Italy’s Nations League reality check | OneFootball

The Azzurri made it through to the latter stages of the competition but had to settle for second place in their group. Giancarlo Rinaldi looks at the strengths and weaknesses shown against Belgium and France.

The journey back to being considered among the world’s top nations comes through clashes like these. An away trip to the seemingly permanently highly FIFA-ranked Belgians and a San Siro special with Les Bleus are a couple of Europe’s sterner tests. Luciano Spalletti’s men booked their place in the last eight of the Nations League but not without showing their shortcomings. Here are some of the good and bad points arising from the two matches.

Set pieces are a problem. There is no hiding from the fact that dead-ball specialists lick their lips when facing Italy these days. It appears to be particularly a problem when Guglielmo Vicario is in goals but there has now been a regular drip-feed of concessions from corners and free-kicks in recent outings. Maybe it is their commitment to attacking, open play themselves that leaves the team more vulnerable from set plays when they seem to switch off. It is something for coaches to work on closely in the weeks and months to come in order to avoid slip-ups like they produced against France.

The old Giovanni Di Lorenzo is back. There were concerns after the Euros that his days might be done with the national team but the Antonio Conte treatment in Naples appears to have been a great tonic for him. Slotting into a role at centre-back with the enterprising – and also outstanding – Andrea Cambiaso outside him has allowed for many more of his characteristic forward forays that culminated in setting up his country’s only goal on their trip to Belgium. He has also looked much more assured defensively after some super shaky performances when his confidence was low.

Tip top Sandro Tonali. We had already had a few indications that his unwanted sabbatical from the game had resulted in him wanting to make up for lost time but the Newcastle man has been a real added value for this team. His energy, drive and quality have been sorely missed over the past year. A goal was the coronation of a fine return to the colours of his country and he will hope to build on that in the years to come as he becomes an indispensable part of the Italy midfield. A word of praise, too, for Nicolò Rovella who replaced Samuele Ricci in style in the away game. Late call-up Manuel Locatelli, on the other hand, struggled to show his worth in Milan.

France’s forward Marcus Thuram (C) struggles for the ball with Italy’s defenders Giovanni Di Lorenzo (R) and Alessandro Bastoni during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Italy and France at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in Milan, Italy, 17 November 2024. EPA-EFE/DANIEL DAL ZENNARO

Serie A goals are no guarantee. Both Mateo Retegui and Moise Kean have been ripping defences apart for their club sides but they struggled to make any impact on the last two internationals. The Atalanta man got more time to prove his worth and got little service but was unable to deliver much in the way of threat to the opposition across the two games. The Fiorentina forward was back to the old hesitant version of himself in the blue of his country when he did have a small number of opportunities in front of goal. The Azzurri need to find a way of providing them with more chances but they, too, need to gain confidence in leading the line for Italy.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. It would be easy to despair after defeat by France but the progress made across the group games should be considered much more a glass half-full than half-empty. A selection of younger players have come in and shown that they can do a job. Alessandro Buongiorno – although he had his struggles against France – was brilliant against Belgium. The other Sandro, Bastoni, goes from strength to strength. Nicolò Barella is a quality performer and few cross a ball better than Federico Dimarco. All in all, there are reasons to be cheerful, despite the loss in Milan. A stern test against one of Europe’s best awaits in the springtime.