In a notable turn of events, Gianluca Scamacca has secured a spot in Italy’s provisional squad for Euro 2024 following an impressive display towards the end of the season. Luciano Spalletti, the coach, unveiled the squad for the upcoming tournament in Germany, with the inclusion of the Atalanta striker marking a significant development.
Scamacca’s selection comes on the back of his remarkable performance, where he netted 11 goals and provided four assists across all competitions since March, notably contributing to Atalanta’s historic Europa League triumph. The 25-year-old’s resurgence led to his omission from Italy’s March friendlies against Venezuela and Ecuador, a decision that sparked controversy after Spalletti’s remarks criticizing certain players’ habits.
With Italy grappling with the longstanding issue of securing reliable strikers, Scamacca’s recent form offers a potential solution. Consequently, the inconsistent Ciro Immobile, a key figure in Italy’s Euro victory three years ago, has been left out of the squad.
Scamacca is poised to join forces with Juventus standout Federico Chiesa, while the inclusion of Nicolo Fagioli among the midfielders comes as a surprise, given his limited involvement this season. Fagioli’s return to the fold follows his recent comeback for Juventus after a seven-month ban due to involvement in a betting scandal, which led to the exclusion of Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali from the squad.
Italy’s squad for Euro 2024 reflects a shift towards youth, with emerging talents replacing seasoned veterans such as Marco Verratti, who departed for Al-Arabi last summer and has since been overlooked by Spalletti. Notable omissions from the squad include retired captain Giorgio Chiellini, along with Leonardo Bonucci and Lorenzo Insigne, who were key figures in Italy’s triumph at Wembley three years ago.
The final squad for the tournament will be announced on June 6, with Italy set to face Spain, Croatia, and Albania in Group B. Pre-tournament friendlies against Turkey and Bosnia and Herzegovina are scheduled for early June, providing crucial preparation ahead of the competition.
