In or out. It seems incredible, but a year and a half after the World Cup defeat, Italy is once again on the brink of the abyss. At stake this time is the qualification for the European Championships of 2024, which became very complicated after draw in Macedonia last Saturday. And so today's match against Ukraine becomes fundamental, taking into account that England have already run away (13 points in 5 games) and that Rebrov's yellow and blue are second with a 3 point advantage. Let's be clear, nothing is lost: the Azzurri have played one less match, so they could catch up with their rivals and then later spend the "bonus" for overtaking. However, all this is linked to a victory today at the San Siro, otherwise the pass for Euro 24 it would pass only and exclusively through the gauntlet of the play-offs.
Italy – Ukraine (20.45pm, Rai Uno)
In short, a very delicate match, both for the objective value of Ukraine (on Saturday it held the English to a 1-1 draw) which for the moment is not Italy's, having also appeared in great difficulty in Macedonia. The hope that the Spalletti effect could be enough to reinvigorate the group broke up on Saturday evening, faced with a performance that was at times disconcerting, especially in the second half.
It is therefore logical that tonight's match is of great concern, although it is right to reiterate that the Azzurri have everything to win it, as long as they regain at least a bit of edge. San Siro, at least in theory, should help (around 45-50 thousand spectators expected), but the Scala of football, as we know, can be a double-edged sword in terms of pressure, especially since Donnarumma, one of the players most in difficulty, risks suffering less than edifying treatment. Spalletti will have to find the right key to recharge the group's batteries, especially on a psychological level, the real Achilles' heel from the flop against Macedonia onwards. Mancini enjoyed enormous credit after the European Championship victory, but instead he ended up losing it all game after game, overwhelmed by a negativity that never seems to end. A victory, possibly convincing, would be manna from heaven, but to date it is far from a given.
Spalletti defends Donnarumma, but Vicario presses: and San Siro prepares for the "usual" boos
What is happening in Donnarumma is emblematic, finished in the sights of critics after Saturday's mistake. A déjà-vu given the precedent against the Macedonians in the now famous (alas) World Cup play-off, which becomes quite recurrent also considering the mistakes (especially in the Champions League) with the PSG shirt, where moreover lives a very complicated moment (the feeling with Luis Enrique is not good at all).
“Donnarumma will be the starter – Spalletti immediately clarified in the press conference -. The role of goalkeeper always pays dearly for everything, plus he is not forgiven for being a child prodigy: we all have to work hard to reach certain levels, while those who have a gift are difficult to understand, or at least they wait for it. and then go and hit him. Mistakes can be made, then it is clear that child prodigies must respect the talent they have, otherwise it becomes presumption." The final thrust confirms that a problem exists, also because there is an alternative solution and a significant one at that: William Vicar he is performing excellently with the Tottenham shirt and many are starting to support his ownership in blue too.
Spalletti doesn't hide: "We have to win, we can't back down"
“It's easy to handle this situation, because we have to beat everyone in front of us – sighed Spalletti -. We cannot back away from trying to win any match, it must be something evident, it must be there when you see us play. However, we need to bring back the right equation between pleasure and the importance of blue, we need to work in that direction. We want to win and also produce good football, which we didn't do in Skopje. None of us are happy with that match, in the locker room this displeasure with the result and with some moments of the match was evident. I'm ceager to see the team with Ukraine again because actually even the pitch there was penalizing... At the San Siro stadium I have nothing to ask for, we are the ones who have to deserve their behavior. Since I have attended national team matches at San Siro, I ask them what they have always done."
Italy – Ukraine, the lineups: Spalletti launches Raspadori, Pessina, Locatelli, Frattesi and Scalvini
Compared to the race in Skopje there will beor various new features, also because Politano and Mancini were added to the list of unavailable, forcing the coach to call Orsolini. Regardless, at least five changes are expected, with courageous choices like the exclusions of Barella and Tonali, at least from the beginning. The game system will still be the 4-3-3, with Donnarumma in goal, Di Lorenzo, Scalvini (favourite over Casale), Bastoni and Dimarco in defence, Pessina, Locatelli and Frattesi in midfield, Raspadori, Immobile and Zaccagni in attack.
Usual 4-2-3-1 instead for Rebrov, who will attempt the coup by relying on Bushchan (ahead of Lunin) between the posts, Konoplya, Zabarnyi, Kryvtsov and Mykolenko in the back department, Stepanenko and Zinchenko in the midfield, Tsygankov, Sudakov and Mudryk behind the lone striker Dovbyk.
