Despite going unbeaten over more than 25 games, the Italian national team wasn’t seen as a favourite in the lead up to Euro 2020. This is likely because this team, unlike some of the great Italian sides of yore, do not have any obvious stars: there is no Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini or Fabio Cannavaro at the back; there is no iconic midfielder in the squad in the mould of Andrea Pirlo. And, most notably, the team is almost entirely devoid of a classical play-maker.
Mancini's Italy
Mancini's Italy
Mancini's Italy
Despite going unbeaten over more than 25 games, the Italian national team wasn’t seen as a favourite in the lead up to Euro 2020. This is likely because this team, unlike some of the great Italian sides of yore, do not have any obvious stars: there is no Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini or Fabio Cannavaro at the back; there is no iconic midfielder in the squad in the mould of Andrea Pirlo. And, most notably, the team is almost entirely devoid of a classical play-maker.