head coach Luciano Spalletti insists will remain on penalties for the national side after the midfielder missed against North Macedonia on Friday evening.
Jorginho has now missed three penalties in a row for Italy, equalling the record set by former Inter and striker Alessandro ‘Spillo’ Altobelli in 1986.
Italy went on to win 5-2 against North Macedonia, which means either a win or a draw against Ukraine in their final game in Group C on Monday will secure their place at Euro 2024 next summer.
Jorginho, meanwhile, is now facing calls to be removed from penalty duty for Italy after his latest effort was saved.
However, Spalletti says he has full confidence in the Arsenal midfielder to remain on spot kicks for the national side.
‘Jorginho should be congratulated [for his performance]. He did not angle the ball very well but the goalkeeper made a good save,’ Spalletti said.
‘He remains a special penalty taker for Italy. I told him that he will take the next penalty as well and he said yes.’
Speaking as a pundit for the match, Italy’s 1982 World Cup winner Beppe Bergomi criticised Jorginho’s penalty technique and urged the midfielder to step aside for the next spot kick.
‘With all due respect, Jorginho has to bow down to the evidence here and admit penalties are no longer for him,’ Bergomi said.
‘That style of taking penalties just does not work anymore and today we got confirmation beyond doubt.
‘We can appreciate his character and mental strength in going up there again but I would say enough is enough now. He has to go to the coach and say let someone else take the next one.’
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