Italy Euro 2020 team guide – Fixtures, key players, predictions
Check out our full Italy team guide ahead of Euro 2020, including details about the manager, squad, best players, predictions and more.
Italy arrived at Euro 2020 as dark horses, but their eye-catching 3-0 win over Turkey on the opening night of the tournament has nudged their credentials up to full-blown contenders.
The attacking trio of Lorenzo Insigne, Ciro Immobile and Domenico Berardi – with Federico Chiesa on the bench – was relentless on the night and their pursuit of goals paid off.
Roberto Mancini is currently overseeing an unbeaten run of 23 competitive fixtures and has transformed this Italy side into a highly effective unit, even if names in the squad aren't household ones like Italian teams of the past.
Italy will hope to continue their positive start to the campaign when they face Switzerland in their second encounter of the tournament.
Rome will stage all three of Italy’s Group A Euro 2020 fixtures and they are on course to book a date with top-ranked side Belgium in the quarter-finals.
RadioTimes.com brings you the full Italy team guide for Euro 2020 including fixtures, the squad, key players and more.
When are Italy playing next?
Italy’s second fixture at Euro 2020 will see them face Switzerland in the opening match of the tournament on Wednesday 16th June 2021.
The match kicks off at 8pm (UK time) and will be shown live on ITV.
Rome’s Stadio Olimpico will host the game, meaning Italy have a slight home advantage here.
Italy Euro 2020 fixtures
Wednesday 16th June
Game 2 – Group A: Italy v Switzerland (8pm)
Sunday 20th June
Game 3 – Group A: Italy v Wales (5pm)
Check out when and where every game is available to watch with our Euro 2020 on TV guide.
Italy Euro 2020 results
Friday 11th June
Game 1 – Group A: Turkey 0-3 Italy (8pm)
Italy kicked off their Euro 2020 campaign in style. Berardi's cross struck Turkish defender Merih Demiral and bounced into the net to opening the scoring.
Immobile and Insigne finished off the job with some terrific, flowing passing and movement. Italy aren't here to make up the numbers.
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Italy 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)
Italy manager
Roberto Mancini
Mancini was appointed Italy head coach in 2018 after replacing Gian Piero Ventura on a permanent basis. The boss was tasked with recuperating Italy’s losses after their failed 2018 World Cup qualification campaign. And so far he’s done well. He’s lifted the team to the top of the UEFA Nations League and restored faith amongst Azzurri fans.
Mancini famously delivered Manchester City their first ever Premier League title back in 2012 and since then has managed Galatasaray, Inter and Zenit. He made his debut for Italy as a player in 1984 and spent most of his playing career at Sampdoria.
Italy key player
Marco Verratti
Having had to wait until the likes of Andrea Pirlo called it a day in the heart of Italy’s midfield, it’s always felt as though Marco Verratti has played catch-up on his international career. The former Pescara man made his international debut nine years ago yet boasts just over 40 caps for his country.
Verratti is now the heartbeat of both this Italy side and his club PSG. The 28-year-old is in his prime and acts as the pendulum between attack and defence. A calm operator under pressure, Verratti can snuff out opposition attacks and instigate counters in a flash. His presence will be vital if Italy are to make progress this summer.
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Italy predictions
Defensively Italy are a solid unit but the question marks will be placed on their attacking prowess. Mancini has plenty of options up front, with Andrea Belotti, Domenico Berardi, Federico Bernardeschi, Federico Chiesa and Ciro Immobile all deserving of a starting place.
The issue for the boss is finding the right balance amongst all this talent. Should Italy get off to a good start against Turkey and Switzerland then they could well settle into this tournament and progress deep into July.
However, class may well tell in the latter stages and a semi-final berth is perhaps the very best the Azzurri can hope for this summer.
Prediction: Quarter-final exit
Who will win Euro 2020? Check out our full predictions as we rank and rate all 24 teams.
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