Fabio Capello, the former AC Milan and Real Madrid manager, believes Italy can succeed without a prolific striker, drawing from his own experience of winning the Champions League in 1994 with AC Milan. In light of Italy’s recent victory against France at Parc des Princes under Luciano Spalletti, Capello shared his insights on how a team can overcome the absence of a natural goalscorer with La Gazzetta dello Sport:
Capello, how do you win without an easy-scoring number 9?
“Through play. If the center-forward doesn’t score much, it’s important that he participates in the build-up, that he moves towards the action to create spaces for his teammates. In this case, if you have offensive wingers who stay close to him and have an eye for goal, or midfielders capable of making runs into the box, you can compensate for the absence of a prolific striker as the main forward.”
You had the same problem in 1994, the year you won the Champions League in the Athens final against Barcelona.
“I had Massaro, who wasn’t a true center-forward, but a former right-winger: he was good at shooting and creating spaces. Plus, we had many players skilled in dribbling or making runs and finishing. When you can count on a dynamic squad, it’s easier to overcome a gap up front.”
Let’s return to the current Italy team, lacking a consistently scoring center-forward.
“On Friday, Retegui participated a lot in the action. He didn’t score, but he was important both in the action for the 2-0, when he set up the assist for Frattesi, and in other circumstances, creating spaces for his teammates.”
Well done to him and to Spalletti for asking for those movements.
“Against France, nothing to say: Italy won deservedly and made no mistakes.”
Compliments also to Frattesi, the author of the 2-1. Isn’t it strange that Spalletti’s era’s best scorer is a starter for the National team and a reserve at Inter?
“Frattesi is the classic box-to-box midfielder who has a sense of timing, a nose for goal, and many other important characteristics for the team. Against France, he ‘ate’ a goal by hitting the crossbar from an excellent position, but he scored and forced Maignan to make a miracle save. I believe he’s fundamental for Italy’s play, but even though Inzaghi has Barella and Mkhitaryan, I’m convinced that this year he’ll have many more opportunities to demonstrate his value at Inter because there will be significant rotation.”
Tonali also made frequent runs on Friday.
“It’s crucial to have Tonali back. With him, Frattesi, and Ricci, the midfield is very dynamic. At the Euros, a midfield like this, with the addition of Barella, would have helped us a lot because Jorginho didn’t have the right rhythm.”
Speaking of attackers, we have a forward who scored at the Parc des Princes: Raspadori.
“Exactly. At the start of this season at Napoli, he’s played as a center-forward, but against France, he positioned himself behind Retegui and exploited the spaces perfectly. As in the case of the third goal that closed the match.”
Agreed on the collective play, the wingers, and the runs, but sooner or later our football will have to find a true number 9. Let’s hope for Scamacca’s recovery…
“Scamacca has been unlucky. He’ll return, but he needs to be given time.”
Speaking of time, in this case to mature, Camarda, who is the future, needs it.
“For Camarda, even more time is needed. He can’t make the triple jump from Serie C to the National team. Meanwhile, I hope he does well with Milan’s youth team and then with Milan, which also needs good Italian players. Young players need to mature calmly.”
