Italy starting striker: Spalletti has just three options for Euro 2024

Mateo Retegui scored twice in the course of the worldwide break for Italy, whereas Gianluca Scamacca replied with a aim for Atalanta towards Napoli and Luciano Spalletti appears to have simply three dependable choices to fill Italy’s beginning spot at Euro 2024.

There’s nonetheless a lot to play for in Serie A and Virginia sportsbook promos provide a thrilling way to enhance the soccer season, however friendlies towards Venezuela and Ecuador have been a reminder that the Euros are simply across the nook. The Azzurri gained each matches within the USA, the primary ones in The States in 19 years and one of many greatest speaking factors in the course of the break involved the Azzurri’s potential beginning ahead at Euro 2024.

Mateo Retegui scored a brace towards Venezuela, inspiring a 2-1 win whereas Giacomo Raspadori began towards Ecuador, providing Luciano Spalletti completely different tactical choices, however the Napoli ahead was not as efficient because the Genoa star within the first match.

Raspadori performed as a false 9, a tactic Spalletti had already tried in 4 of the earlier six matches accountable for the Azzurri. The previous Sassuolo star performed as a false 9, creating area for the midfielder’s late runs, whereas Retegui was a correct old-style centre ahead who held the ball excessive up entrance when wanted and, most significantly, scored two objectives from two pictures on targets.

Retegui made his Italy debut precisely a yr in the past underneath Roberto Mancini and has gone on to attain 4 occasions in six appearances with La Nazionale. He hasn’t but reached double figures in his first season at Genoa, with eight objectives in 25 appearances throughout all competitions, however his impression with the Azzurri has been nothing wanting spectacular.

Nevertheless, the race for the Azzurri’s attacking beginning spot stays extensive open. Gianluca Scamacca was not referred to as up by Spalletti for the most recent worldwide friendlies, however he instantly reacted with a aim in Atalanta’s 3-0 win over Napoli in Serie A Spherical 30.

The 25-year-old has now scored 10 objectives in 30 appearances throughout all competitions and began the final 5 matches for La Dea. Regardless of scoring only one aim in 15 appearances with Italy, many see him as Italy’s best choice in Germany. That’s what Sky Sport Italia pundit advised the ex-West Ham man after his aim on the Stadio Maradona.

“I do know I’ve to work onerous on many points, and I attempt to enhance day by day. These are moments and generally you simply want that click on that makes you explode. I don’t take into consideration this. I’m solely targeted on work,” Scamacca replied, confirming that – no less than – being a part of the Azzurri squad in Germany is certainly one in every of his targets.

Certainly Spalletti doesn’t have many choices up entrance. Lorenzo Lucca was referred to as up for the final two video games however didn’t play in any respect, additionally because of a minor muscle damage suffered earlier than the match with Ecuador. Ciro Motionless is out of favour and didn’t even begin for Lazio towards Juventus on Saturday. Moise Kean hasn’t scored in 19 consecutive Serie A video games for Juventus, and Andrea Belotti has one aim in 10 Fiorentina appearances. Probably the most prolific Italian centre-forward in Serie A remains to be Sassuolo’s Andrea Pinamonti, with 9 objectives in 29 video games. The ex-Inter man was not referred to as up by Spalletti in March so the CT appears to have simply three stable choices for Italy’s beginning striker at Euro 2024.