EURO 2020 Italy Preview: Full Squad, Key Players, Fixtures, And Prediction
Italy
After enduring their darkest fall in history having failed to qualify for the World Cup in 2018, the Italian football team has sprung back since under the managerial leadership of former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini.
EURO 2020 ITALY PREVIEW
Italy have went on to a straight 26 win streak which is their second longest run since 1935-39 qualifying for the Euros with three games to spare. The Azzurris are in a hot form as they eye their second European Cup after a 53 year long wait. The four time World Champions have a decent record in the Euros, having being triumphant once in 1968 and reaching the finals a further two times, and now the Azzurris look to replicate their glories. Roberto Mancini, may have found the right mix of youngsters and veterans and hope to instill optimism around a team that had lost all of their confidence in recent years but have since then upstaged a fantastic upsurge.
ITALY SQUAD FOR EURO 2020
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino)
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea), Alessandro Florenzi (Paris), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma), Rafael Toloi (Atalanta)
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Stefano Sensi (Inter), Marco Verratti (Paris)
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi (Juventus), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo)
EURO 2020 KEY PLAYERS FOR ITALY
Roberto Mancini had already found an established formal for Italy’s success and some players play a key part in it undoubtedly. With this Euro squad of seasoned players like Chellini and Bonucci as well as young talents of many Serie A sides, the manager would be looking for some key players to step up to the ocassion and lead their side for a good run in the Euro. Some of those key players are namely:
Ciro Immobile
The 31 year old Lazio striker has been in his probable best form since the last 5 seasons averaging 25 goals per season also bagging the most number of goals last season in Europe. Though is his form for Italy had been underwhelming, he is still the main man Mancini would be banking on. His ability to play the ball and pure striking abilities is what makes him the priority for the Azzurris in their starting lineup.
Lorenzo Insigne
Lorenzo Insigne, the 30 yr old Napolian left winger is another crucial player for Italy in their Euro campaign. Not using him during the World cup qualifiers had been a matter of dissent among fans, but under the guidance of Mancini he would play a pivotal role in the team bringing both his experience and talent to use, after being in a good form with Napoli throughout the 2020-21 Serie A campaign, and leading them to the Coppa Italia title in 2020.
Other eye catching players to look upon are Federico Chiesa, the prolific attacker who played an important role in Juventus along with Inter Milan youngster duo Nicola Barella and Alessandro Bastoni who put a great show in their Scudetto win after 10 years. Adding to that are Jorginho and Emerson, who have recently won the Champions League with Chelsea and look to be in a good form.
Players To Watch Out: Lorenzo Pellegrini, Federico Chiesa, Nicolo Barella.
EURO 2020 ITALY GROUP STAGE
Italy are pitted in Group A alongside Switzerland, Turkey and Wales. Though falling in a tricky group, with formidable opponents like Turkey, who are the dark horses and can anytime stage an upset, Italy should nonetheless look to clear the group stage with ease after their recent display of form. Their clashes with the Swiss and Turkey should be the one the onlookers should watch out for a feast.
Italy start their Euro 2020 campaign against Turkey on June 11 at home at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on the Inaugural day of Euro 2020. On winning their group, the Azzurris will be facing the runners-up from Group C.
EURO 2020 Italy Group Stage Fixtures
Date | Fixture | Timing(in UTC) | Venue |
June 11 | Italy vs Turkey | 21:00 | Stadio Olimpico, Rome |
June 16 | Italy vs Switzerland | 21:00 | Stadio Olimpico, Rome |
June 20 | Italy vs Wales | 18:00 | Stadio Olimpico, Rome |
Italy’s History in the EUROs
Year and Venue | Position | Result |
1968 Italy | Champions | Won 2-0 Vs Yugoslavia on Replay (1-1 a.e.t original match) |
1980 Italy | Semifinals(4th) | lost 9-8 Vs Czechoslovakia in the Tie breaker in the Third Place Playoffs (1-1 a e.t) |
1988 West Germany | Semifinals(4th) | lost 2-0 Vs Soviet Union in the Semifinals |
1996 England | Group-stage | Won 1, lost 1, drew 1 |
2000 Belgium Netherlands | Runners-up | lost 2-1 Vs France in the Finals via Golden Goal (a.e.t) |
2004 Portugal | Group-stage | won 1, lost 2 |
2008 Austria Switzerland | Quarter Finals | lost 4-2 Vs Spain in the tie breakers(0-0 a.e.t) |
2012 Poland Ukraine | Runners-up | lost 4-0 Vs Spain in the Finals |
2016 France | Quarter Finals | lost 6-5 Vs Germany in the Tie Breaker (1-1 a.e.t) |
Italy’s Chances in EURO 2020
Roberto Mancini selecting the almost perfect squad for the Euros with the captain Chellini, dependable midfielders like Veratti and Jorginho, the Italian side could prove to be the dark horses in this competition. Having Drawn in group A they are expected to go past group stage with ease and then progress through the knockouts with a good performance. Now, it is see to whether the Italians can hold onto their nerves and exhibit a delightful performance at the big stage, and if they can capitalize on the experience of their veterans and performance of the young cream of players.
Italy Prediction for EURO 2020
Italy having drawn in the group ‘A’ alongside Turkey, Wales and Switzerland, are predicted to top their group with ease given their perfect combination strength, experience and young blood in the squad. Finishing the group in the top would see them competing with the second place team from group ‘C’, one of whose teams could be Netherlands. It would been an interesting watch to see the performance of Italy in the knockout stages and anything less than qualifying for the quarter finals would be dissapointing for them having reached that stage for the past three Euros.
Final Prediction : Knocked out in the Semi Finals.
Also Read : Euro 2020 Germany Preview: Full Squad, Key Players, Fixtures, And Prediction
Sayantan Dutta
(266 Articles Published)