In The Spotlight: Italy's Options for Penalty Takers
As Italy gears up for the crucial play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland, one burning question remains: who will step up to take the penalties if the need arises? Let's delve into Coach Gattuso's possible choices and the players who could make their mark from the spot.
Gattuso's possible options should a penalty be awarded.Anticipation is building.One of the most important matches in the recent history of the Italiannational football team: the play-off semi-final against Northern Ireland, to reach the final (in which case, against the winner of the match between Wales and Bosnia) and finally return to the World Cup.Coach Gennaro Gattuso’s squad is preparing for the match on Thursday 26 March at the New Balance Arena in Bergamo. As the anxiety among Azzurri fans continues to mount, let’s try to work out – should a penalty be awarded – who might take the spot-kick from the penalty spot.Let’s start with the squad list.Goalkeepers: Elia Caprile (Cagliari), Marco Carnesecchi (Atalanta), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Manchester City), Alex Meret (Napoli);Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Riccardo Calafiori (Arsenal), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Diego Coppola (Paris FC), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Marco Palestra (Cagliari), Giorgio Scalvini (Atalanta), Leonardo Spinazzola (Napoli);Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Davide Frattesi (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Juventus), Niccolò Pisilli (Roma), Sandro Tonali (Newcastle);Forwards: Federico Chiesa (Liverpool), Francesco Pio Esposito (Inter), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Matteo Politano (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Atalanta), Mateo Retegui (Al-Qadsiah), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta).Looking at Gennaro Gattuso’s Italy squad list, attention turns primarily to the attacking line-up: Kean and Retegui are the two main candidates to take a penalty, should one be awarded in the match against Northern Ireland.The two strikers have already shown they are comfortable from the spot, and whichever of the two is on the pitch will be able to take a penalty if the need arises. Secondly, we have Juventus captain Manuel Locatelli: despite having missed a penalty against Sassuolo in the league, he has the confidence and experience to step up and take a spot-kick.Last but not least, there are also Politano and Raspadori as potential options.Looking at who has taken the previous penalties, Italy’s most recent spot-kicks were taken by Retegui and Raspadori: the Al-Qadsiah centre-forward has scored three of the four penalties he has taken (his only miss came against Estonia), whilst the striker, who joined Atalanta from Atlético Madrid in January, scored his spot-kick last year in the Nations League against Germany.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Deciphering Italy's Penalty-Taking Options
The anticipation is palpable as Italy's national football team braces for the high-stakes play-off showdown against Northern Ireland. In the event of a penalty, all eyes will be on Gattuso's squad to see who will rise to the occasion. Among the leading candidates are Moise Kean and Mateo Retegui, both of whom have demonstrated composure and accuracy from the spot in the past. Juventus' Manuel Locatelli, despite a recent miss in the league, remains a formidable presence with the requisite confidence and skill to convert a penalty.
Additional Contenders to Watch
While Kean, Retegui, and Locatelli stand out as top contenders, there are other players in the mix who could potentially take on penalty duties. Matteo Politano and Giacomo Raspadori have also showcased their ability to convert spot-kicks, adding depth to Italy's roster of penalty takers. The history of recent penalties indicates that Retegui and Raspadori have been successful in their attempts, underlining their reliability in pressure situations.
A Crucial Decision Awaits
As Italy's World Cup Qualification UEFA journey intensifies, the critical decision of who will assume penalty responsibilities looms large. With a blend of seasoned veterans and rising talents in the squad, Gattuso faces the task of choosing the most adept penalty taker for the pivotal moments that could determine Italy's fate in the play-offs. Whether it's Kean, Retegui, Locatelli, or another standout player, the spotlight will be on the chosen individual to deliver when it matters most.
