Italy – North Macedonia: Spalletti Sees Out Half The Job (5-2)

The final fixture for the group phase of the EURO qualifiers on home soil could have driven Italy to the same old sinking feeling of the last few years. But the optimism that comes with a new leader has not yet worn away, putting the nation in pole position to decide their destiny.

Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere.

Reputation precedes Italy in the sport— even if their recent record contains many disappointments. Between the pain of two missed World Cups in a row (for the first time in the history of the Azzurri) was the delight of defeating England in the final of the EURO 2020. The upcoming days decide which of those turns they will take next. Ukraine await their arrival for the final fixture of the group, but the size of the task would depend on their display against a nation that caused heartbreak just months ago.

That duty now lies with Luciano Spalletti, who has cut short his planned year of leave from Napoli. He swapped six men that took to the field at the start of a 3-1 defeat to England. Federico Dimarco and Matteo Darmian earned spots as fullbacks, while Federico Gatti sat at the heart of the back four. Nicolò Barella has started all games in his tenure, so Jorginho and Giacomo Bonaventura were the other pieces in midfield. Federico Chiesa flew down the left flank in place of Stephan El Shaarawy.

North Macedonia once

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