Italy are looking to repair the damage of the post-2006 World Cup-winning years which saw them drop as low as 21st in the world football rankings.
Can Roberto Mancini take Italy back to glory as one of the host nations? The team at Last Word on Football has put together an Italy Euro 2020 profile so that you can have the complete rundown ahead of the competition kicking off in June.
Everything You Need to Know About Italy Ahead of Euro 2020
Who is the Italian National Team Coach?
Italy’s current manager will be a familiar name to football fans in England and especially Manchester City as the man who oversaw City’s rise to Premier League champions. Mancini was tasked with rebuilding a squad that in 2018 was struggling and he led them through a perfect European Championship qualifying campaign.
Whilst not favourites for the tournament, the Italy Euro 2020 team is one that should be taken seriously.
Mancini has recently signed a contract extension with the Azzurri to 2026, meaning he will be in charge for the 2022 World Cup in Quatar, the next European Championships and the 2026 World Cup due to take place across Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Who Has Been Selected in the Italy Squad For Euro 2020?
Mancini and Italy were one of the first countries to announce their provisional squads and, following that perfect qualification campaign, it is easy to see why the manager is confident in his selections being the right men for the job.
Many of this young squad are under the age of 24 and Marco Verratti is the standout player in midfield who, despite his slight frame, is an energetic and powerful player whom much of Italy’s success will depend on.
GK: 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), Gianluca Mancini (Roma), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma), Rafael Toloi (Atalanta)
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Matteo Pessina (Atalanta), 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), Matteo Politano (Napoli)
Ciro Immobile Must Replicate Club Form
Seen by some as Italy’s Harry Kane, Ciro Immobile has claimed the European golden boot award playing for Lazio, but in the dark blue of his home nation, has struggled to show the same clinical edge.
Goals in qualification came from across the team which is an advantage to Mancini and his young side but they need the number nine to find his form at international level and if he does he could well be a thorn in many sides this summer.
Group Stage Fixtures
Italy come into the Euros following a perfect qualification campaign and former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini has created a new buzz around the National squad. Italy could be dark horses and certainly should not be discounted in the race for the Championship this summer.
A robust Turkey are up first before Switzerland and finally a Wales side led by Gareth Bale.
Turkey v Italy – June 11, 8pm BST
Italy v Switzerland June 16, 8pm BST
Italy v Wales – June 20, 5:30pm BST
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
