The regular football season is coming to an end in most countries, and so the focus is slowly shifting to next month: the European Championship 2024 in Germany. The selections of all participating countries will be announced in the coming weeks, something they have until June 7 at the latest. Which 26 players will the national coaches take with them to the final tournament, and who will stay at home? Football zone zooms in on the options that the national coaches of the most important countries have. In this edition: Italy.

The Italians have gone through a period full of peaks and valleys. The two biggest lows were the absence from the 2018 World Cup and the 2022 World Cup. Italy failed to qualify for both tournaments. Yet there was also reason to celebrate in Italy: it was three years ago gli Azzurri European champion for the second time. England were defeated on penalties in the final at Wembley.

The national coach who was partly responsible for this is Roberto Mancini. However, he left last year and was succeeded by Luciano Spalletti. In Spalletti, the Italians have a national coach who knows how to win trophies: last year he surprisingly won the national championship with Napoli.

Yet the question remains whether Italy has a serious chance of prolonging the European title this summer. In qualifying it finished second, just above number three Ukraine, and the opponents in the group stage next month are also not easy: Spain, Croatia and Albania. With which players does Spalletti hope to pull off another stunt? The preselection will be announced on Thursday, but Football zone is already looking ahead.

Goalkeepers

Gianluigi Donnarumma may have had some ups and downs at his club Paris Saint-Germain, but he remains the undisputed number one in Italy. The 25-year-old goalkeeper played excellently during the European Championship win in 2021, as a result of which he was even named the best player of the tournament. Italy will also hope that he is in his best form this summer.

Should Donnarumma unexpectedly get injured, there will be some concerns for the reigning title holder. Alternatives Alex Meret (three international matches) and Guglielmo Vicario (one international match) have little experience in the national team, while Marco Carnesecchi and Ivan Provedel have never played for their country.

Options: Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Ivan Provedel (Lazio), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspur).

Things must be strange if Gianluigi Donnarumma does not want to be Italy's first goalkeeper this summer.

Defenders

Giovanni Di Lorenzo, captain under Spalletti at Napoli last season, will undoubtedly play an important role. He is basically a right back, but could also be the right central defender if Spalletti opts for a three-man defense. It is quite possible that the rest of the defense consists of only Inter players: Federico Dimarco, Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi.

The latter was expelled from the Italian selection in March because he allegedly made racist statements towards opponent Juan Jesus during Inter – Napoli (1-1). Nevertheless, it is expected that he will be back again this summer.

In addition, Alessandro Buongiorno also has a chance. He has only played three international matches so far, but was important in the crucial 0-0 draw against Ukraine in European Championship qualifying. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Giorgio Scalvini is one of the greatest Italian defensive talents in recent years.

Italy will almost certainly have to do without Tottenham Hotspur left back Destiny Udogie this summer, who does not appear to return until early next season due to a thigh injury. This means that the chance of a place in the European Championship selection for competitor Andrea Cambiaso is somewhat greater.

In the right back position, Spalletti has two other options besides Di Lorenzo: Matteo Darmian and Raoul Bellanova. Darmian has more experience, and his versatility could be useful if the national coach wants to change formations. Bellanova, who has only played one international match, would actually be better suited as a right wingback. He also plays in that position at his club Torino.

Options: Francesco Acerbi (Inter), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Raoul Bellanova (Torino), Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino), Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Inter), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Gianluca Mancini (AS Roma), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta).

Giovanni Di Lorenzo became Italian champion with Napoli last season, under Luciano Spalletti.

Midfielders

The fact that Jorginho has recently been getting more and more playing time at his club Arsenal is good news for him and Italy. The midfielder has stiff competition from Manuel Locatelli. However, it is expected that Jorginho can count on a starting spot during the European Championship. This also applies to the dynamic Nicolò Barella.

The other midfielders depend somewhat on the formation in which Spalletti wants to play: 4-3-3 or 3-4-2-1. He often plays in the former formation, but during the international break in March he opted for 3-4-2-1. In any case, Lorenzo Pellegrini has a good chance, also because he can play in various positions in midfield.

