The growing importance of Donnarumma for Italy

Italy head into Euro 2024 as the reigning champions, and they will undoubtedly be looking to make it back-to-back successes as the kings of Europe. The Azzurri had Gianluigi Donnarumma to thank for winning the last Euros when Gli Azzurri defeated England in a penalty shootout in the Final, and Donnarumma will be the goalkeeper they will look to once again in Germany this summer.

Donnarumma has already amassed a stunning 61 caps for Italy at senior level, which is remarkable when you consider he’s only 25 years old. It’s also quite unusual to see the upcoming tournament’s reigning champions considered underdogs in the 2024 Euros betting odds. But considering that they’ve done it before, the Azzurri will travel to Germany this summer with a chance of doing it again, even if the betting suggests another victory is unlikely at this stage.

It’s fair to say that the most significant difference between this Italy side and the one that won the Euros three years ago is the defence. There’s no doubt that Luciano Spalletti has some good defenders on his list, but in 2021, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini were stationed in front of Donnarumma, and their wealth of experience and ability, even at 33 and 36, was pivotal, and one of the difference-makers for Italy at Euro 2020.

If even defenders of the calibre of Bonucci and Chiellini had to rely on Donnarumma to come up trumps in big moments, then the goalkeeper would be even more important at Euro 2024 in Germany. This will especially be the case in Italy’s Group B fixtures, as they will be battling against solid teams such as Croatia and Spain to make it to the knockout stages and the emerging and exciting Albania. Italy are expected to make it out of the group alongside Spain, but as proven at the World Cup, Croatia are a team capable of beating anyone of their day.

As emerged in recent fixtures, Gli Azzurri could set up with three centre-backs at the Euros, with Spalletti picking a 3-5-2 or 3-4-2-1 formation. Under Roberto Mancini, when they won the competition in 2021, Italy played four at the back, and they proved tricky to score against, especially with the Bonucci and Chiellini link-up working so well. Spalletti started his spell as Italy’s coach with a four-man defence but has switched to a three-man backline in recent games, given that most Italy players are accustomed to playing with this defensive system.

Donnarumma will undoubtedly be Italy’s defence leader at Euro 2024 and not only because he’s expected to be the Azzurri’s captain in Germany. The PSG star made his professional debut for Milan at 16, debuted for Italy a year later, and is now PSG’s number-one goalkeeper. Not only that, but the giant of a shot-stopper, who stands at an imposing 6’5, has tasted success with his nation in this competition before, and he did it as the best player in the tournament. Gigio has also won the Ligue 1 title three times and is ready to defend the Azzurri’s goal again in j