Chaos, change, desire for revenge: the crazy football summer of the Italians

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A groundbreaking match in European Championship qualifying is scheduled for Italy on Saturday. The preparation for this was anything but optimal. The match against North Macedonia marks the end of a wild few weeks for Squadra Azzurra.

At the beginning of August, all of Italy felt betrayed. Out of nowhere, Roberto Mancini (58) throws away an email. The reasons for his decision are strictly personal. He knows nothing of an offer from the desert. But it soon becomes clear that this is not the truth. Instead, he was actually hired as national coach in Saudi Arabia a few days later. An even harder slap in the face of the proud Italians. For them, the 2021 European champion coach has become a money-grabbing traitor.

The Italian federation has appointed Luciano Spalletti (64) as Mancini’s successor. Of all people, the coach who wants to take a sabbatical after winning the championship title with Napoli and is actually under contract at the foot of Vesuvius until 2024. Napoli boss Aurelio De Laurentiis (74) is therefore pushing for an exit clause to release him. After intensive negotiations, the happy ending follows: Spalletti becomes Commissario Tecnico of the Squadra Azzurra. And in the future he will be assisted by Gianluigi Buffon (45), who will work as delegation leader after his retirement.

Italy missed the World Cup twice in a row. An enormous pain. Once Sweden (2018) was the spoilsport in the qualification and another time North Macedonia (2022). There will be revenge on the Balkan country on Saturday. North Macedonian Alexander Trajkovski (31), who decided the last game, is back. He wants to do it again. “Imagine if I scored again,” he joked in an interview with “Corriere dello Sport”. But Italy must deliver results, otherwise there will be another earthquake.

Spalletti has already adjusted the captaincy hierarchy there. While new Union defender Leonardo Bonucci (37) recently wore the armband, it is now attacker Ciro Immobile (33) who will receive this honor. But that doesn’t suit everyone. Ultimately, the striker never really managed to force his way into the hearts of all Tifosi. Immobile receives prominent support with Pippo Inzaghi (50). «More than 200 goals in six or seven seasons at Lazio: what are we talking about? Why is anyone still bringing this up for discussion?”

Ex-FCZ striker Willy Gnonto (19) had one goal this summer: to get away from Leeds as quickly as possible. After relegation from the Premier League he no longer saw a future with the Peacocks. However, the club remained stubborn and rejected all offers. Even a temporary strike by Gnonto did not change this opinion. Ultimately the player had to give in. Since then, he has appeared on the field twice and scored one goal. In Italy his turbulent summer had no consequences. Gnonto appears in Spalletti’s first cast.

Source : Blick