Dissection Of Italy's Euro 2021 Squad

The naming of the Italian squad for international tournaments brings back many memories, good and bad. The names that were in the squad are all gone. This is a new generation now though, less star-studded but with a lot of potentials. It is now up to the players to make it count on the pitch.

This is my dissection of Italy’s Euro 2021 squad.


Goalkeepers

Selected: Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alex Meret, Salvatore Sirigu

I felt Alessio Cragno should have been selected over Sirigu because he had a better season and really impressed me. Sirigu was selected probably due to the experience he brings to that department.

Defenders

Selected: Francesco Acerbi, Alessandro Bastoni, Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Emerson Palmieri, Alessandro Florenzi, Leonardo Spinazzola, Rafael Toloi

Roberto Mancini had a tough choice for the two right-back spots. Alessandro Florenzi is certain to start at right-back. The remaining spot was between Giovanni Di Lorenzo and Manuel Lazzari. I really like Lazzari but I feel he was dropped as Di Lorenzo is used to playing as part of a back four at club level. On the opposite flank, Cristiano Biraghi paid the price for Fiorentina’s season and was dropped. Leonardo Spinazzola and Emerson were always the first choices for Roberto Mancini. For the centre-back positions, the selection of Leonardo Bonucci, Giorgio Chiellini and Alessandro Bastoni were no-brainers. Francesco Acerbi’s selection was no surprise too. I am not a big fan of Rafael Toloi but I feel he was selected over Gianluca Mancini due to his versatility of being able to play at right-back and centre-back. Mancini is still raw as a defender but I would have selected him just to give him the experience of being part of a big tournament.

Midfielders

Selected: Nicolò Barella, Bryan Cristante, Jorginho, Manuel Locatelli, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Stefano Sensi, Marco Verratti

Italy is blessed in this position with many top quality, underrated options. Gaetano Castrovilli paid the price for the drop in form like his club-mate Biraghi. Roberto Mancini placed his faith in Stefano Sensi and Marco Verratti, gambling on their fitness. Such is the quality available that we can survive without Verratti but it is also useless having him in the squad and Italy doesn’t use him. I feel Italy shouldn’t rush him back as it might affect his performances on the pitch. Matteo Pessina can count himself unlucky to be dropped from the squad because he had a really good, standout season. Mancini placed his faith in Sensi over Pessina.

Forwards

Selected: Andrea Belotti, Domenico Berardi, Federico Bernardeschi, Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne, Giacomo Raspadori

Moise Kean being dropped came as a surprise especially since he can play anywhere across the front three. It could be an injury or character issue. Not entirely sure. The selection of Federico Bernardeschi over Matteo Politano was unfair I felt. Politano played more regularly this season and had a better season than Bernardeschi. The latter was selected only because he was part of the squad that got Italy to the European Championship. The selection of Giacomo Raspadori is exciting but I suspect he will be playing third fiddle behind Ciro Immobile and Andrea Belotti. I feel there is a chance for him to get selected over the more established strikers because neither is fantastic or world-class.


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