The Azzurri got off to about the worst possible start in their qualification campaign. Giancarlo Rinaldi examines whether a change of coach can really address all the issues they face.

Maybe Francesco Acerbi knew better than the rest of us. His decision not to join his countrymen cast a cloud over the start of their efforts to make it to the World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada next year. Their performances in Oslo suggested a lot of those who did answer Luciano Spalletti’s call might have wished they had stayed at home also.

It was a display so desperate that the Italian Federation felt the only option was to dispense with the former Roma and Napoli boss. In the process, they plunged the national team into chaos and raised major questions about its ability to get to that expanded competition in 2026.

How Spalletti failed as Italy coach

The first issue that springs to mind has been dealt with – at least in some regards. If the coach from Certaldo was the problem, then he was no longer a concern after the final whistle blew on Monday night’s pretty grim clash with Moldova. There were some moments of good football during his reign, and decent results, but overall, his team failed to scale the heights that many of his club sides had managed. If this was the man charged with carrying on the progress enjoyed under Roberto Mancini, then it was definitely mission unaccomplished.

Many felt he should have been shown the door after a disappointing defence of their European crown, when they rolled over to the Swiss in the last 16, and they will certainly feel vindicated now. That team looked jaded and in need of reinvention but, to be fair to the departing tactician, he did seem to make some effort in that regard. The highest his stock would rise was surely with the two Nations League away wins over France and Belgium. It looked like he might have rediscovered the Azzurri’s mojo, but that unravelled pretty quickly with back-to-back home defeats by France and Germany ahead of the capitulation to Norway in their opening World Cup group game. A 2-0 win over Moldova was too little, too late and another disjointed affair.

The alarm bells, in truth, were sounding before a ball was kicked in the qualifiers. Although Italy had scrambled back to a 3-3 draw in their away clash with Germany, that masked a horrendous first-half performance in which they could have been much further behind. The concern about their ability to withstand any kind of attacking force had already been laid bare and was confirmed against a Norwegian side which had an array of options with which to unlock an undeniably makeshift defence.

Spalletti has to carry the can for his selections, the tactical set-up and how long it took him to make any significant changes when it was clear the game was going against him. He cut a forlorn figure on the sidelines and his body language was not the kind to inspire any of his players to believe they could turn things around. His call-ups, too, seemed to lack any real consistent, clear vision of how he wanted to play and the way he wanted to see his team progress. The Acerbi fiasco now seems like a last grasp for a lifebelt from a man who could see disaster coming.

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The way his departure was handled, however, has been truly shambolic. To leave him in charge against Moldova when he had already been dismissed was farcical. What followed was even more comical as the scramble for a replacement began. Initially, it looked like Claudio Ranieri was the man, but the Tinkerman appears to have decided that he had no more managerial miracles up his sleeve. The names of Stefano Pioli, Roberto Mancini, Rino Gattuso, Daniele De Rossi and Fabio Cannavaro have swirled around since then. It is hard to escape the feeling that the powers that be decided to axe Spalletti without having a clue what they wanted to do next. That is not a good look for a nation that aspires to be one of the major forces in the global game.

Closer analysis of Spalletti’s demise suggests that he was not the only issue facing La Nazionale. Looking at the starting line-up for the clash at the Ullevaal Stadion, it was difficult to escape the feeling that anyone would struggle to make up a team of world beaters out of the elements at his disposal. Hit by a string of call-offs and injuries, the cast list was hardly the kind to strike fear into Scandinavian hearts. They surrendered so meekly it was hard to believe that they represented a nation with four World Cup stars on their chests.

Issues in Italy’s squad selection

It feels like the other top teams in international football all have a sprinkling of superstars that the Azzurri no longer enjoy. Gigio Donnarumma, perhaps, could lay claim to a place in the very upper reaches of the game but who else could truly rub shoulders with the best? There are plenty of good players but the days of Paolo Maldini, Francesco Totti or Roberto Baggio seem long gone. Even the more fringe players from yesteryear might shine in the current climes.

Look deeper, though, and you will see that at youth level the Italian teams still manage to hold their own. That prompts bigger questions about why these players rarely make the transition to regular starting spots in Serie A. There needs to be a wider look at what can be done to ensure they get enough game time to flourish, otherwise we will be reflecting on whatever happened to the likes of Simone Pafundi or Francesco Camarda in the years to come. Spalletti surely could have been braver in his use of younger players but it was undeniable that there often wasn’t a lot of choice at his disposal.

Gravina’s responsibility

Which brings us, of course, to the final element of the jigsaw – the Italian football federation. Plenty of fingers have been pointed at its president Gabriele Gravina as just as responsible for this debacle as any player or coach. Yes, he was in charge of the Euro 2020 triumph but how long can he cling on to that glory? Since then Italy have failed to qualify for a World Cup from a group that included Switzerland, Northern Ireland, Bulgaria and Lithuania and missed out in a play-off with North Macedonia. They then delivered a drab set of matches at Euro 2024 before seriously compromising their chances of another World Cup before it started. If that doesn’t call for radical reform of the system then what does?

The trouble, of course, is getting anyone to look at the bigger picture and find innovative ways to develop young talent and put Italy back at the top of the global game. Those of us a bit longer in the tooth can remember when La Nazionale was a mainstay of the later stages of almost every competition it entered. That tradition is in serious danger of being lost for a whole generation of Azzurri fans.

If that means a shake-up of the federation and its structures, that would surely be no bad thing. Regardless of who takes over in the end, planning for longer-term success must start immediately. Italy used to be good at nurturing its talent, both on the field and in coaching, and working towards being ready for major competitions. It sometimes meant sacrificing a Euros in order to be prepared for a World Cup but it felt like there was a method in the way they were working. Nowadays, it can often feel like they lurch from one crisis to another with very little in the way of considered thought along the way.

The losers, of course, are the supporters. There are millions of people in Italy and many more overseas who like nothing more than daubing their faces in green, white and red and putting on the Azzurri shirt with pride to watch their national team in action. Lately, it has been more of an embarrassment than any pleasure for them to tune in from across the planet – and that has to change soon.

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This is a country that still lives and breathes football and deserves better than it has had to endure of late. Everyone – the coaches, the players and the officials – has a part to play in ensuring that they get a World Cup to enjoy next summer. Things have got off to a bad start but they are not entirely compromised. The pressure is on, though, to somehow win their group or clamber through the play-off system to make sure that Il Canto degli Italiani is heard at international football’s biggest tournament for the first time in 12 years next summer.

There was a time when they were a rarity but United States players are starting to be much more common in Italy. Giancarlo Rinaldi casts an eye over how they performed for their respective clubs.

When Alexi Lalas signed for Padova more than 30 years ago, it was something of a novelty. It has taken the best part of three decades for a real American revolution to happen in Serie A. This season there have been no fewer than five United States players in Italy’s top division – and they have enjoyed very differing fortunes up and down the table. With many clubs in American ownership – and more in the pipeline – it is perhaps something we will be getting used to in the years to come.

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Christian Pulisic (Milan) – 8/10 In a season which left Rossoneri fans venting their frustration in no uncertain fashion, the former Chelsea man was surely exempt from their wrath. A scorer in their Supercoppa triumph, he enjoyed what was arguably the best campaign of his career with more than 20 goal involvements in the league. It was all the more remarkable because other big names around him notably failed to shine. If anyone deserves to be part of the latest overhaul at the Milanese giants going forward it is surely him.

Yunus Musah (Milan) – 5.5/10 It was a troublesome second season in red and black for the young midfielder as he flitted in and out of the side with alarming inconsistency. Some of that might have been down to the club’s chopping and changing of coaches but just the same he failed to really kick on after a good first term in Italy. He provided energy and drive but overall there was the impression that neither he nor his club would be too unhappy if he moved on in the summer.

Weston McKennie (Juventus) – 7/10 Considering that he looked surplus to requirements for the Thiago Motta era, his comeback to stalwart status was pretty remarkable. His adaptability and application were admirable and, in a Bianconeri side which underwhelmed again this season, he was a decent performer. Not the most spectacular, perhaps, but he chipped in a few goals – notably in the Champions League – which showed there was maybe more to his game than many had suspected.

Timothy Weah (Juventus) – 6/10 Sometimes, versatility can be a drawback for a player in terms of consistency, and that certainly felt like the case for the son of Serie A legend George Weah. He made most of his appearances at right back but played pretty much everywhere across the front line and midfield as he plugged gaps in a Juve side which struggled for a real identity. Nobody could fault his professionalism in playing wherever he was asked but it was probably counter-productive in terms of his impact across the campaign.

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Gianluca Busio (Venezia) 6.5/10 It felt like a bit of a setback season for the bustling midfielder who has been a star on the lagoons since he moved from Sporting Kansas City in 2021. Having been at the heart of their promotion push last term, it seemed like coach Eusebio Di Francesco lost a bit of faith in him as his team fought to avoid relegation. Nonetheless, he remained a decent performer for the Arancioneroverdi and there is more than a sneaking suspicion that he could have a future in the top division – even if his team does not.

If one country can lay claim to having the most surprisingly significant impact in Italy this season it is surely Scotland. Giancarlo Rinaldi grades the famous five who flourished around the peninsula.

