THE ITALIAN COME-BACK JOB

THE ITALIAN COMEBACK JOB

HOW ROBERTO MANCINI LED ITALY TO EURO 2020 GLORY

AFTER ITALY SUFFERED ARGUABLY

THEIR BIGGEST EMBARRASSMENT ON

THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE JUST A FEW

YEARS AGO, DAN ROBERTS ASSESSES HOW

ROBERTO MANCINI TURNED IT ROUND FOR

THE AZZURRI

Photo courtesy of Esquire Magazine

‘WHEN MANCINI TOOK OVER HE STATED THAT HIS FIRST PRIORITY WAS TO WIN THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP’

hen Italy failed to qualify for

Wthe 2018 World Cup in Russia, it was a national humiliation and probably the lowest point for the Azzurri since 1966. But in three short years, Italy have catapulted back onto the international stage and are now champions of Europe. Roberto Mancini’s appointment as head coach is a major factor, but just how did he lift the side to win their first trophy since 2006? If Italy beat Bulgaria in their World Cup qualification game in September, Roberto Mancini will have overseen a new record for games unbeaten. He has been in charge for that entire 34-game period, starting slowly with just one win in his first six matches. But there is a genuine feeling that Italy could now go on to make even more history by winning the World Cup in Qatar next year. Mancini began by installing a backroom staff that he knew he could trust. Members of the Sampdoria side he played with are very visible in the group, and it is that kind of togetherness and team spirit that was very evident on the pitch at Euro 2020. He has fostered a club-style feeling within the Azzurri squad and it has beaten the very best in the world. Unfairly criticized as a coach that concentrated on not losing rather than winning while at Manchester City, Mancini has become more confident with the players at his disposal in the national setup. Many fans not used to Italy’s recent performances were surprised how attacking the team was during Euro 2020, but even seasoned Mancini watchers must have been impressed with how much he allowed his players to push forward. When Mancini took over he stated that his first priority was to win the European Championship. Italy had not won the tournament since 1968 – and had not won any major trophy since the World Cup in 2006 – but the humiliation of not qualifying for Russia meant that he had to aim high. It could be argued that if Euro 2020

Marcello Lippi was the last man to win a trophy as Italy coach, leading the Azzurri to success at the 2006 World Cup

Italy’s success is all the more impressive given the humiliation of failing to qualify for Russia 2018

had been played when it was originally scheduled, Mancini might have had a tougher time in fulfilling his prophecy. Giorgio Chiellini and Marco Verratti would have missed the tournament completely and a number of other important players would’ve also been absent. Integral performers at Euro 2020 such as Domenico Berardi, Manuel Locatelli and Federico Chiesa were either not part of the setup or only used as mere squad members. Mancini used the year delay wisely, bringing the squad closer together and stretching the unbeaten record from 14 to 27 games. In June 2020, when the tournament was originally set to begin, Italy had not played any tough opponents thanks to a favourable qualifying campaign. But by the time 2021 came around there had been a plethora of impressive results against the likes of the Netherlands and Poland. Lorenzo Insigne and Nicolo Barella had enjoyed career-best seasons at club level, and the Italian national side benefited from a group of players all improving at the same time. Italy laid down the gauntlet in the opening game of Euro 2020, following an emotional pre-match performance of Nessun Dorma by Andrea Bocelli, to comprehensively beat Turkey 3-0 in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. Some pundits were already saying that Italy might be able to go all the way, and the Azzurri went on to complete a 100% group stage with wins over Switzerland and Wales, scoring seven and not conceding a single goal. Mancini’s tactic of using Verratti and Jorginho to dictate the game in the middle, with Insigne playing wide made Italy an attacking force to be reckoned with. Even the somewhat disappointing performances from Ciro Immobile couldn’t take away from Italy’s march to the knockout stage. A tough battle with Austria in the round of 16 was navigated well, before a scintillating display against world number one Belgium in the quarterfinals. Mancini continued to draw the best out of a 4-3-3 formation and saw his team take a two-goal lead against one of the favourites for the trophy. Even a potentially confidence-sapping goal in first-half stoppage time could not slow down this team. Mancini instructed his players to be a little more conservative in the semi-final against a Spain side that had dominated possession in all of their previous games at Euro 2020. But, once again, Italy took the lead before eventually proving their mental fortitude by beating Luis Enrique’s side on penalties. Italy had enjoyed home advantage for their group games, but moved on to Munich and London for the knockout rounds. Mancini told his players that they had nothing to fear playing England in their own national stadium in the final. Footage of his pre-match team talk has been widely shared on social media showing Mancini calmly going through the team and then effectively sending his players out with a simple message of them knowing who they are and what they have to do. Although there would have undoubtedly been more said to the squad before the Euro 2020 final, the clip succinctly sums up how effective his management style is. Going a goal down to the hosts within two minutes would not have been part of the plan, of course. But there was no panic shown. It was the first time Italy had trailed in the entire tournament, but they kept on attempting to break down the English defence. In the end it was actually Mancini’s inspired substitutions that did the trick. Bringing Berardi on for an ineffective Immobile gave the side the width it needed – and Leonardo Bonucci pounced at a corner to

Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli were teammates at Sampdoria for eight years

THE MEN WHO CAME BEFORE MANCINI

AS ROBERTO MANCINI BECOMES THE FIRST ITALY COACH TO WIN A MAJOR TROPHY SINCE 2006, DAN ROBERTS CASTS HIS EYE OVER WHICH MANAGERS HAVE BEEN IN THE HOT SEAT SINCE THAT WORLD CUP TRIUMPH.

LUIGI DI BIAGIO

This tenure was only ever going to be a temporary fix after the humiliation of Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. As caretaker manager, Di Biagio was in charge for just two friendlies against Argentina and England, after stepping up from the Azzurri under-21 set up.

GIAN PIERO VENTURA

Ventura’s managerial career stretches all the way back to the 1970s, but his time in charge of the national side ended with failure to qualify for Russia 2018 – the first time Italy had missed out in 60 years. His record as coach was actually not that bad though, losing just three times in 16 games.

ANTONIO CONTE

After a highly successful stint at Juventus, Conte took over as Italy manager in 2014 with eyes on the European Championship two years later. But by the time that tournament came around, Conte had already confirmed he would step down after Italy’s exit – one that eventually came at the quarter-final stage.

CESARE PRANDELLI

The longest-serving Azzurri manager since the late 1980s, Prandelli initially did well, taking Italy to the final of Euro 2012. But a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Spain began a poor run of form that saw his side fail to get out of the group at the 2014 World Cup.

MARCELLO LIPPI

Considered one of the most successful coaches of all time, Lippi had already led Italy to World Cup glory in 2006 when he returned for a second time in 2008. His tactic of selecting veterans for the 2010 World Cup ended in failure though, when Italy finished bottom of their group.

ultimately score the equalizer. Donnarumma’s nerve held in the penalty shootout – even after Andrea Belotti and the usually unshakable Jorginho missed their spot kicks – and the Euro 2020 trophy was won. Mancini had always said that he had 26 starting players in his squad and he was able to use most of them effectively to change the course of games throughout the tournament. Mancini even gave back up goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu some minutes at the end of the group game against Wales, as he remembered how devastated he had been not getting on the pitch as a squad player at the 1990 World Cup. That example of team spirit and empathy is perhaps one of the most important factors when it comes to explaining how Mancini won Euro 2020 and returned Italy to the pinnacle of European football.

Italy coach Roberto Mancini has returned the Azzurri to the pinnacle of European football

“NEW TROPHY, NEW PROFILE PIC ” @ROBYMANCIO magical MANCINI

‘IF ITALY BEAT BULGARIA IN SEPTEMBER, ROBERTO MANCINI WILL HAVE OVERSEEN A NEW RECORD FOR GAMES UNBEATEN’