A formidable competitor of Pellegrini is Fiorentina midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura. Davide Frattesi will probably also be allowed to go to Germany. Although he mainly has to make do with substitute appearances for his club Inter and Italy, he still manages to score a goal regularly.

Other players who can continue to hope are Michael Folorunsho, Bryan Cristante, Matteo Pessina, Samuele Ricci and Andrea Colpani. However, the last four were not included in the selection during the last international match, partly due to injuries. Marco Verratti, who currently plays football in Qatar, seems to be staying at home this summer: he has not yet been called up since Spalletti has been at the helm.

Options: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Giacomo Bonaventura (Fiorentina), Andrea Colpani (Monza), Bryan Cristante (AS Roma), Michael Folorunsho (Hellas Verona), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Jorginho (Arsenal), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Lorenzo Pellegrini (AS Roma), Matteo Pessina (Monza), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Marco Verratti (Al-Arabi).

Jorginho was also an important player in the Italian midfield three years ago, when the European Championship was won.

Attackers

Italy's weakness once again lies in attack: it simply lacks a world-class number nine. There was hope that former PSV and PEC Zwolle striker Gianluca Scamacca would become the star up front, but he has only managed to score once in fifteen international matches so far. Partly because of this, he was missing from the Italy selection during the last international match.

Giacomo Raspadori therefore seems to be a good candidate to be the first striker next summer, but he has stiff competition from Mateo Retegui. The latter was born in Argentina, but has Italian grandparents. He ultimately decided to choose the European country, and has managed to score four times in six matches for Italy so far.

Other options in the striker include Ciro Immobile and former Ajax player Lorenzo Lucca. However, the former has not been called up during the last few international matches and is in danger of missing the European Championship. Lucca has yet to make his international debut, but is having a great season as Udinese's first striker.

Due to the lack of a real striker, many eyes are focused on the wings, where Federico Chiesa is most likely to be. Other options are Matteo Politano and Stephan El Shaarawy, but they were not included during the last international match. This offers opportunities for Riccardo Orsolini, who is important for Serie A surprise Bologna this season, and Lazio striker Mattia Zaccagni.

Options: Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Stephan El Shaarawy (AS Roma), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Lucca (Udinese), Riccardo Orsolini (Bologna), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Genoa), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio).

57-time international Ciro Immobile is in danger of being passed by Luciano Spalletti.

Probable setup

It is clear that Donnarumma will be under the bar this summer. The question remains which formation Spalletti will choose: 4-3-3 or 3-4-2-1. If the choice falls on the latter formation, it is expected that Di Lorenzo, Acerbi and Bastoni will be the back three defenders.

In principle there are Jorginho and Barella in midfield. Bellanova could well serve as the right wingback, with Dimarco on the left. Pellegrini and Chiesa may be lined up for this. They must provide the supply to deep striker Retegui, who seems to find the net more easily on behalf of Italy than competitors Raspadori and Scamacca.

Italy's probable European Championship line-up: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Acerbi, Bastoni; Bellanova, Barella, Jorginho, Dimarco; Pellegrini, Chiesa; Retegui.

Important absentees

At the end of last year, Sandro Tonali was suspended for ten months for illegal gambling practices; a hard blow for him, his club Newcastle United and Italy. The fifteen-time international would otherwise have had a good chance to start in Germany.

28-time international Domenico Berardi also has to miss the tournament. The Sassuolo attacker played an important role at the European Championship in 2021, but will now be sidelined for months due to an operation on his Achilles tendon. Udogie is also almost certainly not there in Germany. He underwent surgery after an upper leg injury, which meant his season ended in April. Nicolò Zaniolo injured his foot a week and a half ago, and has already confirmed that he will miss the European Championship as a result.

Absent: Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle United), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolò Zaniolo (Aston Villa).

This article is an update of an earlier news item. The comments below the message may therefore be less current.

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