In recent years, Italy has often worried about the effectiveness of its No.9s. If we were wondering about the effectiveness of the transalpine center-forwards at the start of the campaign, the sky seems to have cleared in recent weeks.
For the first time in more than ten years (2013-2014 season), two Italian strikers lead the Serie A scorers’ rankings. Mateo Retegui has in fact confirmed his good debut with Atalanta and has already piled up 11 goals (and 3 assists) in 12 league matches. Behind him is a Moses Kean transfigured by his transfer to Fiorentina who has 8 goals in his pocket (11 goals in all competitions).
A significant data which is however not synonymous with effectiveness in the national team. Ciro Immobile knows something about it, he who terrorized Serie A defenses (201 goals) but who often disappointed in the selection (17 goals).
THE fans who are thinking of a Retegui – Kean tandem against the Red Devils will probably be disappointed. At a press conference, Spalletti suggested that the two players should not be lined up at the same time, at least not in the starting eleven. After the lame experiments of Euro 2024, the Italian technician dusted off a 3-5-2 that he has used very rarely in his career. Despite this, the system has borne fruit in the last four matches but the Tuscan coach has always flanked his number 9 with a second striker with a different profile (Raspadori, Pellegrini). No room for a Retegui – Kean duo therefore. The two men have never played together before.
It is therefore the Italian-Argentinian striker (6 goals in 16 caps) who should inherit a starting jersey while Kean – who has only played 5 of the Squadra’s last 20 matches – will probably have to chomp at the bit on the bench.
Belgium
