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<p>Italy couldn't do it again, could they? The Azzurri stunned England at Wembley to win Euro 2020 and are targeting an even bigger upset in Germany this summer. Once again, Italy are still coming to terms with missing out on World Cup qualification, but whereas it was clear ahead of the last European Championship that they were becoming a real force under Roberto Mancini, there are serious questions over the strength of the current squad.</p><p>There are no doubts over the quality of the coach, of course. Indeed, in Luciano Spalletti, Italy couldn't have hoped to find a better replacement for <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/roberto-mancini-departs-italy-head-coach-euro-2024-replacement-expected/blta66dcad653d614b7" target="_blank">Mancini, who sensationally quit his post less than a year ago, before promptly taking charge of Saudi Arabia.</a></p><p>It was <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/napoli-new-immortals-osimhen-kvaratskhelia-spalletti-maradona-serie-a-title/blt1bec5bba3cc3bac4" target="_blank">Spalletti who masterminded Napoli's stunning Serie A title triumph last season</a> and, despite taking over just before the conclusion of the campaign, he managed to get his country his Germany by pipping Ukraine to second spot in England's group.</p><p>However, Spalletti has nothing like the same quality at his disposal as he had at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, particularly from an offensive perspective, so he still has plenty of work to do if Italy are to have any hope of retaining their European crown.</p><p>So, who will make Italy's 26-strong Euro 2024 squad? <strong>GOAL</strong> takes a look...</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Italy Euro 2024 squad: Who will Luciano Spalletti take to Germany?

<p>Gigi Donnarumma continues to have his ups and downs at Paris Saint-Germain, but he remains Italy's undisputed No.1. The 25-year-old was sensational during the Azzurri's Euro 2020 victory, resulting in him becoming the first goalkeeper to win the Player of the Tournament award, and he will be just as crucial to his country's hopes of success this time around.</p><p>Indeed, an injury to Donnarumma would be a disaster for Italy, given Alex Meret just three caps to his name, Guglielmo Vicario only one, while Atalanta's Marco Carnesecchi and Ivan Provedel have yet to make their international debuts.</p><table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Marco Carnesecchi </td><td>Atalanta</td></tr><tr><td>Gigi Donnarumma</td><td>Paris Saint-Germain</td></tr><tr><td>Alex Meret </td><td>Napoli</td></tr><tr><td>Ivan Provedel</td><td>Lazio</td></tr><tr><td>Guglielmo Vicario</td><td>Tottenham</td></tr></tbody></table>

GOALKEEPERS

<p>Spalletti's former captain at Napoli, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, will obviously have a major role to play, whether at right-back or centrally as part of a three-man defence, while it would not be a surprise if the backline is primarily made up of players from Serie A champions Inter, with Federico Dimarco, Alessandro Bastoni and Francesco Acerbi all strong contenders to start.</p><p>However, while Alessandro Buongiorno gave away a penalty against Venezuela, the Torino centre-back was immense in the crucial draw with Ukraine, in what was just his second cap, while the 20-year-old Giorgio Scalvini is one of the most promising defenders Italy has produced in a long time.</p><p>Gianluca Mancini has also come back into the frame after Acerbi was withdrawn from the most recent squad after being <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/napoli-defender-juan-jesus-reveals-alleged-racist-remark-francesco-acerbi-denial-inter-defender-exit-italy-camp/blt64744d8af555d063" target="_blank">accused of making racist remarks by Juan Jesus (no disciplinary action was ultimately taken against the Inter man)</a> but the late bolter could well be Riccardo Calafiori, the converted full-back who has been a revelation at centre-half this season for Serie A's surprise package, Bologna.</p><p>Elsewhere, the loss of Tottenham left-back Destiny Udogie to injury looks like good news for the uncapped Andrea Cambiaso, who might make the squad now on account of his versatility. However, we could see a late recall for Leonardo Spinazzola, who was so impressive at Euro 2020 but has since been dogged by injuries.</p><p>On the opposite side, Matteo Darmian is 34 now but should be included, although Raoul Bellanova is the more likely starter if Spalletti plays with wing-backs, given the Torino ace was hugely impressive in the friendly against Ecuador.</p><table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Francesco Acerbi</td><td>Inter</td></tr><tr><td>Alessandro Bastoni</td><td>Inter</td></tr><tr><td>Raoul Bellanova</td><td>Torino</td></tr><tr><td>Alessandro Buongiorno</td><td>Torino</td></tr><tr><td>Andrea Cambiaso</td><td>Juventus</td></tr><tr><td>Riccardo Calafiori</td><td>Bologna</td></tr><tr><td>Matteo Darmian</td><td>Inter</td></tr><tr><td>Federico Dimarco</td><td>Inter</td></tr><tr><td>Giovanni Di Lorenzo</td><td>Napoli</td></tr><tr><td>Gianluca Mancini</td><td>Roma</td></tr><tr><td>Giorgio Scalvini</td><td>Atalanta</td></tr><tr><td>Leonardo Spinazzola</td><td>Roma</td></tr></tbody></table>

