Five Things We Learnt From Italy’s Euro 2024 Group Stage

Italy came through in second place in Group C of Euro 2024, finishing behind Spain and ahead of Croatia and Albania. Whilst progression to the round of 16 is a positive, the Azzurri showed little signs of being able to go deep in the tournament: a young and inexperienced side did just enough to secure qualification. Here are five things we learnt from Italy’s group stage, and what they’ll need to do to make a mark in the knockout stages.

Five Things We Learnt From Italy’s Group Stage

Spalletti is a Superb Coach and Will Get The Most From a Young Group

Luciano Spalletti took over as coach of the national team in August 2023, after cutting short his sabbatical following a historic Serie A title win with Napoli. Since then, the former Udinese, Roma, and Inter Milan coach has set about guiding a young team in transition, experimenting with different systems and formations in order to ensure the Azzurri scraped through their qualifying group in second place.

Evidence of his work could be found in Italy’s opening game, turning around a disastrous start against Albania, conceding after 23 seconds. They recovered through strikes from Alessandro Bastoni and Nicolo Barella, and dominated with a high press that allowed them to win the ball high up the field on numerous occasions.

Things were tougher in subsequent games against Spain and Croatia, but there is enough evidence that Spalletti’s considerable managerial abilities can compensate for a lack of experience.

Nicolo Barella Is Italy’s World Class Player

In an inexperienced team, 27-year-old Barella has looked the part in Italy’s midfield, with most of their good work coming through his runs from deep as well as the passing of fellow midfielder Jorginho.

A well-taken goal against Albania was just reward for a player who was a lynchpin in Inter Milan’s title-winning squad, and the Azzurri will be reliant on his considerable talent if they are to overcome round of 16 opponents Switzerland, and make a deep run into this tournament.

Italy Would Be Out Without Gianluigi Donnarumma

The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper was player of the tournament at Euro 2020, starring in an Italy side that unexpectedly won the trophy. Now, he has picked up where he left off in international competitions, making a string of fine saves in all three group games to keep Italy in games they could have easily lost. Despite not being the best goalkeeper at commanding his area, and being prone to the odd high-profile mistake, Donnarumma’s shot stopping makes him a key player in the team’s bid to retain their title.

Decent Defence, Blunt Attack

The Azzurri have always been renowned for their defence, and it seems that it remains the strength even in this transitional team. Riccardo Calafiori and Alessandro Bastoni look commanding at centre-back, and it’s unlikely that the team will give up many goals. Indeed, the problems in Spalletti’s side seem to lay at the other end of the field, with bright moments for fit-again Federico Chiesa overshadowed by the ineffectiveness of the team in front of goal. Strikers Gianluca Scamacca and Matteo Retegui will need to find their scoring boots in order for Italy to progress further in this tournament.

Everything Needs to Go Right for Italy to Reach Latter Stages

A quick look at the knockout bracket tells us that should Italy beat Switzerland, they will face England or Slovakia in the quarter-final. The former were comfortably superior to them in Euro 2024 qualification when they were in the same group. The Azzurri are, on paper at least, on the easier side of the draw, but will still need a formula to find the net if they hope to defend their trophy.

Jack McArdle

Football Writer, passionate about Manchester United, Exeter City and Celtic. Thinks Erling Haaland is a glorified tap-in merchant. Advocate of less ex players in punditry/commentary positions, save us from Rio Ferdinand! Gloriously left footed number 10 on the five-a-side pitch. Slide rule passes of Xavi, fitness of big Dave from down the pub.