ITALY - THE NOT SO DARK HORSES
A piece dissecting how the Italian National Football Team have flied under the radar at the EURO 2020
Italy have just topped group A of the Euros. Winning all three of their matches convincingly. Their performances were professional and assured, never in doubt of dropping points. Perhaps the best performing team in the group stages. Factoring in all this, a question arises - why did nobody see them as favourites going into the EUROs?
The answer - perception. Let me present some statistics that might clear the picture a bit. They're currently ranked 7th in FIFA's rankings. Their last World Cup win was in 2006. The closest they've come to the EUROs in recent times was the runner-up medal in 2012. Now, all this isn't necessarily "bad" but it isn't noteworthy either. It isn't spectacular. It isn't exciting. All in all it has formed a perception of the Italian National Football Team - a mediocre one. A team that can progress decently far, but not really the ones that will pop the champagne.
It's not just that the overall achievements that have led to this air of decline, but the players aswell. Or rather, the lack of big ones. The biggest names in the modern Azzurri camp have been Leo Bonucci and Marco Veratti in recent times. Maybe Ciro Immobile aswell. Respected names in the footballing sphere but out of it? Just not that well known. There just aren't enough superstars among the ranks that make your ears perk up. Not enough "HeroBall" as the kids say.
Well, all of this might serve as a blessing for Italy. What they now have is a wonderful balance, of coach and comrades. A balanced, hardworking and technical squad of experience and youth alike, with different players fitting different profiles - exactly what you would want. Veteran's like Bonucci and Veratti are intertwined with exciting youth like Locatelli, Chiesa and Barella. Rising unknowns like Spinazolla. Pair that with a manager like Roberto Mancini who is tactically solid and has instilled a very competent pressing structure in this Italy side. All the tools are at easy disposal.
Italy aren't going down without a fight. Who knows, they might not go down at all. They may have come into this competition with a certain reputation but they're surely gonna leave a different one behind. One that'll see the Azzurri for what they are, a giant of football. Now and forever.
