Assessing the Euro 2016 Hopes of 8 AC Milan Italy Internationals
Italy secured their qualification for Euro 2016 in France with a 3-1 victory over Azerbaijan on Saturday. Several AC Milan players featured in the squad, and all will have been desperate to impress national coach Antonio Conte.
Mattia De Sciglio, Riccardo Montolivo and Andrea Bertolacci all played a part in Italy's final two qualification fixtures, while Luca Antonelli and Giacomo Bonaventura were called up but did not see any action.
They are just five members of a large Milan contingent aiming to make the Azzurri squad for Euro 2016, with others such as Alessio Romagnoli, Ignazio Abate and Mario Balotelli also harbouring realistic ambitions.
Here we assess these eight players' chances of making Italy's 23-man Euro 2016 squad. The following verdicts are used to categorise each players likelihood of involvement.
Certain: Guaranteed to be in the squad.
Good: Has a good chance of making the squad.
Possible: On the fringes of the squad and has the rest of the season to secure a place.
Unlikely: Little chance of making the squad.
Ignazio Abate
1 of 8
It’s been a while since Ignazio Abate was called up by the Azzurri—the 1-1 draw with England on March 31. His lack of international involvement of late has come about mainly through injuries, which have also restricted his playing time at club level.
However, even when fit, Abate will have a tough task on his hands. He is in danger of losing his starting right-back berth at Milan to Mattia De Sciglio, who has been a regular in the team since Sinisa Mihajlovic became coach in the summer.
De Sciglio can operate at left-back too but is unlikely to do so now Luca Antonelli is fully fit. This means Abate will have to fight De Sciglio for the right-back slot at club level, and if he loses, he can kiss goodbye to any chance of making Italy's squad for Euro 2016.
Verdict: Unlikely
Luca Antonelli
2 of 8
Luca Antonelli has suffered from injury at the beginning of this campaign but nonetheless looks like Milan and Italy’s best natural left-back option.
At club level, his only real competition comes from Mattia De Sciglio, who as a right-footer is naturally more suited to playing on the opposite side.
De Sciglio started both of Italy’s recent qualifying fixtures against Azerbaijan and Norway at left-back, which suggests if Antonelli gets back to his optimal form, the position could be there for him to claim.
Verdict: Good
Mario Balotelli
3 of 8
Mario Balotelli has been one of Milan’s better performers at the start of this season. On WhoScored.com, only Giacomo Bonaventura has a higher average rating after seven league fixtures.
However, despite his good form, he remains in the international wilderness, with almost a year passed since his last call-up for the games against Croatia and Albania in November. Part of the reason for this was his terrible year with Liverpool, but part of it is down to Antonio Conte’s selection policy.
Per the Guardian, Conte recently told the press: "I’m going to take note of the group that got us here and whoever wants to join in will have to deserve it twice as much and will have to work much harder to take the place of those that are here."
Essentially, Conte does not appear willing to alter the core squad that achieved qualification for next summer’s finals. If Balotelli wants to muscle his way into that group, the hard work is only just beginning.
Verdict: Possible
Andrea Bertolacci
4 of 8
After some exceptional displays for Genoa last season, Andrea Bertolacci forced the Azzurri coach to pay attention to him.
Bertolacci made his international debut last November, against Albania, and went on to establish himself as a frequent squad member for the rest of Italy’s Euro 2016 qualification campaign.
Unfortunately, Bertolacci’s summer move to Milan has not yet worked out—for player or club—and unless he can recapture the form that encouraged Milan to splash €20 million on him, he may struggle to make Italy’s squad next summer, with intense competition for central-midfield places coming from Roberto Soriano of Sampdoria, Marco Parolo of Lazio and Claudio Marchisio of Juventus.
Verdict: Possible
Giacomo Bonaventura
5 of 8
Giacomo Bonaventura has been Milan’s most consistently influential player so far this season. Whether on the left side of a three-man midfield or behind the strikers, he has shown creativity in abundance.
Of the Rossoneri’s eight league goals, he has scored two and set up three courtesy of his nimble footwork, intelligence and accurate passing.
His form led to his call-up for Italy’s recent Euro 2016 qualifiers in place of the injured Lorenzo Insigne, but he did not feature against Azerbaijan or Norway.
Bonaventura will not be put off by that, though, and he was excited just to be called up in the first place, telling Sky Sport Italia (via Forza Italian Football): “I’m happy to go, this is a great incentive for me to improve.”
If he can continue to be influential at club level, he could well come into contention for a place in the Azzurri squad for next summer's finals.
Verdict: Possible
Mattia De Sciglio
6 of 8
Mattia De Sciglio is part of a select club. Only he and goalkeeper Diego Lopez have started every one of Milan’s league fixtures this season.
While he has not yet come to close to fulfilling his massive potential, the 22-year-old is at least consistent. He’s also versatile, a trait Conte seems to value highly after picking De Sciglio to start both of Italy’s latest qualifying games.
He played both matches as a left-back, though at club level, he recently reverted to right-back following Luca Antonelli’s return from injury.
His ability to play on both sides of defence with a decent level of competence, as well as his increasing importance for Milan, should ensure De Sciglio makes it onto the plane to France.
Verdict: Certain
Riccardo Montolivo
7 of 8
Riccardo Montolivo’s fortunes have changed rapidly at the start of this season. A squad player to begin the Serie A campaign, he has worked his way toward becoming integral at the base of Milan’s midfield.
His passing range and composure have added some stability to the Rossoneri’s play, and as a consequence of his good form, he was recalled into the Italy national team for its recent matches.
Not only that, Montolivo played a part in both games, coming off the bench against Azerbaijan and starting against Norway in a deep-lying role.
However, there’s a lot of competition for that role, with Daniele De Rossi, Marco Verratti and Andrea Pirlo all vying for it, so Montolivo may just miss out on Antonio Conte’s Euro 2016 squad.
Verdict: Possible
Alessio Romagnoli
8 of 8
At just 20 years of age, Alessio Romagnoli is still a part of the Italy under-21 setup. Indeed, his only major international involvement to date was to play in this summer’s European Under-21 Championship in the Czech Republic.
Now a crucial component in Sinisa Mihajlovic’s Milan plans, Romagnoli looks like the most obvious long-term candidate to replace Giorgio Chiellini in the left-sided centre-back position for Italy.
However, Conte is not in the business of blooding inexperienced youngsters, and with Davide Astori a more mature alternative to Chiellini, Romagnoli may find it difficult to break into the full national side prior to next summer’s finals.
Verdict: Unlikely
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