Page 52 - Soccer360 Issue 105

EURO
2024 FEATURE
GLORY CHASERS
A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE ROBERTO MANCINI LED ITALY TO EUROPEAN GLORY IN 2021. AFTER ANOTHER FAILED ATTEMPT AT WORLD CUP QUALIFICATION, LUCIANO SPALLETTI NOW LEADS A MUCH MORE INEXPERIENCED SIDE TO EURO 2024. CIRO DI BRITA ASSESSES THEIR CHANCES AS THEY PREPARE TO DEFEND THEIR CROWN.
“ITALY’S EURO 2024
MAY DEPEND ON
FINDING A GOALSCORER
TO LEAD THE LINE.”
It hasn’t even been three years
since Italy lifted the European Championship trophy at Wembley after defeating England on penalties in a dramatic and tense final. Since then, another catastrophic failure to qualify for the World Cup stained the legacy that Roberto Mancini had built during that glorious summer
in 2021.
A decent showing in the 2022- 23 Nations League gave Mancini some breathing space as the
Azzurri topped a group that contained Hungary, Germany, and England but the warning signs were there that all was not 100% right within La Nazionale. Despite
breaking the world record for the most unbeaten games in a row and guiding his nation to their first piece of silverware since 2006, Mancini’s unflinching faith in the same group of players and the same tactical formula eventually became a weakness,
to the point that it looked like some
fresh personnel and ideas were needed during their ill-fated World Cup qualifying campaign.
Scoring goals became a problem for the Azzurri and draws against Bulgaria, Northern Ireland, and Switzerland both home and away proved that Mancini was unable to create a solution. Heavy defeats to Germany in the Nations League and Copa America champions Argentina in the Finalissima
ABOVE:
Italy celebrates their Euro 2020 championship
RIGHT:
Can Italy retain their title?
OPPOSITE PAGE TOP LEFT:
Fabio Cannavaro reacts after being eliminated from World Cup 2010
OPPOSITE PAGE BOTTOM:
The Italian team poses before the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer match between Slovakia and Italy
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