Born in Naples on 03/10/88, graduated in Philosophy and Politics from the Oriental University of Naples. He has been working for TMW since 2008 and was deputy editor for 10 years. Sent to follow the national team
After the two matches in October, Italy is practically certain to be among the top seeds in the draws for the qualifying groups for the 2026 World Cup. Ten points won in the first four matchdays, Spalletti’s Azzurri will only need to gain one point in November to have the mathematical certainty of finishing Group A2 of the Nations League in the top two places. The first match point will arrive on November 14th in Belgium, against a national team in crisis which in this round has only picked up a point because Pellegrini, after 39 minutes, decided to leave Italy with ten men. The second match point three days later at San Siro, against a France team that will almost certainly reach the final match with qualification for the quarter-finals of the competition already in their pocket.
In short, a point will arrive, also because this Italy is a different Italy compared to the ugly and sad team seen in Germany. But even if it doesn’t arrive, it is practically impossible at this point that Italy will not be among the twelve seeds given the good positioning in the FIFA rankings and the double victory against Israel. It’s news that should make us smile, not trivial because being in pot 1 in December when the qualifying groups for the 2026 World Cup will be drawn means having the certainty of not finding the eleven best European teams in the group. And given how the last two times went, given that we will inevitably carry nightmares and fears with us, having guaranteed an easy group on paper is not a negligible detail: it means we have already taken a small step towards the World Cup which in 20 months will be staged in the New Continent.
From the point of view of play and identity, the matches against Belgium and Israel confirmed the good impressions made in September. Spalletti pressed the same buttons, followed the same path, and found himself eight days later with even more certainties. If there were no longer any doubts about the definitive transition to a three-man defense after the match at the Parc des Princes, as far as the men are concerned, Italy emerges from these two matches with consolidated certainties about who the starters are, who the reserves are and who is excluded.
Italy is made for 10/11ths. Who will make room for Barella?
Donnarumma is the goalkeeper, the irreplaceable Captain. The three-man defense has Di Lorenzo, Bastoni and Calafiori as its starters and Buongiorno as its first reserve. Cambiaso is the right winger who guarantees the right balance, Dimarco is the great champion who sails on the left. In midfield it will be up to make room for Nicolò Barella who will return in November: with the Inter player there will be Tonali and Ricci, the Torino director who definitively won the ballot with Fagioli last night.
The center forward will be Mateo Retegui, all that remains is to assign the number 10 behind him. Frattesi, Spalletti’s striker, doesn’t see himself in that role and even if he scores one match and the other he ‘risks’ becoming the first sub again. However, it cannot be ruled out that the coach could still deploy him a few meters further forward, just as it cannot be ruled out that he continues to alternate Pellegrini and Raspadori in that area of the pitch. There are three players for one shirt, it’s the only doubt in a national team that in the space of a month and a half has transformed into a one and done team. Defined. Who would have thought after the fool in Berlin…