primary time since 1972, Italy enter the European Championship because the holders.

The Azzurri had been so typically the practically males after securing their maiden European title in the course of the fairly primitive third iteration of the event in 1968.

Italy had been crushed finalists earlier than Roberto Mancini’s aspect peaked on the delayed Euro 2020 to interrupt English hearts at Wembley. Nonetheless, whereas there was a sense of the Italians using an unwavering sense of momentum on the earlier event, the holders head into Euro 2024 with a definite feeling of doubt.

This is 90min’s information to Italy at Euro 2024.

Luciano Spalletti named a 30-player provisional squad earlier than Italy’s pre-tournament friendlies after which lower 4 stars from the listing for his closing choice.

Italy stay sturdy defensively regardless of the retirements of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci since their Euro 2020 success, though Inter defender Francesco Acerbi has been compelled to withdraw via harm. Tottenham’s Future Udogie was additionally dominated out having undergone surgical procedure in April.

Manuel Locatelli is a notable absence from Spalletti’s midfield choices, whereas Gianluca Scamacca and Mateo Retegui are the one two recognised numbers 9s within the squad. Nicolo Fagioli and Michael Folorunsho are two inexperienced midfielders known as up in Locatelli’s place.

Italy’s Euro 2024 squad

Spalletti has lengthy been wedded to the 4-3-3 formation and the previous Napoli supervisor has tried to stay with the ideas that aided the Azzurri’s ascent to European glory underneath Mancini.

This Italy aspect will look very totally different from three years in the past, nevertheless. The backline has been rejuvenated and stays stout, whereas Lorenzo Insigne, Ciro Motionless and Domenico Berardi, all of whom featured closely at Euro 2020, will not be concerned this summer time.

A shift in personnel has seen Spalletti transfer away from Mancini’s 4-3-3 and undertake a really Italian 3-4-2-1. Italy’s litany of spectacular younger centre-backs make this a wise possibility and so they have arguably the world’s greatest wing-back in Inter’s Federico Dimarco.

There could also be some issues over the viability of a Jorginho and Nicolo Barella double pivot, nevertheless. Spalletti might want an additional midfield physique on the massive event and play two up prime. Federico Chiesa may work off Gianluca Scamacca in a 3-5-2.

Total, Spalletti’s Italy are barely much less control-oriented than the supervisor’s Scudetto-winning Napoli outfit. They’re much less positionally inflexible in comparison with Mancini’s Azzurri, with Spalletti handing his gamers loads of licence to roam and interchange inside the collective construction.

Their energy lies out huge with Dimarco and so they may very well be potent from crosses given the standard of the Inter man’s supply and Scamacca’s aerial skill.

With out the ball, Spalletti has to date had blended success trying to put in a man-oriented excessive press which has typically seen them wrestle to regulate contests. Nonetheless, they’re historically sturdy when defending their field and boast the requisite profiles to pose a relentless menace in transition.

Group B has ‘group of dying’ potential, with the holders being drawn alongside two groups within the prime ten of FIFA’s world rankings.

Italy will face two-time European champions Spain and a Croatia aspect that sometimes performs nicely at main tournaments, even when their Golden Technology is fading.

Albania end Group B and Italy take them on of their event opener, with Spalletti’s aspect needing all three factors in Dortmund to present them an opportunity of topping the group.

Italy’s Euro 2024 group stage fixtures

Italy’s document vs Euro 2024 group stage opponents

Italy’s potential knockout opponents

Italy have their work lower out in the event that they’re to win Group B, however such a triumph would see them rewarded with a spherical of 16 conflict in opposition to certainly one of 4 potential third-place finishers. Hosts Germany will likely be on this aspect of the draw ought to they win Group A, as will Portugal ought to they prime Group F.

A second place end would pair them up in opposition to Group A’s runner-up within the final 16. Whereas they might keep away from Germany, the Azzurri may face certainly one of Switzerland, Hungary and Scotland. Pre-tournament favourites England and France are more likely to be on this aspect of the draw, too.

Qualifying as probably the greatest third-placers can also be a risk given the energy of Italy’s group. On this case, Spalletti’s aspect are more likely to face both Belgium or Portugal within the spherical of 16.

Italy gained Euro 2020 despite Ciro Motionless’s performances up prime, with the Azzurri so typically being left brief on the quantity 9 place on the massive stage. Motionless has a exceptional scoring document in Serie A however has hardly ever carried out for the nationwide workforce.

There are excessive hopes Gianluca Scamacca can fill the void. The Atalanta striker has additionally struggled to seek out any kind of groove for his nation having scored only one purpose in 15 video games. He does, nevertheless, enter Euro 2024 having netted 18 occasions for Atalanta in 2023/24.

Federico Chiesa is ready to work intently with Scamacca and the Italians desperately want the Juventus star to rediscover his most potent type this summer time. Chiesa starred down the stretch at Euro 2020 however harm blows have prevented the electrical winger from rising as certainly one of Europe’s greatest. His type for Juve has been detached for fairly a while however he sometimes stars for the nationwide workforce.

Nicolo Barella might be Italy’s greatest participant and can carry out an all-encompassing midfield position in Germany, whereas Federico Dimarco is majestic down the left flank. Alessandro Bastoni additionally loved a superb season at Inter, whereas goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma was essential to their success three years in the past.

Atalanta’s Giorgio Scalvini was set to play an enormous position for Spalletti this summer time, particularly after Acerbi’s harm, however the younger Italian defender cruelly tore his anterior cruciate ligament throughout Atalanta’s closing Serie A outing of the season in opposition to Fiorentina and will likely be out of motion for the remainder of 2024.

With Acerbi and Scalvini out, the onus may fall on the enterprising Riccardo Calafiori, who wasn’t anticipated to characteristic closely for the Azzurri this summer time. The Bologna centre-back was borderline revelatory for Thiago Motta’s aspect in 2023/24 and is actually an attention grabbing defender.

Pessimism is the final feeling surrounding the Italian nationwide workforce heading into Euro 2024, with Spalletti’s squad choice failing to encourage.

A troublesome Group B means Italy may wrestle early on, however they’ve the defensive capability and knowhow to beat anyone on their day. Their collective simply is not fairly as sturdy because it was underneath Mancini, though they need to profit from their core gamers getting into their respective primes.

It is laborious to envisage the holders having fun with a deep run in Germany, with a quarter-final berth maybe their ceiling. It looks like they desperately want Chiesa and Scamacca to come back good.