Tactical Changes and New Faces: Luciano Spalletti and Italy Make Nations League Statement After Euro 2024 Debacle

Ahead of Italy’s Nations League fixture against France, Luciano Spalletti was very philosophical when making his case for his credentials. 

“I’ve changed because I believe that our lives get better when we understand what’s going on around us,” he said. 

“I’ve reflected on my experience [at Euro 2024] and feel like I’ve gained some valuable insights.”

Spalletti’s penchant for introspection and beliefs would have been sorely tested by the time Bradley Barcola fired the hosts ahead after just 13 seconds in Paris on Friday night.

It was a nightmare start for an Azzurri side still trying to exorcise the ghosts of Euro 2024, when they were dumped out of the tournament by Switzerland in the Round of 16 without even putting up a fight.

And now, three months after conceding 23 seconds into their Euro 2024 debut against Albania, Italy were at it again.

All Spalletti could do was grin in disbelief. Perhaps he cast his mind back to his scathing assessment of his team’s performances in Germany.

“I’ve been coaching 30 years and I never saw a team of mine so lacking in fight as was unfortunately the case [at the Euros] in Germany,” he said last week.

But then something changed. 

The Azzurri began to grow into the game, their 3-5-1-1 proving not only a match for France, but disrupting Les Bleus’ rhythm.

Before too long, Italy were on top. 

Federico Dimarco combined with the returning Sandro Tonali, receiving the latter’s delicate backheel flick and firing a vicious volley past AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan.

Davide Frattesi made amends for hitting the bar from close range earlier in the piece by converting at the far post early in the second half, before Giacomo Raspadori added a third.

Italy’s statement win

It was Italy’s first win against a major nation under the current regime and their first win away against France in 70 years. 

“The start was key,” Spalletti said after the game.

“Everyone reacted immediately, trying to give strength and calm to the team, and then they played the game we needed to play.”

Frattesi was on the scoresheet again on Monday night along with Moise Kean – who scored his first international goal in three years – as Italy won 2-1 in Israel.

Deployed alongside Frattesi in midfield, Torino’s midfielder Simone Ricci and Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali are significant upgrades to the options Spalletti had at his disposal in Germany.

Tonali looks back to his best after his season-long ban, while Ricci impressed in both fixtures. 

Along with Tonali, Kean and Destiny Udogie, the latter was part of a quartet who missed out on Euro 2024.

Frattesi, meanwhile, has developed into a crucial player for Spalletti.

The Inter Milan midfielder is a curious case. 

He averages a goal every three games for Italy, yet he remains on the periphery at club level, where he started only six Serie A matches last term.

Spalletti has a new midfield trio

The midfield trio of Frattesi, Ricci and Tonali feels very much the cornerstone of Italy’s future, exactly as Spalletti intended.

Following the debacle in Germany, the former Napoli manager stressed he wanted to kick-start a new era and was true to his word.

Matteo Darmian, Jorginho, Bryan Cristante, Stephan El Shaarawy, Gianluca Mancini and Michael Folorunsho were all dropped from the Euros squad.

Nicolo Barella also missed out to undergo surgery to his nose, while Federico Chiesa was left out after joining Liverpool on deadline day.

“It was a carefully considered call-up, a new team, and they responded exactly as I hoped,” Spalletti said after the win over Israel. 

In both Nations League fixtures, Spalletti  turned to the 3-5-1-1 formation he’d first trialled in March, then inexplicably abandoned during the Euros.

Nobody embodied the tactical confusion that swept through the Azzurri in the summer more than Raspadori.

The Napoli striker had been Italy’s top scorer under Spalletti – a title he’s since lost to Frattesi – but was dropped to the bench in favour of former Sassuolo teammate Scamacca.

Against France, Raspadori played a back up role, but made an instant impact after coming on at half-time, dovetailing brilliantly with Mateo Retegui.

In Germany, Italy looked confused without the ball and devoid of ideas when in possession.

Conversely, against France and Israel they have looked like a team that has played together for years.

Speaking on Monday night, Spalletti conceded his new tactical approach suited his players more.

“Tactically, they’ve been very smart at finding their positions, which is easier when you’re playing in a system similar to their clubs,” he said.

“They know exactly what to do.”

For the first time in a long while, that also rang true for Spalletti and Italy.