Tonali and a top player Ricci (jewel of Urbano Cairo’s Torino): this is how Spalletti’s Italy knocked out France, cancelling Euro 2024

Tonali and a top player Ricci (jewel of Urbano Cairo’s Torino): this is how Spalletti’s Italy knocked out France, cancelling Euro 2024

Luciano’s Italy’s great victory in the Nations League on France’s pitch is an interesting sign (while waiting for the final test against Israel): the Azzurri – just over two months after the harsh elimination suffered at Euro 2024 (‘technical’ defeat against Switzerland in the round of 16) – they started again leaving behind the flop in the continental tournament.

Good news in a two-year period leading up to the 2026 World Cup in the United States-Canada-Mexico, where our national team wants to be not only present (forgetting the stinging eliminations in the qualifiers for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022), but also a protagonist (and here we want to erase the early exits of Brazil 2014 and South Africa 2010).

In the trio served on the pitch of the Parc des Princes in Paris from the blue team against the blues there is an excellent team performanceappeared toned and bright from a physical point of view.

Good defensive holding (after the goal conceded 14” from the kick-off) with Calafiori and Sticks (vote 6.5 for both protagonists, positive ending Good morning), large Dimarco on the left (author of the goal and not only), convincing performances up front Raspadori (entered at the start of the second half and gave a boost to the manoeuvre) and Network (he improved in the second half when he was served better), but above all he showed great consistency in midfield.

And here, if the Inter player Frattesi was super, Sandro Tonali’s return to the national team was impressive. The former Milan player turbocharged the team in the middle of the field: pressing, sprints, a backheel for Dimarco on the goal and a performance of a true leader. With him, it’s a completely different Italy and his absence at Euro 2024 was felt a lot.

“Tonali? He played a magnificent match. We were afraid he wouldn’t be able to play 90 minutes, but he gave two bursts of energy towards the end and went in front of the goal alone, we have found a very strong player”, said the Italian coach Luciano Spalletti at the end of the match.

Then Samuele Ricci deserves a separate discussion. The jewel of Urbano Cairo’s Torino played with great confidence for the entire 90 minutes: quality and quantity. He had almost been called up for the European Championship (he was among the pre-called players) and, with the determination he showed against France, he will certainly be a protagonist in the Azzurri cycle that has just begun. All this while there are already market rumours about him, linked to top clubs (Milan and Napoli first and foremost) who are following him with ever-increasing interest. Torino took him from Empoli for 11 million between loan, obligation to buy and bonuses (9 plus 2), plus 10% on the future resale. Today he is worth at least 35…