Any chance Spalletti might have us play similar to Atalanta? Spalletti is attacking minded and recently he used a 3-4-2-1 which is kind of what Atalanta used as well. I guess Chiesa-Scamacca-Pellegrini is similar to how Atalanta played today as Lookman is a winger while De Katalare on the other side is more of an attacking midfielder. Anyone here see similarities?
He didnt really have anything more tonight than half chances though. His overall play was excellent, driving with the ball and laying it off at the right time and turning out of pressure and hitting the beautiful outside of the boot pass in the first half was pass of the night. He is an all round baller. How he was ever advised to join a David Moyes team I dont know, no matter the money they tabled. Fancy a bit of Spalletti magic for this...Italy 19.0 to win, Grow into the tournament like the last one and a legit run is on.
So when I merely suggested that Spalletti may pick Fagioli in the Rebuilding The Azzurri for Euro 2024 and beyond back thread on Oct 18, 2023 or 7 month's ago, you posted on the same day Oct 18, 2023 that it was "not plausible" and "Not even a topic". https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/rebuilding-the-azzurri-for-euro-2024-and-beyond.2120198/page-210 It turns out seven months later, my hunch was correct as I knew then that he could be an option. Italy has made a history of bringing back suspended and injured players so this is not a novelty. Gigi Allemandi in 1934 Paolo Rossi in 1982 Marco Materazzi in 2004 Francesco Totti 2006 Although he hasn't made the team yet , considering the lack of Italian players and/or depth, I think he may have a chance to make the final roster. Hypothetically, he could already be fit as he has been training on his own and free of injury.
List of 30 has not been revealed yet, but if it does include Fagioli I’m not really surprised. There were rumours that Spalletti wanted him from day 1.
Kudos to you but it will be a Preliminary Callup. He won't make the final cut. No chance. If he does then honor to you. I don't know the first name but the latter 3 were very much established in the setup. Fagioli is not. Message Repped. Also being fit and being match fit is something else entirely. But hey, with 26 players now allowed, could be.
Lucio makes no sense Locatelli Off. OK, I can accept that and can agree but why is Fagioli and Ricci in the Preliminary 30? Jack not in the 30 either. Thanks for your service. The streets will never forget him. My Projected 4 Cuts will be: Provedel (but it should be Meret), Ricci, Flororunsho, Scalvini (don't need 11 Defenders). Though it could be El Sha instead of Scalvini. Difficult to say with the emergence of Calafiori and Buongiorno. EDIT: on second thought, with no Locatelli, Flororunsho could make the cut as backup to Cristante.
I'm excited for this tournament, even though the expectations for the squad are different than last time. No historic streak w/o a loss, lots of inconsistency in all aspects over the last 2-3 years. Still, Scamacca is coming in with great form, Retegui seems good for a goal whether he's starting or coming on at 60'. Chiesa and Pellegrini are playing well. The wingbacks Dimarco and Bellanova bring significant impact to the attack. Jorginho has had a great season, and he's performed well for Italy, recently. Barella--he's great, as always, and he and the Inter boys have gotten a little more rest because they wrapped up the league title weeks ago and crashed out of the CL earlier than expected. Putting my b*tching aside, Donnarumma is a wall back there, and Spalletti seems to want Calafiori in the line-up, which changes the dynamic of the backline for the better. There's a lot of potential for this team. It's a tough group, but at least Spalletti is putting his faith in the in-form guys, as opposed to underperforming old guard. Whatever the formation, I think Italy has the personnel to win matches. Getting to watch Chiesa in the NT uniform in a competition like this is a treat. He f*cking tore it up in 2021. I expect he'll reassert himself on this stage, in case people forgot about him.
Glad Orsolini and Zaccagni are in the mix. Italy needs a pure winger on each side (other than Chiesa) if they want to change tactics.
The fact that Locatelli was even considered was a real head scratcher, he's been average at best these past couple of years. Scarso.
𝑵𝒂𝒛𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍𝒆 🇮🇹La lista dei 3️⃣0️⃣ convocati del Ct Luciano #Spalletti per il raduno in programma il 31 Maggio a #Coverciano in vista di #EURO2024 💙 ▶️ https://t.co/pJf2RwuvNT#Nazionale #Azzurri #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/PlUNRLky0I— Nazionale Italiana ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri) May 23, 2024
Studying the midfield, I’m not surprised at anything Spalletti did here. This team was missing players who can hold the ball and play it on their foot. Like I said earlier in this thread, Fagioli’s suspension was too convenient and don’t be shocked if he’s on the final squad. Italy really need someone like him to create a balance. Ricci is another player that fits the role. I think Spalletti might take both. As for Locatelli, the master Max Allegri has claimed another victim. Under him at Juve, Locatelli became “né carne, né pesce.” A guy with no clear defined role in the midfield who logged in a lot of bad performances. I feel bad but it is what it is. For the back line, I suspect that Buongiorno will be sent home. With him it’s one left foot too many.
