Stramaccioni calls for Italy to build around Donnarumma, Tonali and Kean
Former Inter manager Andrea Stramaccioni has urged the Italian Football Federation to build its national team project around a core of Gianluigi Donnarumma, Sandro Tonali, and Moise Kean. The analysis comes in the wake of Italy's failure to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup, a situation Stramaccioni described as having "touched bottom" in terms of results, but not in underlying values.
Speaking to the Italian press in Milan, the now-DAZN pundit identified the trio as the essential pillars for a rebuild. "Our national team has an important block that goes from Donnarumma to Tonali to Kean, plus the Inter block and those from Napoli, Juventus, Roma and Atalanta," Stramaccioni said. He emphasized that Donnarumma remains "the strongest goalkeeper in the world," while Tonali has shown why "half of Europe is fighting over him." On Kean, he noted the striker can be "overwhelming" when in good form.
Stramaccioni pointed to systemic issues beyond individual performances, arguing that club interests currently take priority over the national team. He cited the inability to secure extra preparation days at Coverciano as a key example. To illustrate an alternative model, he referenced his own experience coaching in Qatar, where a coordinated federation-club strategy elevated the nation's ranking and led to Asian Cup success. "The result is that the Qatar national team has gone from number 104 in the ranking to the current 55th in a few years," he stated.
Addressing the specific failure in the decisive playoff against North Macedonia, Stramaccioni defended the selection of players like Inter's Alessandro Bastoni, who made a critical error. He suggested Bastoni was playing out of position in a back three or four, noting his natural role is on the left side of central defense, a position for which he is reportedly coveted by Barcelona. While acknowledging the poor form of key Inter players like Bastoni, Nicolo Barella, and Federico Dimarco affected the spine of the national team, he believes the starting lineup in Zenica was the best available.
Looking forward, Stramaccioni's prescription involves a shift in tactical attitude as much as personnel. He called for a more proactive style, suggesting the recent reliance on a 3-5-2 formation has often rendered the team sterile. He also highlighted emerging talents like Inter's teenage striker Francesco Pio Esposito and Hellas Verona's wing-back Filippo Terracciano as new faces ready to contribute. Ultimately, his central argument is for a renewed focus. "We need to put our National Team and Italian boys at the centre of the project," Stramaccioni concluded, asserting that with greater federation power and support for the coach, Italy can begin its climb back.
