Page 14 - Soccer360 Issue 106

S360 PREDICTION | 7TH PLACE NICKNAME: GLI AZZURRI
ITALY
Three years is a long time in football and since taking the crown at the last
European Championships, things have been far from plain sailing the Azzurri. 9
Ian Waterhouse explores their chances of retaining the crown.
EURO APPEARANCES: 10 EURO CHAMPIONSHIPS: 2
FIFA RANKING TH
THE SECOND COMING
Drama is never far away for Italy as months after winning Euro 2020, they failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
- remarkably missing out on the global showpiece for the second time in a row.
Out went stalwarts Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci along with head coach Roberto Mancini and in came veteran manager Luciano Spalletti to guide the team for the foreseeable future, looking to take with him some of the magic he bestowed upon 2022-23 Serie A winners Napoli.
A difficult qualifying campaign saw the Azzurri scrape through to Euro 2024 on goal difference ahead of Ukraine, but Spalletti will be more buoyant as the tournament gets underway as the new generation begins to take shape.
Italy have now found their natural leader
in goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma
while the calming presence of Arsenal’s Jorginho should give them the edge in a tight game. There is reason to be excited too with the emergence of 21-year-old Tottenham defender Destiny Udogie and midfielder Davide Frattesi, who have both made a real impact at international level. Meanwhile, if Federico Chiesa can rediscover his best form, he’ll be one of the stars of the competition.With just nine goals conceded in eight qualifiers, you can expect the holders to be difficult to break down, and with Spalletti at the helm it feels like there
is much more to come from this team. Italy are not the favourites this year but were not either in 2021 when they took the title and if they can navigate a tricky Group B, will surely emerge on everyone’s radar.
PROBABLE STARTING XI
THE COACH:
LUCIANO SPALLETTI
After many years coaching in Serie A, Luciano Spalletti’s star could hardly be higher after transforming Napoli to title winners in 2023 and watching the chaos unfold since his departure. He stepped in to replace Roberto Mancini and overcome a tough test against Ukraine to secure qualification for Euro 2024, and one wonders what tricks he has up his sleeve to give the Azzurri a chance of retaining their crown.
KEY PLAYER:
FEDERICO CHIESA
A lot might depend on what Federico
Chiesa can deliver in Germany. The Juventus attacking midfielder hasn’t always found his best form since recovering from a prolonged injury absence, but when he produces it there are few who can live with him. The 26-year- old has the craft and the invention to unlock defences, and is always capable of getting on the scoresheet too.
THEIR BEST THREE EUROS
2020
1968
2012
1ST
1ST
2ND
EMERSON
JORGINHO
BARELLA
DARMIAN
FRATTESI
CHIESA
PELLEGRINI
UEFA EURO OVERALL RECORD PLD:45 W:21 D:18 L:6
BASTONI
DIMARCO
DONNARUMMA
DI LORENZO
FACTFILE
POPULATION:
57.8 million
EURO FINALS APPEARANCES: 10
BEST FINISH:
Winners 1968, 2020
MOST MEMORABLE EUROS MOMENT: Winning Euro 2020 to crown a record unbeaten run.
HOW THEY GOT TO EURO 2024: Finished a distant second to England in their qualifying group.
LAST EUROS APPEARANCE: 2020 - Lifted the trophy after a series of superb performances throughout the competition.
MOST CAPPED PLAYER: Gianluigi Buffon, 176
LEADING INTERNATIONAL SCORER: Gigi Riva, 35
HOW TO FOLLOW:
GIGI RIVA
VS ALBANIA VS SPAIN VS CROATIA JUNE 15TH JUNE 20TH JUNE 24TH 3:00PM | EST 3:00PM | EST 3:00PM | EST
12 SOCCER360 SUMMER 2024
GROUP B - UEFA EURO 2024