Italy restarts amidst doubts: Mancini prepares for the match against England with a thousand problems

Andrea Elefante-Fabio Licari

March 17th
– Milan

It’s not an emergency, but Mancini is losing many pieces in attack and defense and perhaps Italy will have to reinvent itself. Not the best way to approach the most important challenge towards the European Championship, in Naples, against an England that has a couple of not despicable reasons to give its soul: the knockout in the Euro final at Wembley and the defeat in the Nations League. Sooner or later he will want to take revenge. Southgate is in better shape, has all the starters and forward can field Kane, Fode, Rashford, Grealish, Saka. Il Mancio will have to work imaginatively in two out of three departments. And with the definitive no to Raspadori, the best of the last few games, not to mention Immobile out, the chances of seeing Retegui with his Argentine “hunger” increase. Yesterday’s good news is the return – with goals – of Chiesa and Scamacca.

How many outs

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A new central defensive duo will probably be needed: yesterday Bastoni had to give up and Bonucci is back from a long stop and cannot be physically at the top. If that weren’t enough, the third Vicario goalkeeper is also out. In attack it is even worse: the two starting centre-forwards are missing and one of the emerging youngsters, a candidate for the list, Cambiaghi, is not available. However, Chiesa has shown signs of total recovery against Freiburg, and even Scamacca has finally found the goal again (but it may not be enough to be called).

Extensive list

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In goal, with Donnarumma and Meret, now reliable as the owner, Provedel and one between Silvestri and Falcone (Carnesecchi serves under 21). Spinazzola returns in defense, Toloi sees himself again, and, due to absences, a surprise is announced: either the return of Romagnoli, on the field for the last time in November 2019 (Italy-Armenia 9-1), but he is playing his best season , or the Turin driver Buongiorno. Everyone is in the middle: Barella-Jorginho-Verratti and the condition of Locatelli and Tonali suggests abundance. Ahead, the problems: the announced Retegui and Pinamonti will arrive, there will be Zaniolo, Zaccagni and El Shaarawy in early warning.

Experimental

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And so it will still be a fairly experimental Italy. The “world” friendly with Austria, sadly played on the day of the debut of Qatar 2022, exposed the limits of a 3-4-3 formation that is not sustainable today. There are two possibilities: the classic 4-3-3, or a 3-5-2 that can give more protection but expose yourself to one-on-one against the English trident. In the three matches – European final and group of Nations – we have never lost, always playing with the 4-3-3.

4-3-3 / 3-5-2

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With the 4-3-3 Mancini could field Di Lorenzo, Bonucci (Scalvini), Acerbi, Spinazzola (Dimarco); Stretcher, Jorginho, Verratti; Politano (Berardi), Retegui (Gnonto), Church (Grifo). Resorting to the 3-5-2, here are Scalvini, Bonucci (Toloi), Acerbi; Di Lorenzo, Barella, Jorginho, Verratti, Spinazzola (Dimarco); Retegui, Gnonto (Zaniolo). Assuming that the best Italy will serve on the 23rd with England, on the 26th against Malta, we will be able to afford some alchemy. The first two go to the European Championship. We are in the group with England, Ukraine, North Macedonia and Malta. The escape route would be the playoffs. But after Sweden and Macedonia…