• Football Italia Season Review – Winners and losers: All clubs rated

Somewhere up in footballing heaven, Johnny Moscardini must surely be looking down with a smile. More than a century has passed since the Scottish-born striker plied his trade with Pisa and Lucchese, but suddenly it feels like all things Caledonian are all the rage in Italy. Long gone are the days when Denis Law found Serie A too tactically suffocating and his countrymen seem to be loving life in Naples, Turin, Bologna and beyond.

Not even the most optimistic, whisky-fuelled dream could have forecast what a year this would be for this Tartan Army. League titles, a Coppa Italia and an impressive number of goals were the order of the day as they took their surroundings by storm. With good food, fine weather and an excellent lifestyle – none of them seem likely to be suffering from homesickness any time soon. They seem to love Italy, and Italy loves them.

Scott McTominay (Napoli) – 10/10 Even his own most ardent fans would have struggled to predict the impact the former Manchester United man would have in Naples. Almost from day one he started to deliver match winning performances and goals as he thrived in the role carved out for him by Antonio Conte. Any sadness he might have felt at being shown the door at Old Trafford was surely more than made up for by celebrating a title in the Stadio Maradona. He is already a legend for the Partenopei even if he never scored another goal. He will surely find that his Italian tomatoes – which he famously professed his love for – are tasting even sweeter now.

Billy Gilmour (Napoli) – 7.5/10 It was a slow burn start for the midfield schemer, but when he was asked to step up in a more regular role, he more than delivered. Many thought he might be no more than an understudy for Stan Lobotka but he emerged as a key contributor in his own right and another vital cog in the Scudetto march. If any player looked ideally suited to the more tactical climes of Serie A it is surely him. Not the eye-grabbing performances of McTominay, perhaps, but the more astute observers understood that his contribution was a significant one too.

Lewis Ferguson (Bologna) – 7/10 Undoubtedly, the mark would be even higher if he hadn’t been so long on the sidelines with injury. Still, when he came back the former Aberdeen man was able to confirm the qualities he showed last term. Leading the Rossoblu to their first trophy in a lifetime in the Coppa Italia was the icing on the cake and secured another European campaign. His vision, organisation and drive were at the heart of his team’s efforts in the closing stages of the season and the club will hope they have him available full-time next term.

Che Adams (Torino) – 7.5/10 It was not a thrilling Torino season but the Scottish striker confounded his critics by delivering a double-figure goal haul between league and cup. There were also a few assists which was no mean feat as part of a team which only averaged just over a goal a game in Serie A this term. He might have hoped that his new employers might have finished a bit higher up the table but overall he made a pretty positive impact and will surely have sharpened his skills for when his country comes calling once more.

Liam Henderson (Empoli) – 6.5/10 Perhaps the forgotten man of the Scots in Italy but he is now a familiar face and accomplished performer. He will be frustrated that his team ultimately got relegated but few could point much blame in his direction after another solid season. A regular in the referee’s notebook, he was the kind of player nobody would relish coming up against with a determination and commitment that made him a stern opponent. It might be Serie B next term but there will be plenty of sides in the top division who would not be averse to having such a seasoned performer in their ranks.

It proved to be an epic year for Italian football with drama, controversy and excitement at every turn. Giancarlo Rinaldi gives out the grades for all 20 teams in the top division this term.

Say what you like about Serie A, it was not to be outdone for dramatic finishes this season. The Scudetto, European places and relegation matters all went down to the last day. We can sit here and argue about the overall strength of the league forever but what is not in doubt is its ability to deliver some gripping entertainment.

Where there are winners, though, there have to be losers. It is alway hard to assess how successful a team’s efforts have been – especially as it has to be seen in the context of expectation at a particular club. But what follows is an attempt to grade each outfit’s campaign while taking into consideration what they might realistically have hoped to achieve.

Napoli – 9/10 Everyone knew they underperformed last season, but few expected them to bounce back in such style. The Antonio Conte effect and inspired performances from Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku meant they emerged as Inter’s only credible contender in the title fight. No European football helped, but they kept up their intensity impressively nonetheless, and ultimately delivered a fourth league crown which was celebrated in style and thoroughly deserved.

Inter – 7.5/10 The vote could go higher if they manage to clinch the Champions League but overall, it was still a good campaign from the strongest squad in Italy. There were a few slip-ups – notably in the Coppa Italia – but they maintained a high level of performance which surely earns Simone Inzaghi a right to be mentioned in European coaching’s elite. They will be annoyed to have missed out on another title but their continental exploits have provided plenty of compensation.

Atalanta – 8/10 If it is the end of the road for Gian Piero Gasperini, what a way to sign off. Another Champions League qualification comfortably achieved and outstanding campaigns from Mateo Retegui and Ademola Lookman among others. Yes, there were a few stumbles and grumbles along the way but, for a team which once hovered between Serie A and Serie B this is a golden age.

Juventus – 6/10 It was meant to be the start of a new era under Thiago Motta with both entertaining and winning football but he struggled to deliver either. In the end, he was shown the door and the rebuilding project started once again. Whoever gets the job needs to be given long-term security to start putting La Vecchia Signora back where she belongs. Their transfer strategy of regularly selling off quality young players needs some serious re-examination.

Roma – 7/10 If it was on the second half of the season alone then the mark would be just about a perfect 10. However, the period before Claudio Ranieri’s arrival was abysmal for a side with the quality of players the Giallorossi possessed. He steadied the ship and then set them flying high on a truly outstanding run of results. Whoever comes in will have a hard act to follow and there was not a dry eye in the house as he said goodbye to the Olimpico crowd.

Fiorentina – 6.5/10 It was another year of what might have been for the Viola as they strung together a great winning run and then a very drab streak of results. They missed out on a third Conference League final but somehow or another managed to seal a return to that competition on the final day. Moise Kean and David de Gea were highlights of an often frustrating side which may well be dismantled again in the summer.

Lazio – 6/10 A bit of mixed bag with some great results but there will be regrets that such promise failed to deliver Europe of any flavour. Marco Baroni looked happy at the helm of a bigger side for the first time but it remains to be seen how happy they are with him. If nothing else, they played a part in deciding where the title ended up with their draw with Inter late in the season.

Milan – 5/10 Yes, there was the Supercoppa but this was not a season at the levels the Rossoneri are used to competing at. There was the odd sign of life but overall it never hit the heights that the club would have hoped either under the puzzling Paulo Fonseca or his countryman Sergio Conceicao. Their big players did not deliver consistently either and the fans were understandably disgruntled at the overall outcome of this campaign.

Bologna – 8/10 They might have been bumped out of the Champions League and fallen down the league table but a Coppa Italia win showed that Vincenzo Italiano was on the right track. Despite losing their coach and players like Joshua Zirkzee and Riccardo Calafiori they still fought at the top end of the table and delivered a trophy after a lengthy drought. The trick will be to build on that success.

Como – 7/10 Another team like Roma who would be even higher if judged on the second half of the season alone. A spending splurge in January delivered an impressive upturn in form that saw them soar up the table. Cesc Fabregas has a lot of suitors and it is hardly surprising considering what he has delivered here. The club looks like it could become a Serie A reality for some time to come.

Torino – 6/10 A very vanilla season that fans of the Granata will have got used to by now. Paolo Vanoli showed signs of getting his team to produce a little more entertaining football but they never really kicked on. Che Adams proved a surprising source of goals, though, as the Scotsmen in Serie A continued to thrive. Still, a great club struggling for a real identity and the ability to trouble the top half of the table.

Udinese – 6.5/10 Another year of comfortable survival with some good performances along the way. Kosta Runjaic proved a pretty capable performer and his team did a decent job without ever truly setting the heather alight. Maybe rumours of new American owners can help them to take another step forward and try to challenge for Europe once again.

Genoa – 6/10 It wasn’t spectacular but they secured their continued presence in Serie A with some comfort which did not look a certainty early on. A switch from Alberto Gilardino to Patrick Vieira at the helm was enough to ensure survival although a gamble on Mario Balotelli certainly proved to be pretty ineffective.

Verona – 6.5/10 In the 40th anniversary of their famous Scudetto win, it was enough just to keep their heads above water. They were never in serious danger of going down and that in itself is impressive. Dreams of another league title do seem an awful long way off but they did well enough after losing their influential coach Baroni in the summer.

Cagliari – 6.5/10 Did just enough to survive without ever really producing anything spectacular. In the end, they managed to find a way to win some key clashes but they will hope to do a little bit better in the seasons ahead. Still, Davide Nicola underlined his reputation as the man to turn to if you want to stay afloat.

Parma – 6/10 They started off decently but it proved to be a bit of a slog to avoid dropping back into Serie B. Capable of some exciting football but they were unable to produce the kind of consistency that might have seen them finish a bit higher up the table. Pass marks, probably, but not much more.

Lecce 6.5/10 It looked like a forlorn task at times but a heroic performance on the final day saw them home. To grab a win in Rome over Lazio in order to survive was something very much out of the ordinary and no more than some of the most passionate fans in the top division deserved.

Empoli 5.5/10 There was a time when they looked like they could really be a surprise package but their slump was pretty brutal and their descent was rapid. Their efforts to give young Italian talents were to be admired but it was not enough to keep them above water. Still, they found some more interesting prospects for us all to admire.