DEFENDERS

<p>Jorginho's return to form at Arsenal is excellent news for Italy because while the Brazil-born playmaker will come under pressure from Manuel Locatelli for a starting place, the 32-year-old is expected to anchor a midfield that will definitely feature the dynamic Nicolo Barella, who scored a great goal against Ecuador.</p><p>After that, it pretty much depends on whether Spalletti opts to play his usual 4-3-3 or embraces the 3-4-2-1 formation he experimented with during the March internationals. Whatever he does, Lorenzo Pellegrini should be involved, given his fine form for club and country, and his ability to play in a midfield three or as a more advanced attacking midfielder playing off a striker.</p><p>Elsewhere, Davide Frattesi isn't a regular at Inter but has developed a very nice knack of scoring for the national team, meaning there's little chance of Spalletti leaving him at home, while Fiorentina's evergreen midfielder Giacomo Bonaventura is also likely to be on the plane to Germany.</p><p>Roma's Bryan Cristante and Monza pair Matteo Pessina and Andrea Colpani all remain in contention, but none of them were included in the squad for the March friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador, with Verona's Napoli loanee Michael Folorunsho getting the nod instead but didn't make it off the bench.</p><table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Nicolo Barella</td><td>Inter</td></tr><tr><td>Giacomo Bonaventura</td><td>Fiorentina</td></tr><tr><td>Andrea Colpani</td><td>Monza</td></tr><tr><td>Bryan Cristante</td><td>Roma</td></tr><tr><td>Michael Folorunsho</td><td>Verona</td></tr><tr><td>Davide Frattesi</td><td>Inter</td></tr><tr><td>Jorginho</td><td>Arsenal</td></tr><tr><td>Manuel Locatelli</td><td>Juventus</td></tr><tr><td>Lorenzo Pellegrini</td><td>Roma</td></tr><tr><td>Matteo Pessina</td><td>Monza</td></tr></tbody></table>

