Euro 2020 Profile Italy
Italy are a rejuvenated outfit under Roberto Mancini who won all their qualifying matches scoring 37 goals and conceded just 4 goals. The Azzurri have a talented bunch of players who can cause waves at the tournament if they play to their potential.
Italy UEFA Euro 2020 Squad:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Alex Meret (Napoli), Salvatore Sirigu (Torino)
Defenders: Francesco Acerbi (Lazio), Alessandro Bastoni (Inter), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Emerson Palmieri (Chelsea), Alessandro Florenzi (Paris), Leonardo Spinazzola (Roma), Rafael Toloi (Atalanta)
Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Jorginho (Chelsea), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma), Stefano Sensi (Inter), Marco Verratti (Paris)
Forwards: Andrea Belotti (Torino), Domenico Berardi (Sassuolo), Federico Bernardeschi
(Juventus), Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Ciro Immobile (Lazio), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo)
Strengths:
Midfield and Attack: Italy have one of the most talented midfields of Euro 2020 with the likes of Jorginho, Marco Verratti and Manuel Locatelli capable of dominating most midfields on the continent. Roma’s Lorenzo Pellegrini and Inter’s Nicolò Barella are quality options to call upon from the bench or in case of injury. The Azzurri also have the likes of Lorenzo Insigne, Domenico Berardi and Federico Chiesa as wide forwards who are all equally capable of creating and scoring.
Weakness
Defensive Concerns: First Choice centre backs Chiellini and Bonucci didn’t enjoy the best seasons with their clubs with Chiellini missing a large portion due to injury. Chiellini and Bonucci are 36 and 34 respectively and not the quickest. Also, full backs Emerson and Alessandro Florenzi are known more for their attacking skills rather than defensive qualities.
Striking Concerns: On paper Italy have 2 quality forwards in Andrea Belotti and Ciro Immobile who are prolific at club level. However, both have struggled to translate their club form into international level. Wingers Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Chiesa are brilliant players, but both are also not prolific for Italy, managing a combined 9 goals in 66 appearances. Mancini will hope that their forwards finally replicate their club form for Azzurri.
