Built from the back out? Not this Italy
Successful Azzurri teams of the past were known for their all-world defence, but at Euro 2020, Roberto Mancini s Italy plans to contend with its sterling midfield.
ESPN Marco Verratti , Marco Canoniero/LightRocket via Getty Images
Forget the old stereotypes. Successful Azzurri teams of yesteryear were known for uncompromising A-list defenders (think Fabio Cannavaro, Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi or Gaetano Scirea) and lethal strikers (Paolo Rossi, Roberto Baggio, Pippo Inzaghi or Francesco Totti). Not this team. This one is all about the midfielders, a category that with some notable exceptions hasn t been Italy s strong suit in past tournaments.
AFP
Group A kicks off Euro 2020 on June 11 with one of its host nations, Italy, beginning their bid to return to international football’s top table with a new generation of promising young talent.
Here we cast an eye over the four teams trying to reach the knockout stage.
Italy
A team reborn since Roberto Mancini took over in May 2018, Italy are one of the dark horses for the Euro after a stunning turnaround under the former Manchester City and Inter Milan boss.
Unbeaten in 26 matches in a run stretching back to late 2018, Italy have shaken off the humiliation of missing out on the last World Cup by bringing in young talent like midfielder Nicolo Barella and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.