Defending champions Italy bombed out of Euro 2024 last week and it was no surprise to anyone after Lionel Spalletti’s men limped through the group stage of the tournament.
The Azzurri folded when they met Switzerland in the Round of 16 and, in all honesty, it put Italy fans out of their misery after watching them pick up just one win in the tournament. In contrast Switzerland showed themselves to be well oiled and quality outfit, and goals from Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas either side of half time were enough to see their nation through and wave goodbye to the sorry Italians.
Luciano Spalletti is a top manager leading Napoli to a first Scudetto in three decades and he entered the tournament with a plan, though he left out some big names; but his chosen players failed to deliver even after they recovered from an early shock, Nedim Bajrami scoring a first minute goal, to beat Albania 2-1 in their opener. Even then the Euro 2024 betting odds shunned the Azzurri and none of our SBOTOP writers backed Italy to retain their title. In the second round of matches Italy came up against Spain, ultimately one of the four semi-finalists and, despite only losing by 1-0, the Azzurri were totally outclassed, losing the shot counts by 20 to four and nine to one on target.
Of all the Euro 2024 highlights, the one most fondly remembered by Italy fans was Mattia Zaccagni’s spectacular 98th minute equaliser to grab a 1-1 draw with Croatia and see them through to the knockout phase, while marking the end of Luka Modric’s campaign.
But that was as good as it got.
No leadership on the pitch
The Euro 2020 winning team, managed by Roberto Mancini and captained by the legendary Giorgio Chiellini wasn’t the most naturally talented team in the competition, but they had steel, style and impressive leadership. From the moment the Azzurri entered extra time in the final against England there was little doubt over the outcome and Italy won the penalty shootout in some comfort.
Chiellini’s centre back partner was the defensive rock Leonardo Bonucci, who scored Italy’s second half leveller and at that very moment the momentum of the final shifted dramatically. These players were warriors, winners and above all leaders and those were qualities which were woefully absent in the Class of 2024. Bonucci has recently done an interview in which he suggested that he could have helped the Azzurri at Euro 2024 and it’s hard to argue with the man. But, at 37 years of age, and closing his domestic career at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, Bonucci would have been a brave selection.
But take a look at Portugal. They have just been edged out of the competition by France on penalties and the Selecao had the 39 year old Cristiano Ronaldo leading the attack and the 41 year old Pepe in defence.
With the Azzurri’s senior striker Ciro Immobile missing out due to a tactical decision by Spalletti the Italy boss was counting on a much changed team…and his decision backfired spectacularly.
Lack of unity
Spalletti didn’t hold back with his words in the aftermath of Italy’s exit, saying that every player representing his nation was now under threat of being axed; and, to be fair, very few players covered themselves in glory. Up front, in Immobile’s absence, Atalanta striker Gianluca Scamacca has failed to score in 19 of his last 20 international appearances while, at the back Italy missed centre back Riccardo Calafiori who was suspended for their Round of 16 clash.
The head coach rounded on the Inter Milan contingent of Federico Dimarco, Matteo Darmian, Alessandro Bastoni, Davide Frattesi and Nicola Barella, hinting that their 2024 Scudetto win with I Nerazzurri might even have resulted in less focus on their international responsibilities.
That’s some suggestion but, at the very least it points to a disunited squad and that is a sure fire way to fail. One player who did have a good tournament is keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, the hero of Euro 2020 and now the Azzurri’s captain. At 25 years of age the 6ft 5in stopper already has 66 caps and had maturity beyond his years. He fronted up after Italy’s loss to the Swiss, apologising to the fans, saying: “Was there a lack of courage? Everything was missing, the quality, the courage…” Now is the time for Italy to rebuild and Spalletti, if he stays at the helm, has a tough task on his hands. He needs characters like Donnarumma to help his team rediscover the winning mentality, starting in September with a UEFA Nations League clash with France.
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