Scamacca, Italy’s ‘lazy’ striker

A few months ago, when the presence of Gianluca Scamacca selection is still uncertain because of its lack of continuity, Luciano Spalletti left him on the ‘azzurra’ tour for USA. When he gave the list for European Cup At the end of May he let it go in a friendly way that he was not called at the time because he was a bit “tigger”, which in Italian sounds like a bit lazy, words that the striker now chooses. calm and interpreted as a lesson.

Those months are far away Italy He navigated the doubt about his ‘9’. At the door of the premiere of Italy in European Cup of 2024 as the defending champions, there are some doubts as to who will be the starting striker. Scam He got it right after a fantastic end to the season that ended with winning the Europa League with Atalanta.

The Roman striker, raised in the house of ‘Wolf’could not be in another final played by his team, that of Italian Cupby sanction, which served to show its importance.

“I arrived after a good end to the season and I hope I can play well and score goals,” he said in a press conference on Thursday, from the quiet town of Iserlhornwhich is located only 40 kilometers from Dortmund where the ‘Azzurra’ is preparing the tournament.

“If I am here, it is largely to the credit of Gian Piero Gasperini (coach Atalanta), because he has helped me a lot this year and has managed to hit the right buttons to make me ‘click’,” he added.

There, at Iserlhornno consoles, focused on football, focused on rest in order of Spalletti, Scamacca He is preparing his debut in a Euro Cup, as he was absent from the last edition that crowned his Italy.

Then he had to answer the question about Spalletti’s words, which caused quite a stir in Italy.

“Scamacca is a player who has everything, I was the first to be happy with what he will give us, but he is a bit lazy. We have to lose a little bit of laziness. I have to see the sacrifice, the values ​​​​where we are is educated in general, Italy is a country that is used to work,” said the coach.

“In this sense I didn’t like it Scam and that’s why I left him out in March, if you don’t give more of yourself it becomes difficult to perform against the strongest. But then he showed this growth, the goals, more continuity than in other seasons and Atalanta also benefited a lot from this new version of him,” added the coach.

The good work of Scam He has turned everything upside down. And the forward knows it: “The fact that I’m here called up means that I’m not, so no, I don’t feel lazy,” he said with a laugh at the press conference.

“Spalletti He said a lot in one word, he certainly inspired and encouraged me, that’s good, but personally I’m not lazy. It’s a good thing he didn’t call me, the call to the United States is not appropriate at this time,” he pointed out.

“I have to go to the psychologist,” he joked.

Ambiguous or not, what is clear is that Scam He will be the starter against Albania in the title defense. A player, yes, with a non-negotiable winning mentality.

“We are a young group, a new cycle has started and it took us some time to get our strength. We are ready for this Euro Cup. I want to emulate the 2021 group that won the Euro Cup and the 2006 group that won the world. I want to be part of the history of the national team,” he said.