UEFA EURO 2021 - Italy’s Roster and Outlook

By: Adamo Marinelli

May 25, 2021

     Italy went a perfect 10-0-0 in their EURO qualifiers and looked like a very well-rounded team. Of course, the competition in their group was not elite, but it was nothing to scoff at. They look very good and are a serious contender to win the EUROs for the first time since 1968.

     For the last few decades, Italy’s international squad has relied on a strong defense - which limits opponents’ chances and causes turnovers - and a strong transition game to generate plenty of quality offensive chances. Their 4-3-3 scheme focuses on defense which leads to turnovers, a plethora of shots, and controlling the time of possession.  

     They do not necessarily always start fast but they are a team that feels out their opponents in the first half and then has a strong second half, taking advantage of their opponents’ weaknesses. Antonio Conte relied on this strategy and now Roberto Mancini does the same thing. It has proven successful for many years, in friendly matches, qualifying matches, and on the international stage.

     The Italian team has undergone a rebuild in the past few years, getting younger at every position. Only 7 of the 33 players on the roster are 30 years old or above. The youth on the team provides speed, versatility, skill, and playmaking. The veterans on the team have a high soccer IQ, can defend well, can shoot well, and pass well. They play the role of on-field coaches, who help the younger guys develop their skills and play well day-in and day-out. 

     Notable players include Gianluigi Donnarumma, who has been phenomenal in net throughout his entire young career; Leonardo Bonucci, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Alessandro Florenzi, and veteran Giorgio Chiellini on defense; and Andrea Belotti, Lorenzo Insigne, Nicolo Barella, and Federico Chiesa among others in the midfield and upfront.  

     Italy’s coaching staff is also one of the best in football. Roberto Mancini, the current manager, and Antonio Conte, the previous manager, play a similar style that focuses on defense first. Conte used to run a 5-3-2 with wing-backs and speedy players along the sides; Mancini runs a 4-3-3, which relies on defense to shut down opponents, to control time of possession, and to get offensive opportunities in transition. 

     Their group for the EURO 2021 tournament has many favorable opponents. They are in Group A and will play against Turkey, Wales, and Switzerland in the group stage. Realistically speaking, Italy is the best team in their group and should be able to go 3-0-0 in the group stage with their only real competition coming against Switzerland. How will they win those three games? Let’s turn to their recent World Cup qualifier matches.

     So far, Italy has played three World Cup qualifier matches against Northern Ireland, Bulgaria, and Lithuania winning all three of them 2-0. In all of those games, like in their EURO qualifier matches in 2019, they started slow, but their strong defensive play limited their opponents’ shots, shots on target, and possession time. Italy dominated possession time, recording 67%, 68%, and 66% respectively. Their dominance in time of possession helped them control the pace of the game, dominate their opponents in shots, shots on target and pass accuracy. Their defense also causes turnovers which helps their offense and they capitalize on their opponents’ weaknesses and normally adjust their scheme depending on their opponents’ personnel. 

     However, starting slow will not necessarily work against opponents of a higher caliber. Offensive-oriented teams like France, Portugal, Spain, Germany, and Croatia attack early and often. If Italy wants to be successful against those teams, their defense will have to be at its best, and they cannot afford to make any mistakes, especially early in games when they are feeling out their opponents. 

     To recap, Italy is a young team with talent all over their roster, who has a great coaching staff and a great defense that limits opponents’ offensive chances and possession time. However, against stronger opponents’ they cannot make any mistakes. They have the potential to win, but will they get it done? I think they can get to the semifinals, maybe even the Finals. Forza Azzurri.