Can injury-riddled Italy defend title?

To say Italy have enjoyed a stop-start period is an understatement.

After failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Roberto Mancini was installed as manager and promptly guided the Azzuri to Euro 2020 glory at Wembley and oversaw a 37-game unbeaten streak over nearly three years up to September 2021.

However they failed to qualify for Qatar 2022, Mancini packed his bags for Saudi Arabia and Luciano Spalletti came in, fresh from ending Napoli’s 33-year wait for a Serie A title in 2023.

If their success is anything to go by expect Italy to be well-drilled, press high with lots of energy when they don’t have the ball, and they should be effective in both boxes from set-pieces.

But will that be enough to negotiate what looks the toughest group in the competition and go all the way to become just the second side in history to defend a European Championship title?

Let’s have a closer look.

Let’s play a game, shall we?

Name Italy’s strongest starting XI…

Oh really? Well how many have you got then? Oh.

Ok, can you not even do six?

Five?

See, this is the problem with the defending European Champions – they are the absolute definition of a team in transition. Only 10 of the triumphant squad from that fateful night at Wembley three years ago made their provisional 30-man squad this time around.

Gianluigi Donnarumma is back between the sticks, the hero of the Wembley penalty shootout win over England and Player of the Tournament at Euro 2020, but gone are the vastly experienced duo of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci infront of him.

Also missing is 34-year-old Ciro Immobile who has been left out of the squad after a below-par season with Lazio, despite being named as captain for Spalletti’s first game just nine months ago, while Juventus midfielder Manuel Locatelli and Marco Verratti, now in Qatar, are other big names who will be watching the Euros on TV.

Alessandro Bastoni has shone in defence for Inter and club teammate Nicola…

Source link : https://www.101greatgoals.com/news/euro-2024-can-injury-riddled-italy-defend-title/

Author : Alex Hoad

Publish date : 2024-06-13 08:00:19

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