As for the 4 players I want dropped, I'd say these ones: Meret, DiLorenzo, Folorunsho, Zaccagni. I know people will disagree with me, but I would've taken Perin over both Merit & Provedel. He hasn't played nearly as much, but I do strongly believe that he is the better goalkeeper. I'm a bit surprised not to see Locatelli and Jack, especially the former.
Locatelli was out of the last call ups if I am correct! It’s true that his recent form has not helped but I don’t know if there is anything else behind his omission! I am not sure that Fagioli will be one of the cuts! I think he has his chances of making it! I know Gnonto wasn’t in any of the recent lists on newspapers but I would have liked him in the squad!
Last euros Midfield was by far the strongest part of the squad, now it appears the weakest.Hence why Spaletti is stacking the defence. Fagioli over Locatelli is suspect. Tonali was someone we really could have used.
Predicted cuts from me: (1) Provedel — Injured of late; Meret was Spalletti’s scudetto keeper and will be taken as a formality and a demonstration of affection; regardless, a third choice option and should be a non-factor choice for the tournament. (2) Fagioli — Included by Spalletti as a demonstration of his commitment to the player moving forward. Will not make the final squad. (3) Ricci/Folorunsho — One of these two will go. I prefer Folorunsho for his dynamism and I think Spalletti will include him for his attacking ability. Offers a different option in midfield. (4) El Shaarawy/Orsolini/Zaccagni — The Berardi conundrum and Spalletti’s most difficult decision. Since Berardi’s injury, the RW position for the NT has been an uncertainty. Two of these three will go. Zaccagni is the most technical of the three and would more than likely be an alternative to Chiesa, rather than an option on the RW. El Shaarawy has evolved into a jolly on either flank and can do a job on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Orsolini possesses the greatest scoring ability out of the three, but he can be a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde. All of them merit a spot, but only two will go.
The team they send could lack in experience and for many of them will be their first tournament. While some like Calafiori will have zero Caps, there are about 6 who will have less than 10. And yeah, clearly Allegri's fingerprints are all over Loca's exclusion -- terrorism ball gone wild. Any wonder why it was precisely Locatelli who said just a few days ago that with Allegri gone, Juve have to play different next season. This needs to be a wake up call for him. As stated over on that board, with Motta arriving, he needs a fresh slate. If it's more of the same even under Motta, then it's clearly the player
Michael Flororunsho Spalletti raves about him (mentioned during the March window). Do wonder if him possibly playing for Nigeria had any say in it. I don't think so. He's earned a spot even if coming from a bottom feeder like Hellas Verona is rare.
SES has to go. Its taken him 2 seasons but he has got back into the flow of top level football after a 2 year holiday in China. I would argue he is technically the best of the three. Its not just that he has shown himself capable of doing a job in any position, he looks competent in them all. It comes down to a high football IQ and technical ability. The concept of total football was having a player who can slide into any position at anytime. He is a player of the very top calibre and really it can be argued while he has had a good career, he has underachieved for what his base talent is. Still theres a few good years left in him yet and he can continue to cement his reputation. Given his past with Spalletti, he surely must go as he trusts him. Still at his best as a left wing forward and can be a difference maker in key moments.
I can understand the omission of Locatelli given his form; however, if he takes Fagioli over him, I'm not sure I'd get that decision.
it sucks for Locatelli..i really like him. But if we're being honest in terms of tactics and quality, Fagioli is the better selection for the NT. Some may say he lacks match fitness.. but for a 23 year old who has been training, that won't be an issue. Paolo Rossi in 82 was also supposed to be lacking match fitness as well...
I’m a SES appreciator, but I don’t know I’d bring him. He is versatile, but this team is already loaded with specialists. I bring Orsolini just for the fact that he’s a bigger goal threat
Right now one thing is certain! We will be unpredictable! Maybe this will be positive! Our opponents won’t know our system! 4-3-3? 3-4-2-1? 3-5-2? The starting eleven will be also a mystery! We don’t have a stable defensive duo (or three). The same is true for the rest areas of the pitch! Everyone says his preferred lineup but Lucio sees it differently! I just wish our players develop the chemistry that is needed in these situations!
Surely there is a place for him in the 26, even if its just a supersub role. I dont think theres many players who have a knack for being in the right place at the right time like SES. He always seems to pop up in a good position and has often scored clutch goals like Lookman's first last night. Its a tough call but hes a player with the quality to start, never mind just make the squad. When Spalletti took over Roma for the 2nd time in Jan and dropped Dzeko to play a false 9. SES excelled. This team has options to do that or play a 9. Spalletti or Gasperini are about the only 2 managers capable of chopping and changing systems and getting them to perform quickly. Orsolini does deserve a spot as well. It wont be an easy decision if they have to choice between them.