Spalletti's calculations in the draw with Croatia almost pushed Italy into the abyss

The draw with Croatia helped Italy maintain second place in Group B. Photo: AFP

In the draw with Croatia, Luciano Spalletti completely changed the tactics. The Azzurri switched from the four defenders and wingers in the opening two matches to a 3-5-2.

Against Spain, Italy’s wingers were not as influential, leading Spalletti to leave Federico Chiesa out and adopt a flexible two-striker formation. Gianluca Scamacca was dropped to the bench, replaced by Giacomo Raspadori, with Matteo Darmian taking the third centre-back role.

Luciano Spalletti wants Italy to get at least 1 point against Croatia to win a ticket to the next round. Photo: AFP

This tactic of Spalletti made Italy look very difficult to break down. In addition, the Azzurri had good coordination between the wingers and the strikers. Despite holding the initiative and dominating the opponent, the team in blue could not find a way to get ahead.

As Croatia took control of the game, Italy's wingers were unable to break out of the back five, leaving the Azzurri with no attacking direction and the two strikers increasingly isolated.

After more than an hour of play, panic began to set in for the Italian team. Luka Modric's goal was like a bucket of cold water, forcing Spalletti to make a change. The Azzurri returned to their familiar 4-2-3-1 formation in search of an equalizer.

Italy, however, struggled against a stout Croatian defence. Spalletti's side couldn't find the space they had against Albania. Fortunately, a brilliant run from Riccardo Calafiori allowed Mattia Zaccagni to produce a magical strike to level the score at 1-1.

Zaccagni became the hero of the Italian team in the match against Croatia. Photo: AFP

Italy’s attempt to find a second tactical shape is a reminder and a warning to the other “big guys” at EURO 2024. Even if things are not perfect right now, change is not necessarily the answer for them.

For national teams, coaches will often prioritize a certain formation and tactics throughout the tournament. Even the players do not have much time to grasp the coaching staff's intentions. Therefore, it is difficult for the captains to deploy a backup plan.

Big teams like Italy are keen to have variety in their tactics, but the game against Croatia will make them think carefully about when to use them. The Azzurri’s lesson will help other teams consider the same.

Source: https://laodong.vn/bong-da-quoc-te/toan-tinh-cua-spalletti-trong-tran-hoa-croatia-suyt-day-italy-roi-xuong-vuc-1357251.ldo