Currò (La Repubblica): “Scamacca disappointed me. Udogie would have started”

Enrico Currò (La Repubblica), how do you judge the progress of the national team in the group?
“We knew it was a difficult group, but it turned out to be even more difficult than expected because Italy didn’t play as we expected and as Spalletti expected. The coach highlighted some technical limitations that he is legitimately trying to cover but they are there, they are evident, and this must be added to the less than perfect conditions of players returning from a very tiring season. The result of all this was so-so performances…”

Who did you expect more from and who convinced you?
“Calafiori surprised me in a positive way, he showed the personality of a great player, a consummate footballer. I liked Bastoni who took on a responsibility that he didn’t have before, namely directing the defence. Then in my opinion we have to resign ourselves to the fact that the the prototype of the unsurpassed Italian defender is no longer there, but because there is another way of playing. Defenders are no longer asked to do this and it will happen that the defense can still falter at times. I was disappointed in Scamacca, I expected him to be able to repay the great confidence that was around him after the season finale.”

What is your opinion on Luciano Spalletti’s work?
“He has confirmed himself as an excellent coach, but we still don’t know if he is an excellent coach. He needs time to build, but his management of the major emergency situation was positive. Let’s not forget that he had to deal with many absences , many injuries also emerged close to the European Championship: Udogie is greatly underestimated, but he would have played as a starter here. Furthermore, the changes in formation don’t seem to me to be signs of weakness, but of intelligence.”