Jorginho faced criticism after his fourth consecutive missed penalty for Italy during their 5-2 win over North Macedonia, prompting suggestions that he should relinquish his spot-kick responsibilities.
The Arsenal midfielder’s penalty miss in Friday’s match marked a stark contrast to his previous reputation as one of Europe’s finest penalty takers, especially after his miss in the Euro 2020 final against England.
Previously hailed for his unique hop in his run-up, which often outwitted goalkeepers, Jorginho’s recent attempts have lacked conviction, leading to growing doubts about his suitability for penalty duties.
Former Italy World Cup winner Beppe Bergomi emphasised that the midfielder should acknowledge this reality and pass on the responsibility to another player.
“Jorginho needs to accept the facts and acknowledge that penalties might not be his forte anymore,” Bergomi stated on Sky Sport Italia. “His style of taking penalties seems outdated, and his recent performance confirms that. It’s time to say ‘enough is enough’ and allow someone else to step up.
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“We can appreciate his character and mental strength in going up there again, but I’d say now enough is enough. He has to go to the coach and say let someone else take the next one.”
Despite the miss, Italy’s victory keeps them on track for Euro 2024 qualification, needing just a draw against Ukraine in their next match.
Italian head coach Luciano Spalletti expressed support for Jorginho, praising his overall performance and reaffirming the midfielder’s continued role as Italy’s designated penalty taker.
“Jorginho’s contribution should be acknowledged,” Spalletti remarked. “While his recent penalty wasn’t optimal, the goalkeeper made a good save. He remains a key figure for Italy in penalty situations, and he’s agreed to take the next one.”
The discussion surrounding Jorginho’s penalty-taking abilities continues as Italy aims to secure their spot in the upcoming Euros in Germany next year.
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