25/04 - 20:00
Cliché alert: sometimes it is necessary to take a step backwards to take two steps forward. This certainly appears to be true of Italy.
The Gli Azzurri were at their lowest ebb after failing to reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the first time they had failed to reach a major tournament since 1958, but the Italian phoenix has risen from the flames under Roberto Mancini.
As the four stars above their badge attest, the Italians prefer World Cups to Euros (which they’ve won just once, in 1968), but a perfect record in qualifying suggests they are back on track and will be a dangerous proposition this summer.
In action tonight against Turkey in the opening fixture of Euro 2020, here's all you need to know about the Azzurri...to check out full Playmaker summaries on all 24 nations competing at Euro 2020, please check out the 'All killer, No filler' Euro Edition of our fanzine.
Best remembered by English fans for guiding Man City to their first-ever Premier League title (Aguerooooooooooooo!), Roberto Mancini’s coaching career looked to be on the wane when his Etihad odyssey was followed by tepid stints at Inter, Galatasaray and Zenit.
However, Mancini has done a fantastic job since taking charge of his homeland. In his third year in the Italian dugout, he currently has the best win percentage of any Azzurri coach in history (70%) and Italy haven’t lost a game under him since a 1-0 reverse to Portugal in the Nations League in September 2018.
His fluid 4-3-3 system suits his personnel, and all is rosy going into the tournament. A blip must be on the horizon...how will Italy and Mancini react when it arrives?
Italy have a core of key players, one of whom, Marco Veratti, comes into the tournament trying to shake off a knee ligament injury.
Fellow midfielder Nicolo Barella is fresh from winning Serie A with Inter, and will surely be a driving influence for the Azzurri this summer.
The 24-year-old is developing at a frightening rate and has a bit of everything to his game: intensity, vision, incisive passing, leadership.
With the 2019/20 European Golden Boot winner Ciro Immobile up top, the Italians have undoubted firepower - if Barella can provide an effective link between defence and attack, they could be onto a winner.
In his first season in the black and white of Juventus, Federico Chiesa has enjoyed a fabulous campaign and if he can replicate his club form for his country then the Azzurri could go far.
Boss Mancini will hope that Chiesa can provide a supply line to the likes of Andrea Belotti and Immobile, while also posing a genuine goal threat himself. Fast, skilful and aggressive, expect Chiesa’s reputation to grow further this summer.
A shining light during a turbulent season for The Old Lady, the 23-year-old will be intent on upping his international strike rate; he has scored just one goal in 24 appearances to date for his country.
Here's the pre-tournament take of Gian Busia @uk_acmilan:
I have high hopes for the tournament. Mancini has really turned this squad into an exciting side to watch with a real mix of experienced players and fantastic youngsters.
Not many people are talking about us which I think is a positive, as we tend to underperform when there’s a lot of media hype. Hopefully, we’re a dark horse to go far in the competition.
❓ #EURO2020's here and there's simply no excuse not to dive into not one, but two, 🧠busting #Playmaker quizzes!
— playmakerstats (@playmaker_EN) June 11, 2021
💥 Can you name the top scorer in each Euro 2020 squad?
💥 Which players have scored the opening goal at each Euros going back to 1984? https://t.co/Fi4xkKRurc
0-3 | ||
Merih Demiral 53' (o.g.) | Ciro Immobile 66' Lorenzo Insigne 79' |