Venezia 6/10 It was a bit of a miracle that they actually managed to get to the final day of the season with a shot at staying up. Selling off your star striker and talisman in January was a curious way to do business but it almost worked and Eusebio Di Francesco deserves some credit for giving most of their opponents a pretty tough test.

Monza – 3/10 Having been a bit of a revelation in the past two years, reality bit after losing some key players and their manager in the summer. Nothing seemed to spark a revival and a miserable season ended in relegation with a few rounds of the season left to play. It will be a slog to bounce back after one of the most miserable Serie A campaigns on record.

Serie A started out with eight teams in Europe – but one by one they have fallen by the wayside. Giancarlo Rinaldi examines whether the Nerazzurri and Viola can fly the Italian flag any further this year.

Last summer began with a high tide of optimism in the world of Calcio. The UEFA coefficient was flying so high after seeing many sides go deep in continental competition and a fifth spot in the elite Champions League was secured. This campaign, however, has not been so kind to the teams representing the green, white and red of their country.

It was almost inevitable there would be a dip in form after the impressive performances of the last couple of seasons. Milan and Juventus – two historic giants – have been disappointing their fans for much of this term while Bologna and Atalanta have been at times distracted by good Serie A form. Roma have picked up as Lazio have faded a little, leaving only two teams to defend Italian honour – Inter in the Champions League and Fiorentina in their favourite competition, the Conference League.

Both teams face Spanish opposition and the bookmakers do not fancy their chances. Barcelona are short odds to qualify against Simone Inzaghi’s men while the Tuscan outfit are also outsiders to see off Real Betis and get a third final in a row. But could either or both of them raise their game to pull off a shock?

The omens do not look great at the San Siro as the signs rack up that a long and draining season is starting to take its toll. Defeat in a Coppa Italia semi-final to one of the weakest Milan teams in the past decade might have been acceptable if Inter had been able to keep their Serie A challenge on course. Instead, they have been knocked off their pedestal with defeats against in-form Bologna and Roma which have left Napoli in pole position. It now looks like they might have to go all-in on Europe in order not to finish the season empty-handed. How quickly talk of another treble has evaporated.

The form lines do not make pleasant reading either. The Nerazzurri’s last win was against lowly Cagliari although they did show buckets of character to get the draw they needed to see off Bayern Munich. The return of Denzel Dumfries is a tonic but an injury to Marcus Thuram has shown up the shortcomings of their potential replacement partners for Lautaro Martinez up front. Even the undisputed best squad in Italy is starting to look a little thin.

And yet, there has to be room for a dash of optimism – even though Barcelona’s four wins in their last five outings makes for a worrying warning. They are a team which definitely allows the opposition chances to score and Inter have made something of a habit of unpicking opponents tactically in the Champions League. It will take another managerial masterpiece from Inzaghi to emerge triumphant over the two ties.

In the third-tier tournament which Fiorentina have made their own, the boys from the Artemio Franchi have not had their own troubles to seek. Throughout the competition they have made seemingly inferior opposition look good but they will be allowed no such luxuries against a side which has surged into sixth in La Liga and is one of the division’s form outfits. It is far and away the sternest test Raffaele Palladino’s men have faced this campaign.

What will cheer the Florentine faithful is that they are on a decent unbeaten run which has been achieved in trying circumstances. Without their standout striker Moise Kean for personal reasons and then flying full-back Dodo due to surgery, they have ground out wins that keep them in the hunt for a European place in Serie A. The icing on the cake would be another crack at silverware.

Rolando Mandragora is in the form of his life and Luca Ranieri is clearly relishing marshalling a defence in front of a world-class shotstopper like David de Gea who is back to his very best. The goalkeeper has history with Betis having seen them off comfortably in the Europa League in his days with Manchester United. He will likely have to make some key saves if his current employers are to make it to Wroclaw in May.

It will be a tall order for either Serie A team to win their Spanish challenge but neither of them goes into their clashes without hope. Inter have shown themselves capable of giving Europe’s best a tough game for a few years now while Fiorentina are stalwarts of the Conference League. They might not be fancied much in the betting shops – but don’t rule them out ruining a few punters’ wagers by the end of their two ties.

One of the craziest clashes in the history of the Azzurri ended up in a narrow defeat by Germany over two legs. Giancarlo Rinaldi tries to make sense of what went on in Milan and Dortmund.

At half-time in Germany, I was writing Italy’s obituary. They were so far behind their opponents that it looked as if they could not hope to compete with the top-level nations for some time to come. A spirited second half suggested otherwise but it was too little, too late and left a lot of people – myself included – scratching their heads. Was the real team the one that could hardly get out of its own half or the one that – without VAR’s intervention – would have had 15 or 20 minutes to take the tie to improbable extra time? Here are a few conclusions to be drawn across the two legs.

Corner Calamities – Problems at set pieces have been a major issue for this side but they topped them all with the second goal conceded in Germany. Gigio Donnarumma went walkabout and allowed Jamal Musiala to stroke the ball into an empty net. Every time they faced a corner or free kick within range of goal they looked uncertain, hesitant and disorganised. Those kinds of issues mean that even if they had played better, they were always likely to struggle for victory. By this stage, every opponent knows that a decent cross can cause panic and confusion in the heart of a defence which once was the envy of everyone.

Dimarco Missed – Of course every player who did not play gained in reputation from missing out on this elimination but there is no doubt the Inter man was a big absentee. No individual was going to guarantee coping with an aggressive German attitude but the flying wing-back was a key part to the new tactical approach from Italy. His bold attacking might have eased some of the pressure faced by the Azzurri and also caused Julian Nagelsmann’s side a few more problems from an attacking point of view.

Signs of Sandro – If there was some consolation to be taken from the outcome of the showdown, it was the further rehabilitation of Sandro Tonali. A goal that tricked supporters into thinking they could be hosting the semi-finals of the Nations League in June was a reward for a convincing display from the Newcastle man in the first game in Italy. Like everyone, he struggled in the first half of the second clash, but at least it looked like his country had got a box-to-box midfielder of quality back in its ranks.

Cool Kean – He saw precious little of the ball for much of the two encounters, but the Fiorentina frontman at least showed composure when a chance did fall his way. It confirmed the best season of his career in goalscoring terms and continued his good Viola form with the national team. He had a tough time against a rugged German defence which mostly handled what he had to offer. However, when opportunities did come his way, he showed he had the quality to take them.

Variable VAR – One man’s clear and obvious error is not necessarily an opinion shared by everyone. After 45 minutes in Germany, there was no doubt who the better team were but a combination of the home side easing up their pressure and the Azzurri starting to play threw them an improbable lifeline. Moise Kean had the ball in his hands to complete a potential hat-trick before the backroom officials intervened and Szymon Marciniak decided to reverse his on-field decision. Maybe Nico Schlotterbeck got a touch on the ball before tripping Giovanni Di Lorenzo but any contact – from replays shown on TV – was almost imperceptible. Whatever the referee saw was enough to convince him that he had made a mistake. Fans of Italy, however, might feel more than a little dubious about whether there was enough there to change his original verdict.

@ginkers

It is one of international football’s elite fixtures and always so much more than a glorified friendly. Giancarlo Rinaldi looks ahead to the latest chapter of Italy’s epic rivalry with Germany.

Anyone who thinks it is only the Nations League should look away now. When two giants of the global game lock horns, the sparks are always likely to fly. And, for Luciano Spalletti’s Azzurri, a clash with Germany is an ideal opportunity to measure exactly what progress they have made since a disappointing defence of their Euro 2020 crown.

It was just last summer, remember, that Switzerland eased past Italy in their last 16 encounter to spark yet another bout of soul-searching from Savona to Salerno. There is rarely any middle ground with La Nazionale these days, if there ever was, and – in the eyes of fans – they have lurched from continental champions to World Cup chumps with alarming speed. The last nine months or so have seen a slow rebuilding of a crumbling reputation.

Drawn in a potentially tricky Nations League group with France, Belgium and Israel, Italy qualified for the quarter-final stage in some style. A win away to Les Bleus was a high point in their revival but a defeat in the return leg brought a dose of reality to proceedings. Still, if nothing else, their new boss showed he was willing to give new faces a chance and start the latest regeneration game.

That is why this clash with Germany—who look likely to be missing a number of key attackers—is such an important one to take a further step forward. Not only would victory take Italy to the semi-finals, but it would also allow them to host the final phase of the tournament in June. For a national team that has lost a lot of its lustre in recent times, that would represent a double-whammy of delight. Furthermore, beating Germany would allow the Azzurri to avoid a tricky meeting with Erling Haaland in the World Cup qualifiers.

The biggest absentee is Inter’s Federico Dimarco who has been in the form of his life of late. There are plenty of alternatives to play as the left wing-back in Spalletti’s 3-5-2 or 3-5-1-1 but none of them offers quite what he does. That will be one conundrum to resolve if the Azzurri hope to progress to a summer showdown.

It is great to see brand new or relatively new faces like Matteo Ruggeri of Atalanta, Cesare Casadei of Torino (who has looked outstanding at youth levels) and Pietro Comuzzo of Fiorentina make the squad. They are not likely to start any games but they will be getting vital experience as part of this particular adventure.

