Di Lorenzo: ‘Italy players have freedom to change positions’ | OneFootball

Giovanni Di Lorenzo thanks Luciano Spalletti for giving the Italy players ‘freedom to interchange positions’ and make the most of their versatility after beating Belgium 1-0.

The Azzurri emerged from Brussels with all three points thanks to an early goal from Sandro Tonali, who finished off a well-worked team move from Di Lorenzo’s assist.

They had only required a point to be sure of qualification for the Nations League quarter-finals, but this victory is a show of strength.

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“I am very happy with the performance, but the most important thing was the result. We are in this new era with some very young players and are so pleased with the way we have started,” Di Lorenzo told RAI Sport.

“What we want to do matters more than what our opponents do. The coach asks us to enjoy ourselves on the field and also to have few fixed positions, so he gives us more freedom to interchange positions and that can also confuse opponents.”

Di Lorenzo outlines how Italy have changed

epa11721655 Wout Faes (C), Arthur Theate (2-L), and goalkeeper Koen Casteels (R) of Belgium in action against Giovanni Di Lorenzo of Italy (L) during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Belgium and Italy in Brussels, Belgium, 14 November 2024. EPA-EFE/OLIVIER MATTHYS

It is a huge shift from the dismal performances seen from the Azzurri at EURO 2024, where they crashed out in the Round of 16 to Switzerland.

“The tournament Germany was a bad chapter, but it is in the past now. You can see the enthusiasm in this group, which is not only because we are winning games, but also as we are like a family.”

Di Lorenzo made a decisive block on a shot from his Napoli teammate Romelu Lukaku, with help from Alessandro Buongiorno, to keep a clean sheet after eight consecutive games conceding a goal for Italy.

“When you are up against these great champions, you need the whole team to work and help the defence. This group is ready to work together and that is something we can build on, we’ve got to keep that attitude going.”

Di Lorenzo is a versatile figure, as he plays right-back at Napoli, but is currently on the right side of a three-man defence for Italy.

“As the coach says, defenders must know how to play and do different things now too. We have this freedom to seek out the spaces and best positions, keeping someone ready to attack down the flanks if we do want to cut inside.”