The defending champions from Italy are missing a goal killer in the group of death. Spalletti also takes betting sinner Fagioli to the Euros

Without a big attacking star, Italy will go to this year’s European Championship in Germany. The defending champions of the last title also have in the nomination the sin-binner Nicolo Fagioli, whose sentence for football betting has recently expired. And they face a group of death with Croatia and Spain.

The football giant from the Apennine Peninsula is mightily hungry for a defence and a third European gold overall. Italy will bring a very strong team to Germany under Luciano Spalletti, which includes nine golden boys from the last championship.

The 57-year-old coach has narrowed down his selection with Lazio goalkeeper Ivan Provedel, FC Torino midfielder Samuele Ricci and Bologna striker Riccardo Orsolini. Ciro Immobile, a traditional attacking weapon of yesteryear, did not even make the cut.

As three years ago, the goal will be defended by PSG’s Gianluigi Donnarumma, who will be partnered in the back line by three players from champions Inter Milan – Bastoni, DiMarco and Darmian.

Spalletti does not have a goal killer in his squad

The midfield play should be dictated by Nicoló Barella, also an Inter player, along with Jorginho from Arsenal London. The experienced duo from the capital is not missing either. Bryan Cristante and Lorenzo Pellegrini, playing for AS Roma, will surely attack the starting line-up.

And who will score the goals? Europa League winner Gianluca Scamacca has had a great season with Atalanta Bergamo, as has Federico Chiesa of Juventus. But Spalletti doesn’t have a really clear-cut striker in his selection.

As usual with the Italians, you won’t find many young players on their roster. Twenty-two year old Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna and one year older Juventus midfielder Nicoló Fagioli will probably carry the ball in training. He has only recently finished his sentence for betting on football matches.

Italy kick off Group B with a match against Albania. It will then face very tough opponents Croatia and the always extremely strong Spain.

Italy’s nomination for the European Championship:

Goalkeepers:
Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG)
Alex Meret (Napoli)
Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham)

Defenders:
Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan)
Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan)
Matteo Darmian (Inter Milan)
Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus)
Federico Gatti (Juventus)
Raoul Bellanova (FC Torino)
Alessandro Buongiorno (FC Torino)
Gianluca Mancini (AS Roma)
Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli)
Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna)

Midfielders:
Jorginho (Arsenal)
Nicoló Barella (Inter Milan)
Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan)
Bryan Cristante (AS Roma)
Lorenzo Pellegrini (AS Roma)
Nicoló Fagioli (Juventus)
Michael Folorunsho (Verona)

Strikers:
Federico Chiesa (Juventus)
Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli)
Mateo Retegui (FC Genoa)
Gianluca Scamacca (Bergamo)
Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio Rome)
Stephan El Shaarawy (AS Roma)

Italy’s matches in the group stage:

Italy vs. Albania (15 June 21:00)
Spain vs. Italy (20 June 21:00)
Croatia vs. Italy (24 June 21:00)

Source: FIFA, Italian national football team