If the Samuele Ricci, Sandro Tonali and Nicolò Barella midfield unit can confirm its rising tide that would be a big help. And Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean need to show that their Serie A form can work for their country. If one – or ideally both – of them emerge as strikers of international quality then that would be a major help in keeping crawling up the FIFA ranking ladder.

Above all, though, this will be about restoring a bit of the fear factor that the Azzurri used to induce in opponents. Some of their greatest ever games have come against German opposition – think 1970, 1982 or 2006 – and they could do with another statement win. Defeat need not be a disaster, if the performance is strong enough, but a victory would certainly be a welcome tonic. Missing another World Cup would be an outright disaster and getting to the final four of the Nations League could be another indication that Italy are back on the right track after so many false turns in the last few years.

It has been a busy winter in Italy’s top division with some big name players coming in or swapping teams. Giancarlo Rinaldi picks out some under-the-radar moves which might make a real difference.

It was easy to draw your eyes towards Kyle Walker, Joao Felix or Randal Kolo Muani this January. They are the kind of acquisitions that naturally attract the attention of pundits due to the big clubs they left behind and their potential to transform their new sides. However, there have also been a lot of other deals which have not been quite as heralded that might also make a dramatic difference.

Jonathan Ikone (Fiorentina to Como) Cesc Fabregas’ side have been the biggest spenders in Italy as they attempt to ensure their sojourn in Serie A is not a brief one. They splashed out in style on the likes of Maxence Caqueret and Anastasios Douvikas but a player more tried and tested in Italy might have escaped your attention. The flying Frenchman never quite delivered for Fiorentina and proved an infuriating figure as he mixed moments of brilliance with disaster. With the Viola seemingly ditching their wingers, he might just thrive at Como. It wouldn’t be the first time a mercurial talent left the Tuscan club and flourished – anyone who remembers Josip Ilicic’s move to Atalanta could tell you that.

Daniel Maldini (Monza to Atalanta) Not so much transformational for the team – which is already performing brilliantly – but more, potentially, for the player. As a major emerging young talent, where better for him to hone his skills than at the Gian Piero Gasperini finishing school? The Bergamaschi have repeatedly shown that they can take a footballer’s skills to the next level and, if they can do it with Paolo’s boy, it would be great news for both club and country. The Scudetto dream may be fading but another Champions League finish looks likely with the gifted attacker in their squad.

Cesare Casadei (Chelsea to Torino) Another move that Luciano Spalletti will surely have been smiling about. Italy needs its young talents to play and there seems little doubt he will get more opportunity with the Granata than he has done with other sides in recent years. He also has the ability to turn his new team from solid mid-table plodders into something a lot more entertaining and dangerous. A real presence on the pitch, it is time for him to start delivering on all the promises everyone knows he has.

Riccardo Sottil (Fiorentina to Milan) The Rossoneri have been praised in many quarters as having smashed the transfer window this January but few have cited this man’s name as proof of that. Erratic for much of his career, there had been signs he was starting to finally produce consistently under Raffaele Palladino before he was declared surplus to requirements. Likely to serve as an understudy to Rafa Leao but he might just explode in his own right under Sergio Conceicao. Once again, that could just about open the doors to the national team.

Michael Folorunsho (Napoli to Fiorentina): A deal was done early due to Viola’s need to replace the unfortunate Edoardo Bove. It already looks to be working out well for the player and club. A fringe figure in Naples, he has dropped straight into the starting line-up and has not looked back. He brings some much-needed strength to the midfield but also has a surprisingly decent amount of skill. He will hope the move can help his push for a place in the national team squad while his new team will see him as a key man in returning them to the cracking form that made them outside bets for the Scudetto.

He was only there for one season, but Denis Law paved the way for the glut of his countrymen now playing in Italy. Giancarlo Rinaldi pays tribute and looks back at his dramatic year with Torino.

You can hardly move nowadays without bumping into a Scotsman in Serie A. Whether you are watching the sun set over the Bay of Naples, trying tortellini in Bologna or buying a fine Barolo in Turin you have half a chance of stumbling across some hero of the Tartan Army. Things were very different back in 1961.

The world has become a smaller place thanks to technology and travel but when Denis Law put pen to paper for Torino – along with England-born Scot Joe Baker – it still seemed a pretty daunting voyage for the then 21-year-old from Aberdeen. A big transfer fee for the time – £110,000 from Manchester City – added to the expectation. It was to be a tempestuous 12 months or so to say the least.

Serie A did not generally come shopping for its Stranieri in the British Isles but the success of Welshman John Charles at Juventus persuaded quite a few clubs to look across the English Channel in the summer of Law’s transfer. As well as the also Torino-bound Baker, Jimmy Greaves went to Milan and Gerry Hitchens to Inter – but only the Nerazzurri’s acquisition would last more than a season. Age, perhaps, and the style of football being played in Italy at the time put the other three off.

On the face of it, Law did pretty well on the field of play. Ten goals in 27 league games was a decent haul – matching the likes of Milan legend Gianni Rivera that term – but he did not enjoy playing in more defensive climes. His Torino side managed not much more than a goal a game whereas his previous season in England had been with a Manchester City team that mustered close to double that. For a man who lived for putting the ball in the net, it was not the kind of football he savoured.

Then there were the issues off the pitch. He and Baker could only phone home about once a week and, perhaps because they had each other, never fully adapted to their new surroundings. “I admit that, looking back, it might have been a mistake for the two of us to be transferred together,” he said in the Tumult in Turin chapter of his book My Life in Football. “Because we had each other, we didn’t become as integrated into Italian life and culture as we might have done had we been solo.”

To compound matters, the pair were involved in a serious car crash in Baker’s Alfa Romeo. Law was virtually unscathed but his teammate broke his nose, cheekbone and jaw and took months to recover. It was perhaps hardly surprising that both of them were starting to look at ways to get back to playing in England.

Still, although he found the football “joyless”, there were aspects of Law’s time in Italy which might echo with his modern counterparts. “I loved the clothes and the food, and in no time at all a typical pint-of-lager lad from Aberdeen was turned on to wine,” he wrote. “As a result, when I returned to England in 1962 and started asking for Pinot Noir or Chianti, everyone looked at me as if I was mad.”

The man they dubbed The King recognised that his time in Serie A improved his game and also appreciated the assistance of future World Cup winning coach Enzo Bearzot – then Granata skipper – in making him feel welcome. Nonetheless, when the chance came to return to the UK – in the shape of Manchester United – it was a no-brainer, despite efforts by Juventus to keep him in Italy. The rest, of course, is history as he would win major honours and secure the Ballon d’Or. However, despite the brevity of his time in Italy, he realised it had helped him.

He reckoned it gave him an “extra dimension” and made him a “more rounded player”. “With Torino I had been constantly marked by two defenders,” he recalled. “Now, in the much more open English game, it felt by comparison that I wasn’t being marked at all.” It would see him run riot for both club and country with a poise, flair and eye for goal that few could match.

His old club, Torino, joined the tributes when his death was announced at the age of 84 to a footballer they fondly remembered – even if he only passed that way for a season. Law was an early ambassador for Scottish football in Italy and any prejudice towards the nation has been well and truly dismantled by now. If the accents of Ardrossan, Hamilton and Livingston are now being heard in dressing rooms up and down Serie A then they owe him a little debt of gratitude. He might only have been a meteor in the world of Calcio – but he surely shone more brightly than most.

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Running an Italian team has become something of a status symbol for purchasers from the United States. But, as Giancarlo Rinaldi points out, it comes with as much risk as it does reward.

Few countries sell the dream better than Italy. Its scenery, food and history have tempted many a visitor to make their stay a permanent one down the years. However, as many of them will tell you, the reality can often prove much more testing than their sun-kissed fortnight in the summer had led them to believe.

The narrative of Serie A’s American owners is proving to be a similarly cautionary tale. While they have enjoyed some great successes they have also experienced how the Bel Paese can be infuriating, frustrating and a supreme test of patience at times. Getting a deal over the line can be complicated enough, but that is often just the beginning of the hard work which is in store.

Of course, operating a football club anywhere in the world comes with a significant health warning. Even spending huge sums of money is no guarantee of success. The new faces in Calcio are finding out that truth, along with the unique difficulties that the Italian nation can present.

RedBird Capital Partners are a couple of years into their tenure having purchased Milan from Elliott Management when the Rossoneri were reigning champions. If Gerry Cardinale thought he was taking on a sure thing, he has quickly been disabused of that idea. Fan discontent has been the order of the day and the recent dumping of Paulo Fonseca has done little to appease disgruntled Rossoneri. Supporters who were raised on Gullit, Rijkaard and Van Basten have been less impressed by the likes of Chukwueze, Okafor and Emerson Royal.

They might have been well advised to have a conference call with someone from the Friedkin Group who have been running Roma since 2020 but the club had been in American ownership for nearly a decade before that. Although a Conference League was delivered under Jose Mourinho, success has proved a tricky elixir to achieve. The recent lurching from Daniele De Rossi to Ivan Juric to Claudio Ranieri has smacked of a side struggling for direction. Discontent among the Giallorossi faithful has never been far away. The recent acquisition of Everton by the same group will only raise further concerns about their commitment to the cause.