MIDFIELDERS

<p>Once again, attack is Italy's major weak point. They simply do not have a world-class No.9. Gianluca Scamacca has just one goal in 15 appearances for his country but, in fairness, to the Atalanta attacker, he has responded well to being left out of the last squad and will likely be recalled for the Euros.</p><p>At one point, Giacomo Raspadori seemed the man most likely to lead the line in Germany but he's probably been overtaken in the pecking order by Mateo Retegui, the naturalised Argentinian (further evidence of Italy's desperate search for a striker!) who joined Genoa from Boca Juniors last year and struck twice in the friendly win over Venezuela to make it four goals in six games for his adopted nation. It will also be worth keeping an eye on Lorenzo Lucca, though. He didn't make his debut during the international break but the 23-year-old forward is enjoying a breakout season on loan to Udinese. Still, this tournament might just have come a little too soon for him.</p><p>Given the lack of quality options at No.9, the Azzurri desperately need winger Federico Chiesa to recapture his Euro 2020 form - while they could also do with Nicolo Zaniolo finally living up to the hype that he generated during his early days at Roma.</p><p>Elsewhere, Matteo Politano has played better than most at struggling Napoli this season but his hopes of travelling are hanging in the balance after missing out on the last squad, just like Roma's painfully inconsistent Stephan El Shaarawy. Consequently, opportunity knocks for Riccardo Orsolini, who has been key to Bologna's shock bid to qualifying for the Champions League, and Lazio's Mattia Zaccagni.</p><table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Federico Chiesa</td><td>Juventus</td></tr><tr><td>Stephan El Shaarawy</td><td>Roma</td></tr><tr><td>Lorenzo Lucca</td><td>Udinese</td></tr><tr><td>Riccardo Orsolini</td><td>Bologna</td></tr><tr><td>Matteo Politano</td><td>Napoli</td></tr><tr><td>Giacomo Raspadori</td><td>Napoli</td></tr><tr><td>Mateo Retegui</td><td>Genoa</td></tr><tr><td>Gianluca Scamacca</td><td>Atalanta</td></tr><tr><td>Mattia Zaccagni</td><td>Lazio</td></tr><tr><td>Nicolo Zaniolo</td><td>Aston Villa</td></tr></tbody></table>

FORWARDS

<p>Donnarumma picks himself in goal, obviously, and Bastoni and Dimarco should start whether Italy play with a three- or four-man defence. Jorginho, Barella and Pellegrini are locks in midfield, while Chiesa will take up his preferred place on the left wing if he's fully fit.</p><p>The make-up of the rest of the team is a little less clear at this point because of the uncertainty over the formation. However, if Spalletti decides to go with the 3-4-2-1, we could see Di Lorenzo and Bastoni either side of Acerbi.</p><p>Bellanova has put himself into contention to start on the right flank, while Retegui now has every chance of spearheading the attack as he's already proven that he knows where the goal is - unlike many of his rivals for the No.9 shirt.</p><p><em><strong>Italy XI (3-4-2-1):</strong></em><em> Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Acerbi, Bastoni; Bellanova, Barella, Jorginho, Dimarco; Pellegrini, Chiesa; Raspadori.</em></p><p><em></em></p>

EXPECTED XI

<p>Obviously, the most important aspect of <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/news/sandro-tonali-ban-ratified-by-fifa-as-10-month-suspension-officially-begins/blt172bc90d175908d2" target="_blank">Sandro Tonali's 10-month suspension for illegal betting activity</a> is that the Newcastle ace is getting the treatment he needs for his gambling problem - but his ban undeniably came as a major blow to Italy, given the midfielder would have probably started in Germany.</p><p>Domenico Berardi would also have been pushing for inclusion, but the Sassuolo winger, who was a key member of the squad that won Euro 2020, has been <a href="https://apnews.com/article/berardi-injury-italy-euro-2024-2665d66119963ba1c00d2f057b4bddb6" target="_blank">ruled out action until next year after undergoing surgery on a complete tear of the Achilles tendon in his right leg.</a></p><p>Udogie, meanwhile, may not have started in Germany but would have definitely made the squad had he not been forced to undergo surgery on a thigh problem that means he won't play again until the start of next season.</p><p>Elsewhere, Marco Verratti, one of the heroes of Euro 2020, won't be called upon to help Italy defend their crown, given his fitness problems and the fact that he's now plying his trade in the United Arab Emirates.</p><table><thead><tr><th>Name</th><th>Club</th><th>Reason</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Domenico Berardi</td><td>Sassuolo</td><td>Injury</td></tr><tr><td>Sandro Tonali</td><td>Newcastle United</td><td>Suspension</td></tr><tr><td>Destiny Udogie</td><td>Tottenham</td><td>Injury</td></tr><tr><td>Marco Verratti</td><td>Al-Arabi</td><td>Fitness</td></tr></tbody></table>

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

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