You don’t forget your first Italy vs. Germany encounter. In his 21st match in charge of Italy, Luciano Spalletti is set to come up against the Germans for the first time. The Azzurri Head Coach was eleven years old when, in July 1970, Gianni Rivera’s goal decided what would go down in history as the ‘Game of the Century’. In the summer of 1982, when Italy won the World Cup in Spain, he was just starting to make his way in the professional game at Castelfiorentino. Even in 2006, when Lippi’s men beat Germany 2-0 in the World Cup semi-finals, Spalletti was still just a fan of the National Team: “Those matches stay with you for life,” he said in an interview with Vivo Azzurro TV. “I experienced some incredible emotions in that 2006 semi-final; when Del Piero scored, we all started running around in front of the TV.” Tomorrow, he will lead the Azzurri into their 42nd meeting with Germany. The imminent first-leg clash, scheduled for 20:45 CET in Milan, will determine Italy’s immediate future in the Nations League (should the Azzurri progress, Turin would stage the semi-finals and final in June) and their path to the 2026 World Cup.

“Italy vs. Germany always has an incredible appeal because of the history between the two teams and because both have always been very strong sides,” said the Head Coach during his press conference. “I’m convinced it’ll be a great match, with both teams playing openly and aiming to win. If we end up constantly chasing them, a positive outcome is unlikely. They will bring the quality they have, but we want to win.”

RETAGUI OUT, KEAN READY.
Raoul Bellanova has arrived but another has left. This morning, Spalletti lost Mateo Retegui, who has returned to Bergamo after straining his right thigh: “We sent him home because he wouldn’t have been available, but we hope he recovers in time to play Atalanta’s next league match. It’s not a significant problem, just some fatigue. For now, I won’t call anyone up to replace him because I want to see how the first match goes. We’ll also assess how Zaccagni and Cambiaso are recovering. If I need to add a main striker, it’ll be Piccoli; if I need a second striker, I’ll call up Baldanzi.”

Moise Kean should lead the Azzurri’s attack tomorrow: “Since it’ll be a physically intense match with constant back-and-forth action, Kean will be more suited to it. I’ve had the chance to talk to him, and not just about football. I’ve got to know him better, and he’s a bit different to the image he gives off: he’s a very sensitive guy who cares about his profession and his teammates. He fully embodies the moral quality of the team we want to build.”

While Italy will have to do without Retegui and Dimarco - with Zaccagni and Cambiaso also likely to miss ouy - Germany will also be missing Fullkrug and the likes of Wirtz and Havertz in attack. “For a team like Germany, there are no real absences. If one winger doesn't play, another one will; they have four or five top-class options. All of them are quick players who know how to beat a man and are excellent in one-on-one situations. In midfield, they have incredibly strong players. They are not missing anyone, just as we’re not missing anyone. They’re not missing anyone, just as we aren’t missing anyone. They will still be a team full of quality and will play their game, regardless of a couple of absences.”

BATTLE BETWEEN RICCI AND ROVELLA. The Head Coach wasn’t inclined to provide much information on his starting line-up (“I have a lot of doubts because all my players are strong”) and is waiting for the final answers from today’s final training session. In midfield, Ricci and Rovella will compete until the last moment for a starting spot: “They’re a bit different, but both know how to play football. They’re both excellent at managing the team and controlling the game. Ricci, especially in his recent roles, plays more as a mezzala, whereas Rovella is more of a holding midfielder. I won’t tell you who is going to play; we’ll see how training goes.”

REMEMBERING LEGENDARY ITALIAN COMMENTATOR BRUNO PIZZUL. The anticipation is rising in Milan, and, with just over 24 hours to go, 55,000 tickets have been sold. Before kick-off, the FIGC will pay tribute to legendary Italian commentator Bruno Pizzul, who passed away on 5 March: “With his voice, Pizzul was able to bring everyone at home into the game. He had this ability to describe the action so well, also because he was once a fantastic player. The tone of his voice added even more quality to the players on the pitch.”

CALAFIORI. Tomorrow will also be the first time Riccardo Calafiori has faced Germany in his career: “This is no ordinary match. Both teams are missing a few players, and it’ll be an important test to see where we’re at. We want to win to reach the Nations League finals.” In recent times, Italy have done well against Germany: “I remember the 2006 World Cup semi-finals, as well as the EURO 2012 semis and the penalty shootout defeat in the 2016 European Championship quarter-finals. Even when we haven’t won, we’ve always produced positive performances.”

At club level, he scored his first Champions League goal two weeks ago with Arsenal (I fulfilled a dream I’ve had since I was a kid”), providing further confirmation of his ability to make decisive forward runs, something which makes him more of a true all-rounder rather than just a modern defender: “Knowing how to do as many things as possible and do them well is useful in the modern game. With Italy, we’ve started this new cycle. The team is young, we’re united and we get on well. We accepted the European Championship setback and decided to start over. The win over France in September was vital, and, since then, we’ve improved a lot.”

SQUAD LIST

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham);
Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Raoul Bellanova (Atalanta), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Pietro Comuzzo (Fiorentina), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Matteo Ruggeri (Atalanta), Destiny Udogie (Tottenham);
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Cesare Casadei (Torino), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Samuele Ricci (Torino), Nicolò Rovella (Lazio), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);
Forwards: Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Lorenzo Lucca (Udinese), Daniel Maldini (Atalanta), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio).