The number 9 shirt is that of the striker, who is expected to score and make an entire nation celebrate. This year at EURO 2023, the number 9 will be worn by Gianluca Scamacca: after the Europa League win with Atalanta and an extraordinary end to his season in general (six goals in the league alone since the end of March), the Roman centre-forward is one of Italy’s great hopes. He spoke: “We are a young group and a new cycle has begun. It took some time to extract our strength. We are ready for it to come out at the Euros. I am doing well, I hope to help the squad and go as far as possible. I’d like to follow in the footsteps of the European Champions in 2021 and the World Cup winning group of 2006: they left a mark on history, I’d like to do that too”.

It all begins with Albania on Saturday at 21:00 CEST in Dortmund. Scamacca admits: “It will be a difficult game, at this point in the competition every opponent is hard to face and every side deserves to be here. We need to focus on ourselves and remain as calm as possible”. Scamacca will be faced with Atalanta teammate Djimsiti, “a good defender, tough”. But Scamacca is also proving himself to be tough, this is his first big tournament with the senior Azzurri after coming up through the youth sector: “I hope to bring positivity and everything I have learnt, and score. If I am here it’s thanks to Gasperini, who this year has helped me and managed to strike the right chord for things to click. I owe him a lot: I wasn’t in the USA with the National team in March, and I deserved not to be called up. By calling me ‘lazy’, Spalletti motivated me. I will try to help the team: what counts is winning, scoring or getting assists less so”.

The number 9 is also synonymous with pressure: “Good players are under pressure. If that’s how it is, I prefer to be pressured, like how having eyes on you is a good thing. Last year didn’t go so well because of my injured meniscus and I also had some issues at the start of this season. Then, I gained faith, and enthusiasm and got into a rhythm and played consistently: every day is a battle”. Next up: Albania.