Luciano Spalletti’s tenure as Italy coach is under intense scrutiny after a lackluster performance at Euro 2024, highlighted by their recent loss to Switzerland. Following a draw against Croatia, a German reporter’s sarcastic question about whether Switzerland was a Ferrari and Italy a Fiat Panda seemed to encapsulate the growing sentiment around the Azzurri’s campaign. Spalletti, known for his sharp responses, met the question with equal sarcasm, but the underlying truth of Italy’s underwhelming performances was undeniable.
The reigning European champions entered the tournament with aspirations of progress and building towards the World Cup qualifiers, especially after missing out on the World Cup for a decade. However, Euro 2024 became a step backward for Italy. Their only victory came against Albania, and they conceded the first goal in almost every match they played. The attacking trio of Gianluca Scamacca, Mateo Retegui, and Giacomo Raspadori failed to find the net, and both the defense and attack lacked cohesion and effectiveness.
Luciano Spalletti during a press conference
Alt text: Italy coach Luciano Spalletti faces questions about Italy’s Euro 2024 performance and future.
While Italy’s 2-0 defeat to Switzerland wasn’t historically their worst result, the overall performances in Germany raised serious concerns. The timid display against Switzerland at the Olympiastadion, echoing the struggles against Spain, prompted Spalletti to reflect on his own role in the team’s failure. “If we failed, we failed, and we failed because of my team selection and in terms of how I conducted myself,” Spalletti admitted, taking responsibility for the team’s shortcomings.
Spalletti acknowledged that his training regime might have been too demanding between the Albania and Spain matches, leading to fatigue. In response, he prioritized freshness for the Switzerland game, making six changes to the starting lineup. He introduced Gianluca Mancini, Bryan Cristante, Stephan El Shaarawy, and Nicolo Fagioli, all making their first Euro 2024 starts in a crucial match. However, this gamble didn’t pay off. Three of these players, key figures for Roma, had endured long seasons with deep European runs, while Fagioli lacked match fitness after a seven-month ban.
The result was a sluggish Italian team mirroring their performance against Spain. They struggled to match the tempo set by their opponents, failing to press effectively due to a lack of pace in defense. GPS data, analyzed by Spalletti after each game and training session, likely confirmed these issues.
Spalletti also pointed to the conclusion of the Serie A season as a contributing factor. Inter Milan’s dominant league victory, secured early in the season, might have inadvertently affected the sharpness of the Italian players. Despite Simone Inzaghi maintaining a rigorous training schedule at Inter, Spalletti suggested that a subconscious dip in intensity after winning the Scudetto could have played a role. Injuries to key players like Destiny Udogie further compounded Italy’s problems, depriving them of energetic options like Udogie at left-back, who could have provided an alternative to Federico Dimarco. Other notable absentees due to injury included Francesco Acerbi, Nicolo Zaniolo, and Domenico Berardi, weakening the squad depth.
While fitness was a clear issue for the Azzurri, questions also arose about strategy. Spalletti refuted suggestions of haphazard lineups, stating that the systems used in Germany were practiced during qualifying matches, friendlies in the US, and warm-up games against Turkey and Bosnia. However, the consistent changes in personnel meant that Italy lacked chemistry and recognizable patterns of play. Each game felt like a new experiment, hindering the team’s ability to develop a cohesive unit.
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Amidst the disappointment, goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma emerged as a positive figure, preventing even heavier defeats and maintaining a semblance of dignity. Inspired by Gigi Buffon’s stories of Italy’s 2006 World Cup victory at the same Olympiastadion, Donnarumma’s leadership on the field was evident.
Gianluigi Donnarumma as captain
Alt text: Italy’s captain and goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma, leads the team during a Euro 2024 match.
“Is this who we really are?” Donnarumma questioned, reflecting on Italy’s recent struggles, including World Cup play-off losses to Sweden and North Macedonia. The Euro 2020 triumph, once celebrated, now appears as an outlier in a period of inconsistency. That victorious Italy team boasted a record 38-game unbeaten run and a clear tactical identity under Roberto Mancini. In stark contrast, Spalletti’s Italy in Euro 2024 lacked definition. “We didn’t see a team that’s defined,” Spalletti conceded, acknowledging the need for deeper understanding of his squad.
Spalletti’s future and Italy’s path forward will be clarified in a special press conference alongside Italian Football Federation president Gabriele Gravina. The questions surrounding Italy’s Euro 2024 standings and overall performance are pressing, demanding answers and a clear direction for the national team as they look towards future competitions. The hope for Italian football is to rediscover the identity and winning mentality that led them to European glory just a few years ago, ensuring a stronger showing in future tournaments and improved Italy Euro Standings.
