Italy’s Euro 2024 Squad: Who is Luciano Spalletti taking to Germany?

The reigning champions have had their ups and downs in recent years; do they have the quality to defend their continental crown this summer?

They couldn’t do it again, could they? The Azzurri left England reeling at Wembley to clinch the Euro 2020 crown and are eyeing an even bigger upset in Germany this summer. Once again, Italy faces missing out on World Cup qualification, but while it was clear ahead of the recent European Championship that they were becoming a real force under Roberto Mancini, there are serious questions about the strength of the current squad.

Of course, there is no doubt about the quality of the coach. Indeed, with Luciano Spalletti, Italy could not hope to find a better replacement for Mancini, who resigned less than a year ago, before quickly taking charge in Saudi Arabia.

It was Spalletti who led Napoli to an impressive Serie A title last season and, despite taking over the team just before the end of the season, he managed to get his country to Germany by guiding Ukraine to second place in England’s group.

However, Spalletti does not have the same quality as he had at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, especially from an attacking point of view, so it is critical that he maximises his resources to his liking if Italy has any chance of retaining their European crown.

So who has made the cut for Italy’s Euro 2024 squad? And who will start for the Azzurri in Germany? GOAL breaks it all down below…

Goalkeepers

Gigi Donnarumma continues to have his ups and downs at Paris Saint-Germain, but he remains Italy’s undisputed No.1. The 25-year-old was impressive in the Azzurri’s Euro 2020 triumph, helping him become the first goalkeeper to win the Player of the Tournament award, and he will also play a crucial role for his country’s hopes of success this time around.

Indeed, an injury to Donnarumma would be a disaster for Italy, with Alex Meret having only three caps to his name and Guglielmo Vicario just one.

Three goalkeepers include: Gigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham)

Defenders

Spalletti’s former captain at Napoli, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, is set to play a significant role, whether at right-back or in the centre of a three-man defence, while Inter duo Federico Dimarco and Alessandro Bastoni are almost certain to start. Francesco Acerbi is also likely to feature in Spalletti’s first XI, but the veteran has had to pull out due to injury, meaning an opportunity will present itself to another centre-back.

Alessandro Biongiorno is certainly a strong candidate for Acerbi’s spot. The Torino centre-back conceded a penalty in the friendly in March against Venezuela but excelled in the crucial qualifier against Ukraine, which was only his second cap.

Gianluca Mancini has also returned to the frame, but don’t rule out Riccardo Calafiori, the converted full-back who has emerged at centre-half this season for Serie A surprise package Bologna.

Elsewhere, the absence of Tottenham’s left-back Destiny Udogie through injury has created an opportunity for the uncapped but versatile Andrea Cambiaso. On the opposite side, Matteo Darmian is now 34 but a sure bet – even potentially on the right of a three-man defence, though Raoul Bellanova is more likely to start if Spalletti goes with wing-backs, with the Torino man having impressed in the friendly against Ecuador.

Ten defenders include: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Raoul Bellanova (Torino), Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino), Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Inter), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Gianluca Mancini (Roma).

Midfielders

Jorginho’s return to form at Arsenal is a huge boost for Italy as the 32-year-old is expected to anchor a midfield that also features the dynamic Nicolo Barella, who scored a wonderful goal against Ecuador.

Then, a lot will depend on whether Spalletti sticks with his usual 4-3-3 formation or employs the 3-4-2-1 system that he tested in the March internationals. Either way, Lorenzo Pellegrini should feature, with good form for club and country, as well as the ability to play in a three-man midfield or as a more advanced midfielder alongside a striker.

Elsewhere, Davide Frattesi isn’t a regular starter at Inter but has developed a knack for scoring important goals for the national team, meaning he could easily break into the first team, while Nicolo Fagioli has been called up despite only having made his debut for Italy in November 2022 – as well as missing virtually the entire season due to a suspension after being banned for illegal betting activities.