And Fiorentina’s Rocco Commisso was lucky he did not have much hair when he took over the club as he would surely have pulled it all out by now as he tried to upgrade both team and stadium. A state of the art training ground is impressive but the occupants of the Curva Fiesole would surely trade it in for a trophy. The Viola have come close but the Italian-American’s time in charge has been characterised by regular rants about local bureaucracy which he feels has held him up from achieving the same success in football as he has in business in the US. Nobody ever got anything done very quickly in Italy.

At Inter, the Oaktree Capital Management era is too short-lived to truly be judged. They have taken over arguably the most powerful squad in the country but it is surprising how quickly that can come apart. The proof of their ability to cope with their new surroundings will surely come in upcoming transfer windows.

Perhaps Atalanta have the dream arrangement with Stephen Pagliuca the majority owner but Antonio Percassi retaining a significant concern. A native guide appears to be helping them to navigate the tricky waters around them. The club is flying high and has become an envied role model for others – only time can tell how long it will last.

It certainly did not pan out very well for 777 Partners at Genoa – now under Romanian ownership. They did manage to recover from relegation to Serie B but their subsequent financial collapse provided a warning to clubs as well. Sometimes, all that glitters is not gold in terms of prospective buyers. It is better, on occasion, to have them closer to home, perhaps.

Canadian Joey Saputo is enjoying some good times at Bologna thus far and Kyle Krause at Parma and Duncan Niederauer at Venezia will be delighted to have made it to Serie A although some tough tests are in store. Still, despite the difficulties, it appears Italy remains an attraction with Hellas Verona recently linked to an American buyout and a number of Serie B teams already under US ownership. But history suggests it can be anything but easy to get to grips with the new reality in front of them. The brochure looks beautiful, of that there is no doubt, but there are some hard yards ahead before you can truly start to enjoy La Dolce Vita.

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The Italy revival of 2024 had its highs and lows but was a positive journey overall. Giancarlo Rinaldi looks at what the next 12 months might have in store for Luciano Spalletti’s Azzurri.

It will all begin with Germany. For fans of La Nazionale there are few more familiar foes who have delivered such special memories down the years. Depending on your generation, it might be the Game of the Century World Cup semi-final of 1970, or the Paolo Rossi-inspired triumph of 1982 or perhaps the Andiamo a Berlino (We’re Going to Berlin) clash of 2006. Whatever it is, encounters with Die Mannschaft have often been sweet experiences.

It won’t be as momentous as any of those games, but their Nations League two-legged showdown in March will not be without consequences. Victory or defeat will also map out the year ahead more clearly in their qualification campaign for Canada, Mexico and the USA. A win would land them encounters with Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg. Defeat and they cross paths with Norway, Israel, Estonia and Moldova. The FIFA rankings suggest the former might be the tougher route but it would also offer the fewest games. In truth, if they can’t win either group, they probably shouldn’t bother heading to the big tournament in 2026.

That has to be the main and only target for the year ahead. Missing out on another World Cup is unthinkable for a generation of Italy fans who are growing out without ever seeing them at the most important competition of them all. Anything other than getting there – and doing themselves justice – will be seen as failure.

Defeat by France to finish 2024 was perhaps a reality check for supporters who are passionate and tend to lurch from one extreme to the other. When the Azzurri are good, the tifosi start to think they can win anything but when they are bad their despair knows no limits. Perhaps the game with Les Bleus showed that they are currently far from the finished article but have the potential to improve much further. Equally, there were flaws which – if not addressed – could quickly undermine their prospects of rising back to the levels where they feel they belong.

Some have suggested that losing to Germany and missing out on the semi-finals and final of the Nations League in the summer might be no bad thing but that seems a bit of a defeatist approach. Winning tends to breed winning and battling with the very best would surely be a good training ground for – hopefully – a World Cup to come. Some are dismissive, but Italy should miss opportunities like this at their peril.

They will also hope to welcome back some injured stars over the course of 2025. Gianluca Scamacca is a bit of a forgotten man, but it was not so long ago that he was the great hope of Italian goal-scoring. He may have been overtaken by Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean in his absence but Spalletti will hope to welcome him back. The recent return of Giorgio Scalvini to the Atalanta ranks will also be monitored with interest. Guglielmo Vicario is another sidelined star who will hope to get back to fitness and play some part in matches at some stage.

And then there are the youngsters who might emerge. After a disappointing Euros, the Italy boss has shown himself much more open to calling up players in their teens or early 20s. A terrible scare has robbed him of the possibility of calling up Edoardo Bove who was in outstanding form but his teammate Pietro Comuzzo has been a revelation for the Viola this season. Atalanta’s Matteo Ruggeri, Juve’s Nicolò Savona, Empoli’s Sebastiano Esposito and even Venezia’s Gaetano Oristanio are others producing the kinds of displays of late which might merit more than a second glance. The door is surely open for plenty of the talent which has starred for the Azzurrini to make the step up in the months to come.

Above all, though, regardless of personnel, this year will be about cementing the style and swagger that the team showed in pretty prolonged spells in 2024. It won’t be perfect – it rarely is – but it has to confirm the progress seen and continue the confidence in their own abilities which saw them deliver their best displays. There is a World Cup round the corner and Italy simply cannot be absent for a third time in a row. It is nearly 20 years since they went deep in the tournament and that is what every fan will want to see when that competition rolls around. But 2025 can see a lot of good groundwork done towards establishing themselves as the global power they used to be.

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When you look for the Italian team which has most astounded in 2024 there can only be one winner. Giancarlo Rinaldi argues that what Atalanta have achieved this year has been truly stunning for a club their size.

Last Christmas it looked like their magic might be starting to fade. A mediocre start to the season with nearly as many defeats as victories had left them sitting outside the European places in a pretty miserable eighth spot. But anyone writing an epitaph on the Gian Piero Gasperini miracle at Atalanta will have had to rip it up over the past 12 months.

There are other teams that have had fine achievements – Bologna getting into the Champions League last season, Fiorentina fighting at the top this term but none really come close to the Bergamaschi. A European trophy, leading the Serie A race and playing some tremendous football they are uncontested Italy’s most surprising side of the calendar year. Among the traditional giants, they have emerged as one of the most talked about teams across the continent by people who know their football.

What has been amazing about 2024 is that it has come about with the latest reinvention of La Dea by their coach. He has gone through several distinct cycles of personnel and continues to produce triumph after triumph. Players discarded by other sides seem to become gems in his expert crafting hands. And he orchestrates their team play with such precision that it rarely delivers anything short of a skill-packed symphony. Even losing top players – like Teun Koopmeiners this year – has hardly seen them stutter.

The cynical might say it is no surprise any more but that is to ignore the history and context of what this side has achieved. They have been good, for sure, but not this good at any point in time. To set the pace on the home front and joust with the very best in Europe’s elite on a regular basis is astonishing by any yardstick. Just because they are starting to make it seem commonplace shouldn’t make it any less remarkable.

Let’s just rewind to the end of last season when they delivered one of the most comprehensive European dismantlings ever seen. Ademola Lookman ran riot against previously undefeated Bayer Leverkusen to raise continental silverware for the first time. That they had previously wiped the floor with Liverpool only raised their profile and reputation further.

It is worth remembering that Bergamo is not a big city. With a population of about 120,000 it is only the fourth-largest city in the region of Lombardy behind Milan, Brescia and even Monza. That it is currently battling for a title with the likes of Inter and Napoli speaks volumes about how well run the club has been. This is a role model for other ambitious outfits in Italy and beyond.

And to think that on the eve of this season, their plans were rocked by injury to Gianluca Scamacca. Other sides might have been knocked a little off track but not the Nerazzurri. Mateo Retegui was pinched from Genoa and slotted in like the perfect missing piece for a Swiss watch. If anything, their attack has been even better without a man who looked central to their goals.

Some teams from the provinces have enjoyed success over the years with a pragmatic approach of covering up in away games and being a bit more expansive when they are at home – not so Atalanta. They try to play their own way regardless of the surroundings and the reputation of their opponents. It has earned them admirers across the footballing globe.

Even by his own high standards this has been a special year for the sometimes curmudgeonly Gasperini where everything he touches seems to turn to gold. From front to back his team has performed brilliantly and attracted covetous eyes from other clubs. Remember the Charles De Ketelaere who looked so forlorn in the red and black of Milan? Gasp has turned him into a player envied by countless others. The list of footballers outperforming even their wildest projections is endless.

In a sense, of course, their element of surprise is being lost a little with every big match they deliver. Nonetheless, it will take a while before they can be considered established as one of Italy and Europe’s regular big hitters. So, in the meantime, we can only sit back and admire what one of Serie A’s smaller sides has achieved this year with a dash of incredulity and appreciation.

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A long winning streak in Serie A has put Tuscany’s finest back among the big boys at the top of the table. Ahead of another European outing, Giancarlo Rinaldi examines their credentials to go deep in two competitions.

If you want to know what it was like the last time Fiorentina went on an eight-game winning streak in Italy’s top flight you will need to ask your Nonno. It was under Luis Carniglia some 64 years ago that the Viola enjoyed such a run of form. Even when playing not particularly well – like on Sunday against Cagliari – Raffaele Palladino’s men have developed a happy habit of gathering points that is as unfamiliar to their supporters as not throwing fireworks on an away European trip.

