Yeah. Does anyone even remember last World Cup qualifying? The games before the qualifying we didn't do well in and it pushed us into Pot 2 which ultimately put Spain into our group and ultimately put us into a do or die situation with Sweden. So even if the actual tournament itself isn't important (I'd argue tho players are taking it more seriously than your typical friendly) just the mere fact we had to do well to stay in Pot 1 was important itself. Also with the final four being in Italy, I find it highly likely the players will be taking this seriously next October.
Here is my Euro 2021 squad (with their age in 2021) Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (22) Salvatore Sirigu (34) Alex Meret (24) Right Backs: Leonardo Spinazzola (28) Alessandro Florenzi (30) Centre Backs: Leonardo Bonucci (34) Francesco Acerbi (33) Alessio Romagnoli (26) Daniele Rugani (26) Left Backs: Cristiano Biraghi (29) Federico Dimarco (23) Central Miedfielders: Jorginho Frello (29) Manuel Locatelli (23) Nicolò Barella (24) Marco Verratti (28) Lorenzo Pellegrini (24) Nicolò Zaniolo (22) Wingers: Lorenzo Insigne (30) Domenico Berardi (26) Federico Chiesa (23) Stephan El Shaarawy (28) Strikers: Ciro Immobile (31) Patrick Cutrone (23)
My Euro 2020 prediction squad update after this last international window: Portieri: Gigio Donnarumma Salvatore Sirigu Marco Silvestri Difensori: Alessandro Florenzi Giovanni Di Lorenzo Giorgio Chiellini Leonardo Bonucci Francesco Acerbi Alessandro Bastoni Emerson Palmieri Luca Pellegrini Centrocampisti: Jorginho Manuel Locatelli Nicolo Barella Marco Verratti Nicolo Zaniolo Stefano Sensi Attacanti: Andrea Belotti Ciro Immobile Moise Kean Lorenzo Insigne Federico Chiesa Domenico Berardi Just missing out / Alternates: - Alex Meret - Alessio Romagnoli - Gaetano Castrovili - Lorenzo Pellegrini - Federico Bernardeschi - Riccardo Orsolini - Kevin Lasagna
In my opinion: Sensi is a finished player, he is always injured, and even if he was fit, i wouldn't call him. Emerson Plamieri is a good player but he is a bench warmer at Chelsea, and Italy has other options such as Biraghi and Dimarco. Lasagna shouldn't be even considered in the alternates, although he did well in the past, he has been the worst striker of serie A so far this season. As alternate striker I would consider much more Cutrone, who will find for sure more play time with the new coach Prandelli, and Scamacca, who did well in the last under 21 and Genoa games.
I thnk Scamacca will play the under 21 finals next year (group stage in march and knockout stage in late may-early) and join the Azzurri at the start of next season.
If the U21 do make the knockout phrase I'm curious who is staying with this team for those matches and who is getting called up for the Euros.
Mancini & Evani have put together a great Italy squad. Easily among the top ten in the world. Hard to believe they are only ranked at #12 by FIFA.... The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking - Ranking Table - FIFA.com
The end of 2020 FIFA ranking which was released today - particularly important as its the basis of the 2022 UEFA WCQ draw next month - sees Italy return to the top 10 for the first time in 4 years! They end the year in tenth position and will be among the top 10 seeds for the draw.
That's a testament to the good work Mancini has done with the side, especially considering what a disaster it was when he took over.
Barella is superb. If he's not our best player, he's awfully close. The defense and midfield will be among the strongest in the tournament. We have to hope that Insigne and Chiesa carry their league form over and that Immobile isn't terrible like usual with the NT.
Nicolò Barella was born on February 7th 1997.... He will be 24 & 1/2 for the Euro this summer and 25 & 1/2 if Italy makes the WC next year. That's prime age for a national team player.
A little under 6 months out, I'll put together a 23 man squad, though I think because of potential COVID issues, I could see UEFA expanding squads to safeguard that. Also this is a squad I believe Mancini will take, not necessarily one that I would take GK- Gigio, Sirigu, Silvestre RB- Florenzi, Calabria LB- Spinazzola, Emerson (a lock if he gets a move this window, even still pretty likely on the squad) CB- Bonucci, Acerbi, Chiellini, Bastoni MF- Veratti, Barella, Jorghino, Locatelli, Pellegrini, Zaniolo ATT- Insigne, Berardi, Chiesa, Kean, Belotti, Immobile If they go to a 30 man squad the following will make the side imo Cragno Romagnoli (Just missed final cut) D'Ambrosio (versatility would be nice) Biraghi (Could make team if emerson doesn't get game time) Castrovilli (I would take him over jorghino personally) Bernadeschi (not enough game time, but could be in the squad if mancini decides only to take belotti and immobile) El Shaarawy (if zaniolo or fit). In terms of players I would have considered, but doubt mancini will call up for the euros (maybe nations league or world cup): Dimarco Di Lorenzo Lazzari Zaccagni Pessina Tonali (still raw, but could be considered if he continues to show progress like he has in recent matches) Caputo (Please drop immobile for him)
I don’t follow Insigne too much. Saw him in the supercoppa against Juve and he looked horrible , missing a pk. He got a #4 player rating on the day. Saw him crying after they the game. Is he still in the national team pool or are his chances diminishing?
nah hes really good. he had a goal and a superb assist the league game before against Fiorentina. He's had more goals this season than any season so far and its only halfway thru
Uefa announced today that they are increasing squad sizes to 26: Donnarumma Meret Sirigu Bastoni Chiellini Bonucci Acerbi Mancini Florenzi Lazzari Di Marco Spinazzola Emerson Palmieri Locatelli Sensi Barella Verratti Jorginho Pellegrini Berardi Insigne Chiesa Bernardeschi Belotti Immobile Kean
I would echo most of the selections you’ve made with a few exceptions. GK (1) Donnarumm (2) Sirigu (3) Cragno DEF (4) Chiellini (5) Bonucci (6) Acerbi (7) Bastoni (8) Mancini (9) Florenzi (10) Di Lorenzo (11) Emerson (12) Spinazzola MID (13) Verratti (14) Jorginho (15) Barella (16) Pellegrini (17) Sensi (18) Locatelli (19) Cristante/Soriano/Castrovilli* FOR (20) Immobile (21) Belotti (22) Insigne (23) Berardi (24) Chiesa (25) Kean (26) Bernardeschi/El Shaarawy/Grifo* The additional midfield spot is huge. Any of the three (Cristante, Soriano, or Castrovilli) will be an added bonus. All of them are versatile midfielders that can cover various roles and provide something a bit different from the other six. With the addition of 3 players to the roster, I don’t think Bernardeschi’s “versatility” is as critical for an international tournament as it would be in a normal 23 man squad. For that reason, I think Mancini should decide to go with a more attacking winger that has an eye for goal, like El Shaarawy or Grifo. El Shaarawy hasn’t played much lately for Roma, but he has always performed at the international level for Italy. As for Grifo, Mancini seems to have a liking for the Freiburg winger and, in my opinion, he’s performed well enough to grab the last spot in his appearances.
Bad news about Spinazzola! A lesion to his left flexor! Can he make it for Euros? Is there enough time to fully recover? I really want him in the team!
if Spinazzola can't go... i'd give Federico Di Marco a look at LB. he's had a solid year and while he doesn't have the speed LS has... he's had a great season at hellas. or you can go the safe route and take the game winning goal machine Darmian.
does anybody know if we are wearing the white "renaissance" jerseys at the euros or the new shitty puma training jersey whites that came out?