Italy’s national team coach Luciano Spalletti is in attendance at the Coppa Italia semi-final between Empoli and Bologna, with a particular interest in evaluating Bologna winger Riccardo Orsolini for potential selection to the national squad.

The match, which marks Empoli’s first-ever appearance at this stage of the tournament, began at 7:00 PM GMT at the Stadio Castellani. Empoli’s journey to the semi-finals included notable victories over Fiorentina and Juventus in penalty shootouts.

While Spalletti’s presence is not unusual given his residence near the stadium, his current role as Italy’s head coach adds significance to his attendance. The focus is largely on Orsolini, whose recent form has been impressive with 11 goals and 4 assists in 22 Serie A appearances this season.

Calls for Orsolini’s Return to the National Team

There has been growing support for Orsolini’s recall to the Italian national team. The 28-year-old has previously earned seven caps for Italy, contributing two goals and three assists. However, he has not been selected since a friendly against Turkey in June 2024 and was omitted from both the Euro 2024 squad and recent Nations League fixtures under Spalletti’s management.

Orsolini’s performances in domestic competitions have been noteworthy, including scoring in his sole Coppa Italia appearance this season. However, he failed to find the net in six Champions League matches.

While Orsolini is likely the primary focus, Spalletti may also be observing other promising players such as Empoli’s creative midfielder Jacopo Fazzini, who represents Italy’s Under-21 team, and striker Lorenzo Colombo.

This scouting mission by Spalletti underscores the ongoing evaluation process for the national team and the potential for new talent to emerge through strong performances in domestic competitions like the Coppa Italia.