The more picky analysts will point out – correctly of course – that the abandoned game against Inter would have represented a slightly more tricky test than the Sardinian side to match the club record. Nonetheless, it has been an impressive run of results in an emotionally and physically testing period for the side from the Artemio Franchi. In a sign of unusual robustness, their defence has yet to be perforated in the final half-hour of any league game so far this season. Pietro Comuzzo and Luca Ranieri are the rocks upon which that rugged reputation has been constructed.

That 1959-60 season when they last won eight in a row ended up with a second place finish behind, almost inevitably, Juventus. With such a congested top end of the table this time around they could easily surge to the top or quickly slip to sixth or seventh place. Back to back games against the Bianconeri and Napoli at Christmas and the New Year will surely tell us more about how seriously we should take this particularly purple patch.

What cannot be doubted is the spirit in adversity shown by this side. The frightening events of their clash with the Nerazzurri and Edoardo Bove’s collapse would have rattled any team. Happily, the Roma loanee looks set to make a full recovery, although it appears unlikely that he will be able to play again in Serie A due to its strict regulations on heart conditions. The win over Cagliari without him – and Danilo Cataldi’s dedication of his beautiful goal to his teammate – showed the resilience of this squad.

There was the little matter of Coppa Italia elimination during the week as Palladino shuffled his pack and failed to see off Empoli on penalties. Surely every Fiorentina follower, however, would happily sacrifice that competition for continued success in the league and perhaps another venture far into the Conference League. They have scores to settle in that particular event.

It continues this week against struggling LASK and a win would put the Tuscans on the brink of a top eight finish that would see them avoid a play-off to make the last 16. In a hectic schedule, anything they can do to reduce their fixture congestion would surely be welcome. And yet they have often been unrecognisable in Europe this term compared with the solid side they have become on the domestic league front.

That has clearly been down to a much more experimental approach to line-ups against their continental adversaries. While there is a pretty clear starting XI in Serie A that has not been the case on Thursday nights and has led to some sloppy displays. They only sneaked into the group stage anyway and have failed to convince in any of their outings to this point.

But looking at the teams involved, they would surely fancy themselves to go a bit further. Only Chelsea need strike any fear into their hearts, and that is another reason to make sure they grab a top-eight place in the Conference League. They will surely believe they can get past any side they might meet in the last 16 if they go into it without having to go down the play-off route.

The loss of Bove undoubtedly leaves a gap in the Fiorentina midfield despite having found very dependable performers in Cataldi and Yacine Adli. The starting XI, certainly, is as good as any in the league with David de Gea back to his best, Dodô flying down his wing and Moise Kean dancing the Griddy with alarming regularity. It is the second string, though, which must leave reservations about exactly how high up the table they can ultimately finish.

Players like Jonathan Ikoné, Christian Kouamé and Lucas Martinez Quarta have been unable to step up with any regularity when called upon and that has to cast doubt over any realistic Scudetto hopes. A more likely target, perhaps, would be a Champions League finish which would surely represent a successful season. It might need investment in the January transfer window to ensure that it has the best possible chance of occurring.

Fiorentina aficionados will know that is a position they have found themselves in before and will hope President Rocco Commisso is in a generous mood. Most of them were underwhelmed by their summer signings but they have proved to be very impressive in an almost entirely revamped side. A couple more additions could cover for any deficiencies in their squad and really give them a platform to aim for a top four spot.

That will be a tough ask in a hugely competitive league and for a side which has – on occasions – ridden its luck. Still, they have bounced back from the Bove scare and cup elimination and face their old manager Vincenzo Italiano in the league next weekend. More seasoned fans might fear that the wheels will eventually come off – as they almost always have in the recent past – but for now they can just enjoy the journey. If it could deliver a trophy – or a return to Europe’s top competition – the boys and girls of the under renovation Curva Fiesole might never stop singing.

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The Azzurri made it through to the latter stages of the competition but had to settle for second place in their group. Giancarlo Rinaldi looks at the strengths and weaknesses shown against Belgium and France.

The journey back to being considered among the world’s top nations comes through clashes like these. An away trip to the seemingly permanently highly FIFA-ranked Belgians and a San Siro special with Les Bleus are a couple of Europe’s sterner tests. Luciano Spalletti’s men booked their place in the last eight of the Nations League but not without showing their shortcomings. Here are some of the good and bad points arising from the two matches.

Set pieces are a problem. There is no hiding from the fact that dead-ball specialists lick their lips when facing Italy these days. It appears to be particularly a problem when Guglielmo Vicario is in goals but there has now been a regular drip-feed of concessions from corners and free-kicks in recent outings. Maybe it is their commitment to attacking, open play themselves that leaves the team more vulnerable from set plays when they seem to switch off. It is something for coaches to work on closely in the weeks and months to come in order to avoid slip-ups like they produced against France.

The old Giovanni Di Lorenzo is back. There were concerns after the Euros that his days might be done with the national team but the Antonio Conte treatment in Naples appears to have been a great tonic for him. Slotting into a role at centre-back with the enterprising – and also outstanding – Andrea Cambiaso outside him has allowed for many more of his characteristic forward forays that culminated in setting up his country’s only goal on their trip to Belgium. He has also looked much more assured defensively after some super shaky performances when his confidence was low.

• Read more – It’s time to apologise to Di Lorenzo

Tip top Sandro Tonali. We had already had a few indications that his unwanted sabbatical from the game had resulted in him wanting to make up for lost time but the Newcastle man has been a real added value for this team. His energy, drive and quality have been sorely missed over the past year. A goal was the coronation of a fine return to the colours of his country and he will hope to build on that in the years to come as he becomes an indispensable part of the Italy midfield. A word of praise, too, for Nicolò Rovella who replaced Samuele Ricci in style in the away game. Late call-up Manuel Locatelli, on the other hand, struggled to show his worth in Milan.

Serie A goals are no guarantee. Both Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean have been ripping defences apart for their club sides but they struggled to make any impact on the last two internationals. The Atalanta man got more time to prove his worth and got little service but was unable to deliver much in the way of threat to the opposition across the two games. The Fiorentina forward was back to the old hesitant version of himself in the blue of his country when he did have a small number of opportunities in front of goal. The Azzurri need to find a way of providing them with more chances but they, too, need to gain confidence in leading the line for Italy.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. It would be easy to despair after defeat by France but the progress made across the group games should be considered much more a glass half-full than half-empty. A selection of younger players have come in and shown that they can do a job. Alessandro Buongiorno – although he had his struggles against France – was brilliant against Belgium. The other Sandro, Bastoni, goes from strength to strength. Nicolò Barella is a quality performer and few cross a ball better than Federico Dimarco. All in all, there are reasons to be cheerful, despite the loss in Milan. A stern test against one of Europe’s best awaits in the springtime.

Apparently unwanted by their previous clubs, a string of players are now flourishing at Fiorentina. Giancarlo Rinaldi looks at how the Viola have risen up the league with such seemingly unpromising materials.

Sometimes you have to treat them mean in order to keep them keen. Certainly, in Florence of late, they have been toasting a number of players who were not feeling a lot of love at their old clubs. The fire that has provided has helped fuel a run of fine performances that has them dreaming of great things in the Renaissance City right now.

Let’s talk, first of all, about Moise Kean – a promising player, no doubt, but one who seemed to be running out of clubs with the patience to let him prove himself. Juventus, Everton and Paris Saint-Germain is not a bad CV at the age of 24, but it would be fair to say he never delivered what was hoped for with most of them. A deal with the Viola looked risky for both sides but, so far, it has paid off in style.

The 24-year-old striker has been reborn at the under reconstruction Stadio Artemio Franchi as the undisputed leader of the Fiorentina line. He has delivered both goals and the kind of hold-up play they have been sorely missing since Dusan Vlahovic departed. Defenders up and down Italy – and beyond – have found him exactly the kind of handful all his past clubs hoped he would be. Proof, perhaps, that footballers need a little faith to be shown in order for them to flourish.

Kean finding his feet at Fiorentina

The same could be said for Yacine Adli, not much more than a bit-part player with Milan after his much-heralded acquisition in 2021. On loan with an option to buy, Fiorentina have a bad track record of letting such players slip through their grasp. Still, for the time being, he is providing the kind of sumptuous displays – including against his old teammates – that the Rossoneri dreamed of. He still sometimes spends too long on the ball, but when he is in the groove you can see exactly why he was earning some lofty comparisons not so long ago.

Alongside him in a completely overhauled midfield are two arrivals from Rome. Edoardo Bove was always a prospect, but fell out of favour with the Giallorossi before returning to haunt them recently. Still only 22, he is another loanee that Viola fans will hope can be made permanent without delay. He has been followed north by the much more experienced – but equally surplus to requirements – Danilo Cataldi from Lazio. Not exactly a name to stir the soul on the transfer market, he has been rock solid and even delivered goals which have hardly been a trademark of his career. Playing for a permanent deal seems to suit all these players.

And what to say of the biggest “reject” of them all? David de Gea left football entirely after his Manchester United experience came to an end and waited for the right opportunity to come along. He was keen on Serie A and Fiorentina took a chance on a goalkeeper some thought had no more to give. He has been proving them wrong one audacious save at a time. His latest leap to deny Genoa a draw was the culmination of yet another Man of the Match display, as the club finally appears to have found someone capable of ousting Pietro Terracciano from his post.

