MY ACCOUNT
Italy head coach Roberto Mancini has conceded his side have “serious problems” in attack ahead of the Euro 2024 qualifiers that start later this month.
The Azzurri are the defending European champions, having beaten England on penalties at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final.
Mancini’s men have been drawn in Group C with England again in qualifying, alongside Malta, Ukraine and North Macedonia – who they lost to in the World Cup play-offs.
Italy will be desperate to make up for the disappointment of not reaching Qatar 2022 and begin their latest campaign at home to England on March 23 before travelling to Malta three days later.
Speaking to Il Messaggero ahead of the international break, however, Mancini acknowledged concern over his side’s attacking options.
He said: “The problems are serious. [Ciro] Immobile is out, perhaps [Giacomo] Raspadori, too. There are big questions.
“Most of our centre-forwards have played very little in recent months. We don’t have one who is a starter, except for [Wilfried] Gnonto, who is used a little wider at Leeds and can act as a centre-forward.
“But otherwise, we are in bad shape: even [Gianluca] Scamacca is recovering from an injury, [Andrea] Belotti plays little.
“There are solutions in defence and in midfield. It’s there in attack that we have problems but not because there aren’t any talents. They have to play, and they don’t play.”
One option for Mancini could be to recall former Roma forward Nicolo Zaniolo, who joined Galatasaray on a permanent deal in February.
There’s also the possibility of a first call-up for Andrea Compagno, who has scored 16 times this season in Romania’s Liga I.
These fixtures will mark Italy’s first games since the death of Gianluca Vialli, a member of their coaching staff and a very close friend of Mancini.
“They will be difficult days,” Mancini said. “The great emptiness that I feel every day we will feel stronger. All that he left us must be useful for our present and our future.”
Italy have not played since November 20 last year when they lost 2-0 to Austria in a friendly.
