Mancini’s revolution in search of the right formula

The Nations League debut with Germany becomes an opportunity to try out young talents, especially in attack. Qualifications for Euro24 on the horizon

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Opportunity or risk. The new blue crossroads in front of Germany does not seem to admit appeals: Italy, making its debut in the new edition of the Nations League, can twist on itself after the world shock and the manifest inferiority against Argentina or it can give itself a jolt of adrenaline like that to reset, in part, the last, painful, unexpected events.

The opportunity is also the one that Roberto Mancini will grant to those who are less busy because, says the Italian coach, «compared to the trip to London, eight or nine boys have left without more energy or are bruised. .. “and why, according to Mancio,” while trying to keep the same game, the same personality and the same technique, we must start making room for some news in view of March when we will play to qualify for the 2024 European Championship “.

Revolution in fact, therefore. And revolution in the interpreters: from London to Bologna there could be as many as nine changes from the start, with Donnarumma and Bonucci the only confirmations. And from Bologna to Cesena – on Tuesday the second Nations engagement with Hungary is on the agenda – the trend could continue involving the youngest at work in Coverciano.

Mancini nominated Flick’s Germany to the role of big favorite in Qatar in November with Brazil, Argentina and France. And, Mancini, look to the immediate future without playing defense: the point where the balance is missing is the attack. “Yes, I’m worried”, his dry answer to the question about the lack of numbers nine: a bit of a generational problem, a bit of the fault of a system at the youth level that penalizes the birth of pure strikers in working methods, Italy remains hanging on the usual suspects with some variations. “Behind Immobile and Belotti there is only Scamacca, but Scamacca has no international experience: I just have to wish myself the rapid growth of guys who come from Serie B to Serie A and start scoring goals”, the bitter analysis of the ct.

Opportunity or risk, from tonight’s duel we will have to get used to, and discover, a new Italy with a final destination next March when, on the occasion of the challenges with the next European horizon, the circle will have to close. “The new phase is now,” Mancini emphasizes. New phase with the Rossonero Tonali in the center and, with him, the captain of Roma Pellegrini: the June window, with the four matches on the agenda, will be a good test for them to overcome. Mancini’s second four-year Italy pays for the absences of boys like Chiesa and, now, Berardi, but is ready to bet on young people like Pobega or Ricci in midfield, but also Scalvini in defense and, perhaps, Gnonto in attack.

Flick, the coach of a happy again Germany, rethinks the spirit of the magical blue nights. “Mancini did an extraordinary job last summer, it is right that he also remained without the World Cup: the spirit created by his Italy a year ago is an example to follow for all of us,” he says. The Germans have been out for three weeks and will use the Nations challenges to prepare Qatar. We will not be in Qatar: between now and March we have to discover a new Italy. –