The Azzurri are planning to integrate more youngsters after failing to reach the 2022 World Cup.
Roberto Mancini has vowed to start rebuilding Italy’s squad during the UEFA Nations League tournament.
Italy have struggled for consistency since winning the Euro 2020 title last summer. The Azzurri failed to secure a spot in this year’s World Cup after a shock defeat against North Macedonia in the playoffs.
Mancini’s side suffered another setback when they lost 3-0 against Argentina in the Finalissima on Wednesday. The Italian boss excluded Marco Verratti, Lorenzo Insigne, Federico Bernardeschi, Emerson Palmieri, Jorginho, Giorgio Chiellini, Manuel Lazzari and Mattia Zaccagni from his squad after the game.
Speaking ahead of his side’s upcoming clash against Germany, Mancini vowed to build a new Italy squad.
“We paid the price against Argentina for losing so many players. It wasn’t exactly an enormous squad to begin with and injuries did the rest. Argentina are in better shape right now and perhaps for the first time in three-and-a-half years we found a team that genuinely did dominate us, at least in the second half.
“It takes time. We can’t just invent new players straight away, we knew it was going to be a tough process. It’s going to be a total reset, many of the players have already left and weren’t in any shape to play four games, it would’ve just created even more problems in September.”
He added: “The reset is from now, not September. That doesn’t mean those we see today won’t also be here in future, but the new era begins tomorrow.
“The focus remains the same. Finding players with quality and pace.It’s just that while Verratti and Jorginho play for top-level European clubs, these new faces don’t and so it will take a little more time.”
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