The search for Italy’s striking saviour has led many to anoint Gianluca Scamacca as the new chosen one.
A couple of stunning goals against title contenders Milan and Napoli in consecutive games showcased his enormous potential and prompted a deluge of speculation about his international prospects.
Italy’s expectations to qualify for the 2022 World Cup depend on the form of their strikers. The Azzurri paid a high price for their lack of goals in qualifying and will need to vastly improve as North Macedonia, and in all probability Portugal, await in the play-offs to reach Qatar next year.
Although the 22-year-old Scamacca is hardly an unknown quantity – he was identified by the Azzurri at 15 and has played at every age level for the national team – this could be a breakthrough season for the gifted attacker.
Standing six feet five inches tall and with prominent neck, arm and hand tattoos Scamacca has the stature and profile of a typical NBA player.
The 22-year-old has always courted attention for his appearance but despite his size he excels more on the ground than in the air.
An admirer of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the Rome-born striker plays with a swagger and confidence reminiscent of the Milan and Sweden legend.
Capable of conjuring up magical goals out of nothing, Scamacca’s exceptional technique, link up play and explosive finishing are all attributes which could undoubtedly benefit the Azzurri.
While it is a tad premature to suggest he should be an automatic first choice selection for Italy, he has built on a promising campaign on loan at Genoa last season.
There were snapshots of brilliance as Scamacca struck eight times in Serie A and claimed four goals in the Coppa Italia for the Ligurian club.
Roberto Mancini rewarded him with a first full cap as a second half substitute in a five goal rout of Lithuania and threw him on in desperation for the final 10 minutes as Italy woefully failed to overcome Northern Ireland.
More caps will surely follow but before that Scamacca must become a more dependable goalscorer.
Scamacca only netted twice (both against Genoa in October) in the first three months of the new campaign before a trio of strikes in successive games again illustrated his latent talent and natural ability.
A well timed run and composed side foot finish in Sassoulo’s 2-2 home draw against Cagliari on November 21 was a step in the right direction.
Yet it paled in comparison to a spectacular long range strike which clipped the bar on the way into the net as the Neroverdi upset Milan 3-1 at the San Siro the week after. A lethal combination of power, accuracy and ambition, it showed the Rome-born forward at his absolute best.
He displayed balance, dexterity and a soft touch to chest down and ram home an unstoppable volley as Sassuolo came back from two goals down against Napoli at the Mapei Stadium on December 1.
Scamacca was unfortunate not to make it four in a row at Spezia; cracking the bar with an audacious effort which he fired in with little backlift and having a goal ruled out for off-side. Another blank at home against Lazio followed, although he did strike the post as Sassuolo came back from behind to win 2-1.
The attacker netted his sixth of the season on December 19 as the Neroverdi drew 2-2 at Fiorentina – a superb low shot from outside the box – before Bologna stunned Sassuolo with a three goal win at the Mapei Stadium before the winter break.
The run of four goals in seven games highlighted both the positives and shortcomings of a forward much in demand. Inter and Juventus have both been credited with interest in Scamacca as he continues to display streaks of technical brilliance coupled with an inability to consistently deliver.
None of the national team contenders can match the prolific Dusan Vlahovic (who has scored a league leading 16 goals) or Ciro Immobile (13) – but as long as Scamacca can find a modicum of consistency he can offer a viable alternative for Mancini.
Immobile and Torino’s Andrea Belotti frequently fail to reproduce their club form for the national team and the young Sassuolo striker has a fantastic opportunity to stake his claim for the coveted number 9 shirt.
Club team-mate Giacomo Raspadori is coming back into form after netting twice in the 2-2 draw at Spezia and against Lazio, and Moise Kean claimed the winner for Juventus as they defeated Malmo in the Champions League and struck in Serie A against Cagliari, but the pair have not done enough to seriously stake a claim for Italy.
Mancini has also been urged to consider Brazilian-born Cagliari attacker Joao Pedro – who has nine goals this term – and Pisa’s Under 21 striker Lorenzo Lucca.
Yet Scamacca possesses an intangible skillset which could prove invaluable as Italy face a challenging World Cup play-off with North Macedonia next March.
A version of this article was published on the Football Italia website on December 23, 2021.
Stephen Kasiewicz 