James Horncastle says that Italy is undergoing a rebuilding phase with Luciano Spalletti in charge as they prepare for Euro 2024.

Bellingham and Co enjoy England’s first public training session since arriving in Germany

England’s national football team has had their first public training session in Germany ahead of UEFA Euro 2024. The team, led by manager Luciano Spalletti, is in a transitional phase and has undergone significant changes since their victory over England at Wembley three years ago. Only a few players, including goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma and midfielder Nicolo Barella, remain from that winning squad.

Spalletti is still experimenting with different formations and is yet to determine his strongest team. Italy is aware of the tough competition they will face in their group, which includes Spain, Croatia, and Albania. Therefore, reaching the quarter-finals would be considered a good result for them.

One of the ongoing debates in Italian football is the lack of a consistent striker. However, this issue has not hindered Italy’s success in previous tournaments. Despite not qualifying for recent World Cups, Italy reached the finals of Euro 2000 and Euro 2012 and performed well under Antonio Conte in 2016. The current squad is seen as being in between generations, but the absence of a striker is not a major concern for Italy.

The battle for the No. 9 spot in the Italian squad is between Gianluca Scamacca and Mateo Retegui. Scamacca has impressed with his performances for Atalanta, scoring more than 20 goals in all competitions. Retegui, who played in Argentina last year, has also made a strong case for selection, scoring four goals in five games for Italy. The decision on who will lead the line for Italy is eagerly awaited.

Nicolo Barella is considered the most important player for Italy this summer. He is praised for his consistency, energy, and goal-scoring ability. Despite the attention on Federico Chiesa, who has struggled with a knee injury, and Leonardo Spinazzola, who is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury, Barella is expected to play a crucial role for the team if he remains fit.