Italy squad info

It’s 15 years since Italy last won an international trophy and the mood back home suggests this summer could end that drought. With Italy faring well in recent games and looking increasingly strong ahead of the Euros, they are many people’s outside bet to win the pan-European competition here.

And there is cause for optimism. Italy’s road to the Euros began with a 2-0 win over Finland back in March 2019 and ended in them claiming maximum points from their 10 games. Italy averaged 3.7 goals per game in qualifying and conceded just four times. That defensive solidity is something boss Roberto Mancini has installed since his appointment in 2018 and has formed the bedrock of this team going forward.

Andrea Belotti was Italy’s top scorer in Euros qualifying with four goals. In total, a remarkable 19 Italians bagged a goal during that group stage – a sign of the strength in depth within the squad. For a long time now, Italy have done without a talismanic striker of the ilk of Mario Balotelli or Filippo Inzaghi. Instead, Belotti, Federico Chiesa, Ciro Immobile and Federico Bernardeschi share much of the forward work.

The majority of Mancini’s squad play their club football in Serie A and the boss prefers to deploy a 4-3-3 system. Marco Verratti is a hugely valuable presence in midfield, while Jorginho protects the defence, who can be swapped out for Stefano Sensi if Italy need to attack. Mancini, whose recent selections have been restricted at times by coronavirus, is sometimes considered a conservative coach but he has a wealth of talent to choose from, and can rely on the likes of Giorgio Chiellini at the back to bring some much-needed experience to the spine of the side. This may be the first international tournament Italy head to without veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon since 2000.

Italy have reached the Euros final twice since their sole victory in this composition back in 1968. Last time out they crashed out at the quarter-final stage to Germany in a penalty shoot-out – Matteo Darmian missing the decisive spot-kick. The Italy Euro odds that day had them as favourites to beat Germany but very few teams overcome the Germans when it comes to penalties.

This summer the Italians will host all three of their group games in Rome. They are placed in Group A alongside a tricky contingent of Wales, Switzerland and Turkey – three sides that could all upset Mancini’s troops. Winning Group A would potentially see Italy face Austria or Ukraine in a last-16 tie in London.

GOALKEEPERS

DEFENDERS

MIDFIELDERS

FORWARDS