Roma’s Bryan Cristante is always a potential inclusion but Michael Folorunsho is a bit of a wild card, with the Napoli-owned midfielder sneaking into the squad after a successful loan spell at Verona.

Seven midfielders include: Nicolo Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Nicolo Fagioli (Juventus), Michael Folorunsho (Verona), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Jorginho (Arsenal), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)

Forwards

Once again, the attack is Italy’s major weakness. Simply put, they don’t have a world-class No.9. Gianluca Scamacca has scored just one goal in 15 appearances for his country, but to be fair to the Atalanta striker, he has responded well to his international omission in March and has been recalled for the Euros.

At one point, Giacomo Raspadori seemed the most likely to lead the line in Germany, but he has probably been usurped by Argentina-born Mateo Retegui (yet another testament to Italy’s desperation for a striker!) who joined Genoa from Boca Juniors last year and has scored four goals in seven appearances for his adopted country.

With the lack of quality options at No.9, the Azzurri really need winger Federico Chiesa to recapture his Euro 2020 form, while Spalletti could also do with Roma’s frustratingly inconsistent Stephan El Shaarawy proving his worth.

Indeed, the clearest path to someone emerging as an unlikely hero in Germany could well be Lazio winger Mattia Zaccagni, who has forced his way into the fold ahead of Bologna’s Riccardo Orsolini.

Six forwards include: Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Genoa), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio)

Projected lineup (3-4-2-1):

Obviously, Donnarumma picks himself in goal, and Bastoni and Dimarco will start if Italy play with a back three or four. Jorginho, Barella and Pellegrini are certain in midfield, while Chiesa will occupy the preferred left flank if he is fully fit (always a concern for the Juve man).

The composition of the rest of the team at this time is a bit less clear due to uncertainty over the formation. However, if Spalletti decides to use the 3-4-2-1 formation, we could see Di Lorenzo and Bastoni on either side of Biongiorno.

Bellanova has put himself in contention to start on the right, while Scamacca’s call-up now has every chance of starting because he is genuinely in good form in recent weeks and months – unlike many of his rivals for the No.9 shirt.

Expected Italy lineup (3-4-2-1): Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Buongiorno, Bastoni; Bellanova, Barella, Jorginho, Dimarco; Pellegrini, Chiesa; Scamacca.

⚽️ UEFA Euro 1960 to 2021 with 16 tournaments and 10 national champions

⏩ Germany won the Euro 3 times (1972 – 1980 – 1996)

⏩ Spain won the Euro 3 times (1964 – 2008 – 2012)

⏩ France won the Euro 2 times (1984 – 2000)

⏩ Italy won the Euro 2 times (1968 – 2020)

⏩ Soviet Union won the Euro once in 1960

⏩ Czechoslovakia won the Euro once in 1976

⏩ Netherlands won the Euro once in 1988

⏩ Denmark won the Euro once in 1992

⏩ Greece won the Euro once in 2004

⏩ Portugal won the Euro once in 2016

With the participation of the strongest European teams according to the FIFA ranking on February 15, 2024 such as France (2nd) – England (3rd) – Belgium (4th) – Netherlands (6th) – Portugal (7th) – Spain (8th) – Italy (9th) – Croatia (10th) and bright stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku to promising young talents, Euro 2024 promises to deliver top-level and dramatic matches.

EURO 2024 will take place in Germany from June 14 to July 14, 2024 in 10 cities in Germany with 24 participating teams. The teams are divided into 6 groups to select the first and second teams in each group, and the 4 third-placed teams with the best performance to get a ticket to the knock-out round. The opening match is scheduled for June 14 between host Germany and Scotland.

⚽️ Detailed EURO 2024 match groups:

⚽️ Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland

⚽️ Group B: Spain, Croatia, Italy, Albania

⚽️ Group C: England, Denmark, Serbia, Slovenia

⚽️ Group D: Poland, France, Netherlands, Austria

⚽️ Group E: Slovakia, Romania, Belgium, Ukraine

⚽️ Group F: Portugal, Turkey, Czech Republic, Georgia