Fiorentina revitalising lost stars

Would it be stretching a case to put Robin Gosens in the rejected category too? Possibly, but he certainly was sent packing by Inter quite quickly when they decided he did not fit the bill for them. After his time with Union Berlin, he has come back to Serie A as if he has never been away. His goal against the Grifone crowned an impressive return to a league where he was always a quality performer.

There is even an unwanted hero in their own ranks in the shape of Lucas Beltran. He looked to be very much a peripheral figure after the acquisition of Albert Gudmundsson but has seized his chance after the ex-Genoa man suffered injury. The Argentinian has provided one of the few links with the Vincenzo Italiano regime along with Dodo back after injury and Luca Ranieri. With Andrea Colpani showing signs of life after a tricky start, these have been happy days.

A final word is deserved for Pietro Comuzzo, who has moved into the heart of the back four with an assuredness worthy of a teenage Beppe Bergomi at the 1982 World Cup. It is early to pile too much pressure on him but he has been a real standout for his team so far. If he continues this way then it will surely only be a matter of time until he becomes the latest Viola talent to be at the centre of major transfer rumours. Enjoy him while you can.

The bunch of inglorious rejects are enjoying their chance to shine with goals being scored for fun and some scintillating football as their coach has worked out a formation to suit them. How long it can last is anybody’s guess as Fiorentina fans have seen great hopes fall flat in the past. Still, a better European finish than the Conference League looks a possibility right now if they can keep everyone fit and on song. Heaven knows that would prove a point for an awful lot of the players in their squad right now.

Love him or loathe him, there is no denying the buzz around Mario Balotelli’s return to Italian football. Giancarlo Rinaldi looks at what Genoa – and the league – could get from his arrival.

It feels like a lifetime has passed since we last saw Mario Balotelli in Serie A. We have come through a global pandemic, seen the Azzurri win a delayed Euros and had four different teams lift the Scudetto in the meantime. When he left Brescia for up and coming Monza – whatever happened to them? – we had a feeling he might never be back in Italy’s top division. However, thanks to a Genoa side desperate to avoid relegation and shorn of two of its star forwards from last season, he is back for a fifth spell at Calcio’s highest level.

Those of us who have been watching the division for a while will remember the excitement that surrounded his first emergence as a teenager at Inter. The ease with which he produced goals for the Nerazzurri and at youth level for his country suggested this was a striker who could set all kinds of records at club and international level. That he did it all with an assurance that some interpreted as arrogance almost immediately made him a divisive figure.

Still, there was little surprise when Manchester City – then in the earlier days of becoming the dominant force they have since become – pounced for him as he turned 20. In the same year he was picking up his first full Italy cap. The future looked unbelievably bright.

But it would be fair to say things did not quite go as swimmingly as hoped in England. Nonetheless, with an outstanding summer with his country at Euro 2012, he was still an undeniable talent. When the other side of Milan came calling the following year, he made his first return to Serie A. The overseas experience appeared to have improved him and that spell with the Rossoneri was one of the most productive of his career.

It earned him another move to the Premier League – this time with Liverpool – but the magic generally failed to materialise and he was quickly back in Italy on loan. It would take another departure – to Nice in Ligue 1 – to kickstart his goalscoring again but, once more, that fizzled out and, after a move to Marseille, he was back at Brescia and then Monza. There was another sign of life in the Turkish Super Lig before he moved to Switzerland and then back to Turkey before his arrival back in Italy.

There have been highs and lows, for sure, and all of it surrounded by a fair dose of controversy. In the country of his birth he has often found himself a target for racism and perhaps that has driven him to play overseas. His detractors would argue that he brings a lot of the trouble on himself – he has certainly not always acted impeccably – but his famous Why Always Me? T-shirt did seem to touch upon a truth. Others have acted in similar ways to Balotelli but few have encountered the same level of reproach.

Wherever you sit on the Super Mario fence, it still feels good to get him back in Serie A. At 34 years old, he can still have a lot to offer and Genoa are certainly a club in desperate need after losing Mateo Retegui and Albert Gudmundsson in the summer and a bad start to the season. It is asking a lot of him to be their saviour but he does give them an attacking option that will cause other clubs in the relegation fight some concern.

There is always that side order of what he might bring to the club and the league in off-the-pitch headlines to worry about. And yet, if you focus on his football, he has the potential to be a big factor in keeping his new employer afloat. If nothing else, it will surely produce thousands more words about him to go alongside these ones.

This might well be his last shot at glory in one of Europe’s top five leagues but he still has the skill set to give it a go. Few players have bossed the division like he did at times in his pomp and fans of the Grifone will hope he can show some signs of that once more. He has already been dismissed as a spent force by many but he has made a career out of proving his critics wrong and would probably like nothing better than to do it one more time. Goalkeepers watch out, there could be a football flying at incredible speed coming in your direction very soon.

It would have been a shame to throw away the good work done in France by slipping up against Belgium and Israel. Giancarlo Rinaldi looks at how the Azzurri stayed top of their Nations League group in sometimes testing circumstances.

We could hardly have asked for a better tonic after such a miserable Euros. Watching Italy of late has felt like getting a bit of winter sunshine after suffering some rainswept summer staycation. It will never take away the pain and regret, but it has at least applied a little healing balm to the wounds suffered.

Not everything was perfect across the two matches in Rome and Udine – that was barely plausible – but the balance was surely a positive one. Some new names shone, more established ones confirmed their qualities and qualification for the final eight of the Nations League was just about secured. There are two tricky games to come – away to Belgium and at home to France – but they can be faced with more confidence than many would have imagined.

The first game in Italy’s October break was surely a glass-half-full affair for all but the most miserable supporter. Against another side ranked higher than them in the world the Azzurri started brightly in a dazzling tribute to Totò Schillaci who was honoured before kick-off at the Stadio Olimpico. They zipped the ball about like a team that had long since cleared its head of any hangover from Germany.

Their full-backs, wing-backs or call them what you will, thrived – with Federico Dimarco teeing up his counterpart on the opposite flank, Andrea Cambiaso, for the opening goal. They were involved again in the build-up to the second as a parried shot was expertly tucked away by Mateo Retegui, continuing his fine run of form. Perhaps Italy has found its new first-choice striker after all.

The midfield, too, was playing like clockwork with Samuele Ricci confirming all his promise and Sandro Tonali enjoying a most pleasant return to football. With the defence showing the composure you would expect from Riccardo Calafiori and Alessandro Bastoni everything was going perfectly. That was, of course, until disaster struck in an ill-timed lunge by Lorenzo Pellegrini which was upgraded from yellow to red and left La Nazionale facing a very different challenge.

In truth, they might even have held on for the win but conceding straight away from the resultant free-kick left them more than happy with a draw. They will not have been content with their defending on set pieces – particularly the second one – but otherwise, they held things together well. Perhaps, if Davide Frattesi had rolled the ball to Retegui after an exquisite control instead of shooting, they might even have still sneaked an improbable win.

It would be unfair to be too critical of Pellegrini over his rush of blood as he had been impressive up until his expulsion but he needs to learn quickly to avoid such impulsive acts. He is probably one of the least certain selections in the Italy midfield at present and, if they do well without him, he might find himself frozen out. There is no doubting his quality, but he needs to make sure he delivers it all the time.

His suspension made at least one change inevitable for the Israel game but Luciano Spalletti chose to make a couple of other switches as in came Guglielmo Vicario, Giacomo Raspadori and Nicolò Fagioli with mixed results. The goalkeeper flapped at a corner to concede a goal, the Napoli man fell over when it looked like he had a tap-in and the midfielder was hooked at halftime after an unconvincing display. As a team, though, it was another step in the right direction.

The wide men were again in top form, Tonali at his driving best and Retegui showed his cool finishing once more. It was also a nice night for Giovanni Di Lorenzo who grabbed a double after much criticism and had a controlled evening. And once more Frattesi displayed his love of scoring goals for his country. A debut for Daniel Maldini – with some touches as if he had been playing for a lifetime in the national team – was the icing on the cake.

More than any individual, though, this has been about the overall performances. Some of the football has been delightful. The players have backed themselves to play it out from the back and—more often than not—delivered. They have conceded the odd silly goal, but otherwise, they have shown character, ability, and attitude. It should stand them in good stead for the challenges ahead.

It appears that Spalletti has taken on board the lessons of the summer and started to implement the necessary changes. We are beginning to see what his Italy could look like and how he hopes it can play and that has been pretty pleasing. There will no doubt be setbacks but the picture is a lot more attractive than it was a few months ago. They will be put to the test once more in November but there will be a lot more hope than trepidation than many of us might have imagined. The Azzurri have a vision, ambition and boldness that was lacking in the summer and anyone who holds them dear will hope that can continue for some time to come.

One of the Azzurri’s call-ups for the Nations League has caused quite a stir and Giancarlo Rinaldi examines the pride and pressure on the selection of Daniel Maldini for the Azzurri squad.

Taking over the family business is always fraught with danger. It can be hard to follow in the footsteps of your parents and live up to the reputation they have carved out before you. But when the industry is football and your name is Maldini – the stress must be of almost unimaginable proportions.

