Federico Gatti found himself in the space of a few hours from a player not included in the pre-call-up list to the first call-up for Germany. Alerted by Spalletti last Thursday, after the injury suffered by Acerbi, the Juventus defender was called to Coverciano only the day after the bad knockout suffered by Scalvini and on the same day – a few hours later – Luciano Spalletti in a press conference announced that it will also make the cut on Thursday: “Gatti will come to Germany.”
The first call-up, which is also the most surprising, tells us something more about what the coach’s decisions will be in two days’ time, after the next two friendly tests against Turkey and Italy Under 20. Despite the unforeseen events and injuries which unfortunately have not been lacking so far, Spalletti’s idea is to include an extra defender in the list of 26: it is in fact true that tonight’s test will be set up with a back four, the same form with which Italy will start the European Championship. Equally true, however, is that this national team is ready to quickly switch to a three-man defense against teams that play with two strikers. And Gatti, who can play in both modules, will at that point be an important player to complete the dual roles in addition to Mancini, Bastoni, Buongiorno, Calafiori and Darmian (but if necessary, Di Lorenzo can also play the arm).
If Gatti, who is the latest arrival, leaves for Germany, the cuts at this point will both be in the other departments. Excluding the fourth goalkeeper, Spalletti must in fact lay off two outfield players in two days, a cut that will affect a midfielder and a winger.
Who is at risk?
There are currently eight players in midfield for three places. Pellegrini, Barella, Cristante, Jorginho and Frattesi the untouchables, Ricci, Fagioli and Folorunsho the latest arrivals. Spalletti has said important words for the Juventus midfielder in recent days, even yesterday he claimed his presence: he will be there in Germany. The ballot is between the Torino midfielder and the one owned by Napoli.
A winger will then be cut, with Orsolini, Bellanova, El Shaarawy and Zaccagni involved. The flexibility of the Roma player capable of playing at his best in both the 4-2-3-1 and 3-4-2-1 is almost an insurance for his presence in Iserlohn. While Orsolini, starting tonight in his Bologna, will have a great chance today to earn his place. Bellanova is trembling, a full-back winger who with his speed can split games even during the race but struggles to adapt to the double formation. And then there is Zaccagni: tonight Chiesa will be used in the Lazio wing area and on that wing there is also the flexible El Shaarawy. He too takes a risk.
