Italy without top striker Retegui against DFB team

Leading scorer of series A

Italy has to do without top strikers Mateo Retegui in the National League games against the German national team. The professional of Atalanta Bergamo cannot appear on Thursday and Sunday due to a thigh injury in the two quarter -finals and has already left the selection. The Italians announced this one day before the first leg in Milan (8:45 p.m./ARD).

Retegui is the top scorer of Serie A with 22 goals in 27 games. In the team of national coach Luciano Spalletti, he was set as a storm tip. Instead of the 25-year-old, Moise Kean from AC Florence is likely to appear. “I expect an exchange of blows and that fits Kean well,” said Spalletti. The 25-year-old is number two behind Retegui in the league with 15 goals so far.

Spalletti initially nominated no replacement for Retegui. He announced that he first wanted to see the first leg and then know which types of attackers he may have to get.

In general, the 66-year-old does not find that the failures of Kai Havertz and Florian Wirtz significantly reduce the quality of the teams in the DFB selection: “I am convinced that we will have a nice game.” He could possibly only use his winger, which was recently courted by Manchester City and Pep Guardiola, because of a slight blessing.

Italy’s Calafiori in front of DFB duel: “Never just a game like any other”

The Squadra Azzurra wants to prescribe an intensive pressing against technically experienced and fast Germans. “We must not give you the opportunity to have an open field in front of you,” emphasized the coach from Tuscany. He had previously raved about the history and special emotionality of the duel Italy against Germany. Defender Riccardo Calafiori underlined this: “This is never just a game like any other.” In 37 duels so far, Italy won 15 times and ten times, but in the last meeting in 2022 the DFB team clearly prevailed 5-2.