Retegui and Gnonto, Tonali and Cristante, Mancini’s revolution against Malta – Corriere.it

Tonight Italy is already playing a piece of the future. The national team has always won in Malta, four games out of four, but never fluently and never with more than a two-goal difference. From Vicini to Conte, passing through Sacchi and Prandelli, everyone has suffered. The risk of falling into the Maltese trap. Second Left-handed, even that of getting caught up in the frenzy after the home defeat at the start of the journey towards Euro 2024. We were about to lose to England after having beaten them so many times. Too many criticisms, it’s not right to judge on the spot, so you only think about the result. We need to start again from the second half in Naples….

It’s difficult, the way we are, to imagine a goleada, but winning the minimum wage so as not to find ourselves with water in our throats as early as September when, in a period in which we always go in slow motion, we will play everything in the away match in Macedonia and in the next home match against Ukraine. true, the start of the season is always tricky for us, but I’m not worried about qualifying and I don’t feel the pressure on me: a defeat doesn’t change things, Mancio’s burst of pride.

It’s sad to think that Macedonians and Ukrainians are our real rivals, after we conquered Wembley twenty months ago. But living on memories is dangerous. Better to face reality. Tonight on the Ta’Qali plateau, in the center of the Island, you can’t go wrong. Michael Marcolini, 47 years old, former Chievo midfielder, who replaced Devis Mangia on the Maltese bench, provokes us with a smile: We Italians often take these games lightly even if I don’t think that will happen after the defeat against England. It would be serious and dangerous. Considering that England have become the favourites, the Azzurri must aim for second place to avoid the nightmare of the playoffs to which they are entitled thanks to the Nations League.

Mancini contemplates half a revolution, a new, more aggressive, dynamic, physical Italy. Romagnoli will play in defense, perhaps alongside Acerbi, while in attack it is probable that trust will be given to two more courageous wingers, such as Politano and Gnonto, to serve Retegui ahead of Scamacca. We’ve been following Mateo for some time, now I’ve read of the interest from Italian teams. We weren’t wrong about him. He needs time but he can improve a lot and he deserves confirmation even if I have to verify his recovery on a physical level. The midfield, origin of the troubles against the English, will be revolutionized, two sure substitutions, Cristante and Tonali, with Verratti favorite over Jorginho, even if surprisingly Pessina could send both the Brazilian and the Abruzzo player from PSG to the bench.

These are strange and bitter days. In Mancini’s golden years it was the national team that drove the movement, now the sides have reversed with three teams in the quarter-finals of the Champions League and six still in Europe, while the Azzurri are struggling. And Balotelli scratches on social media: There are forwards in Italy and they are in form… trust me, writes the embittered Mario, forgetting that he doesn’t even play for Sion. Mancini smiles and goes on: What should I tell him? I love Balo, I hope he’s in good shape… The coach has other, more serious thoughts on his mind: he has to turn Italy back on and he has to do it immediately.