Of all the names on Luciano Spalletti’s call-ups for the upcoming fixtures with Belgium and Israel, one stood out more than any other. Monza’s Daniel Maldini has been in fine form and his inclusion was regularly rumoured – but it was still big news when it became official. He only has to follow two legends of the game.

• Read more – Maldini ‘happy to play anywhere’ for Italy but didn’t ask for father’s advice

His nonno – grandfather if you must – Cesare was a Milan icon of the 1950s and 1960s and played more than a dozen times for his country. He then went on to be a hugely successful coach of Italy’s Under 21 side and also took the full international side to the 1998 World Cup. Suffice to say he was a towering figure in Italian sport.

But his father Paolo was even more of a giant for club and country. As an elegant and attacking full-back and, later, as a centre-back with impeccable reading of the game he was capped more than 100 times by the Azzurri – captaining them for the majority of those matches. He might not have won a tournament but he was there at the later stages on numerous occasions and widely recognised as one of the greatest defenders of all time.

At least young Daniel has chosen not to play in defence which can avoid him some unwanted comparisons. Indeed, he has carved out his own niche by leaving Milan – where he spent his youth career – for loan spells at Spezia, Empoli and Monza. Now aged 22 – he turns 23 on Friday – things appear to have clicked for him as the goals have started to come with reasonable regularity and he looks to establish himself as being of Serie A quality.

Some have suggested that Spalletti might have been influenced by his famous surname but that seems more than a little bit churlish. Italy are short of attacking options – even shorter after Moise Kean pulled out with injury – and have to look everywhere they can for inspiration. Maldini offers something a little bit different to other attackers and, if you can’t experiment in the Nations League, when can you?

It was clearly a more than a little emotional moment for the young man as he arrived at the Coverciano training centre to see pictures of his family on the wall. He was eligible to play for Venezuela on his mother’s side but was always going to wait to see if he could don the blue of the Bel Paese. The Italian term predestinato has probably never been more appropriately used.

His family background has surely helped him to keep a level head in all the hubbub surrounding his selection. He explained that having such famous relatives can have both positive and negative sides but he has learned to deal with it now. “As time goes by you start to understand a few things,” he said. “Whatever other people might think you’ve got to follow your own path with the goal you have in mind.”

Certainly there is no shortage of opinion out there about what he might be able to bring to the side. He might not yet be at the levels of his role model, Kakà – few players are or ever will be – but he does bring a spark of creativity and quality that could serve his country well. If his genes have anything to do with it, he should not have too many problems settling into his new surroundings.

It seems unlikely he will start – particularly against Belgium – but a few minutes against Israel should not be out of the question. If he proves to be as at home in the colours of his country as his famous forebears then it could be the start of a long and fruitful relationship. Many fans would find something reassuring in seeing his name on the team sheet as the Inno di Mameli starts to play.

He will have to earn that kind of career, of course, just as his predecessors did. In a sport that often has little sense of historical context, it is quite nice to have a little link back to the game’s past. First Cesare, then Paolo and now Daniel have formed a thread that draws together different eras and different generations who can each claim one Maldini as their own. Who knows, there might be more to follow in the years to come. But, for now, let us just enjoy what the latest in the family production line has to offer and hope he can be even a fraction of the player that the others to carry his illustrious name have been.

@ginkers

The world of football is in mourning for the loss of Salvatore Schillaci. Giancarlo Rinaldi pays tribute to the man who burned so brightly at Italy’s home World Cup.

We’ve all lost a little bit of magic today. The brilliant, bug-eyed striker who lit up Italia ’90 for fans of the Azzurri – and many beyond – is gone. Few players shone with such intensity and sheer unbridled joy as Totò Schillaci.

There have been plenty of greater players for Italy and lots who won more honours but few won the hearts of a nation as much as the Sicilian goalscorer. In an age where our stars have become increasingly distant, he felt like he was one of us. When he scored a goal for his country he burst with pride that came buzzing through his body and transmitted itself to fans in the ground and watching on TV. He was living our collective dream and he wasn’t afraid to show it.

Ciao Totò
Hero of the Notti Magiche pic.twitter.com/uJwB23ZWqt

— Italy (@Azzurri_En) September 18, 2024

He seemed just as surprised as we were at how he seized the world stage in that summer of the Notte Magiche (Magic Nights). Just a year before the tournament, the boy from Palermo was plying his trade with Messina and was hardly on the radar of La Nazionale. A move to Juventus and a season where he scored a goal every other game in Serie A made his claims to play for his country irresistible.

It was that rags-to-riches story that grabbed our attention and made us fall in love with the little hitman. His Italy debut came just months before the tournament when it was fully expected Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini would be Azeglio Vicini’s star men. Then along came Totò and Roberto Baggio and ripped up those plans. The Divin Codino would be a star for decades to come, his attacking companion would burn out much more quickly.

But what joy he gave us, though, as he scorched through opposition defences. At a home tournament, in front of demanding Italian fans, the Azzurri were in danger of being frustrated by Austria in their opening match. Enter Schillaci to turn the match and send his country flying towards the later stages.

More goals followed against Czechoslovakia, Uruguay, the Republic of Ireland, Argentina and England. It was not enough to take his team to the title – they ultimately finished third – but the player ended up as the tournament top scorer and was the undisputed star of the competition. It was a glorious, beautiful surprise and you got the feeling that few people were more shocked than the player himself.

He never scaled those heights again. The goals dried up with Juve and a switch to Inter failed to spark him back to life. He moved to Jubilo Iwata in Japan and then retired from the game in the late 1990s. His most memorable moments had all been packed into a season or a season and a half or so.

That did not mean, though, that he was forgotten. It was enough to hear the songs from that summer or watch him wheeling away in celebration to feel the hairs standing up on the back of your neck once more. Totò knew what it meant to the tifosi to see Italy win and he was not shy in letting us see how much it meant to him either. The delight and astonishment on his face after those World Cup goals is still etched in our collective memories.

He was no mean player, either – quick, agile and with a thunderous shot, he gave Italy a dash of unpredictability that took them to the brink of winning that home World Cup. Schillaci was the passionate Sicilian heart of that effort. A failure, perhaps, but a glorious one that gave us so many special moments.

Just 59 years old is no age at all to have lost such a figure. We knew he was unwell but, still, it came as a blow on an otherwise serene September morning. We can only be thankful for all the sheer delight he gave us in that stupendous summer. For the goals, for the memories and for that beaming, beautiful smile – Grazie Totò.

It is accepted wisdom that the Azzurri are slow starters in September but they ripped up that rule book against France and Israel. Giancarlo Rinaldi reflects on a triumphant start that was welcome – and unexpected – in equal measure.

We left Italy in a pretty sorry state in the summer. Having limped out of the Euros, La Nazionale was lacking in much direction, optimism or hope. There were plenty of people questioning the appointment of Luciano Spalletti and the quality of the players at his disposal. They did not answer all those criticisms with two group wins in the space of four days but they did, at least, give a show of character. Here are a few things the two away victories taught us.

Tonali is back

It would be unfair to heap too much pressure on a man who has been biding his time on the sidelines for a season but, just the same, the Newcastle midfielder has hit the ground running. His display against France – with a sublime assist for Federico Dimarco – was the kind to have fans drooling. His coach recognised his importance to the team and also his determination to make up for lost time after his ban from the game. Previously weighed down by comparisons with past greats, he now looks free to deliver as his own player. He provides zest and drive in the centre of the park that was sorely missing a few months ago.

Crazy for Frattesi

Some players have a happy knack of delivering for their national team even when club matters are not going so well. Davide Frattesi hardly ever played more than an hour for Inter in Serie A last season but that has not stopped him becoming a star man for his country. As he helped to deliver Italy’s first win over France in Paris in 70 years he became the top scorer of the Spalletti era and then he added one more with his chest against Israel for good measure. Without a prolific striker as of yet, this team must be grateful for a man who can time his runs from midfield as well as he does.

Ricci’s riches

There was a clear need to rejuvenate and revitalise this Azzurri side and nobody symbolised that more than the Torino man. He showed both class and character to take on one of the world’s top sides on their own ground and try to play his football. His composure and quality was a really pleasant addition and he confirmed the good impression with another impressive display in Hungary. This new generation might not be a team of superstars but the Tuscan midfielder showed that he can stitch together a side that was in danger of coming apart at the seams.

Plucky Luciano

He had faced accusations of being inflexible and perhaps unwilling to blood a new generation but he got his picks spot on for the France game and, less convincingly perhaps, against Israel. It was not the revolution some had hoped for but still he showed the vision to spot some quality additions while building on the quality he already knew he possessed in the likes of Riccardo Calafiori, Federico Dimarco, Gigio Donnarumma and Alessandro Bastoni. Perhaps he has shaken off his bad mood from the Euros and can work towards a clearer vision and sort out a still leaky defence and concerns over the right-back position with Giovanni Di Lorenzo continuing to struggle.

Football needs fans

If the win over Les Bleus was an epic in front of vociferous and passionate home support, the same could not be said of the victory over Israel in Budapest. The empty seats of the Bozsik Arena made for an atmosphere that was a depressing reminder of the behind closed doors days of Covid. The best thing that could be said of the game was that Italy managed to focus on the job in hand and not treat it too much as a friendly. They had their scares against more lowly opposition but, in the end, they had enough quality and spirit to pick up three points.