The Renaissance of Italy

Italy is back. Or rather, it never left. The triumph against England at Wembley confirmed with a trophy the new airs that come in the azzurra, where Roberto’s work Mancini has been commendable for to bring the country back to the front line of world football.

A selection that hit rock bottom just over three years ago stay out of a World Cup – Russia 2018 – for the first time in 60 years. Ventura sank with the whole team against Sweden, Buffon broke off from playing a last great tournament with his team and the catastrophe was of stellar dimensions. All that gale brought changes in the technical direction, and there appeared Mancini, whose last adventure had been in Zenit.

Buffon breaks down in tears in the post-match interview: “It’s a shame and not for me”

Il Bello He took the reins and his pulse did not tremble at all to turn everything upside down and build the team brick by brick at will. A piece of information that perfectly reflects it are the 67 players he has used in just three years on the bench -he arrived in May 2018-, 35 of them debutants with the absolute, among which are Toloi, Emerson, Bastoni, Barella, Locatelli or Pessina. Yes, all well protected by the ‘old guard’ with Chiellini and Bonucci, aged 36 and 34 respectively.

All that The path of promotion began after being defeated by Portugal in September 2018.barely four months after the arrival of the new technician. That 1-0 was the beginning of the end of the ills of Italy that led him to Wembley this Sunday, and in between a few numbers of scandal: 34 games without losing, also surpassing the record of Vittorio Pozzo, who won two World Cups (1934 and 1938) and an Olympic gold (1936).

This was the penalty shootout that led Italy to glory with Donnarumma

In fact, Until 1-1 with Spain in the semifinals, they had the best winning streak in a row (13) in the history of the team. Along with Belgium was the unique in making full of victories in the qualifying phase, 10 out of 10, being the second highest scoring team and conceding only four goals.

Good taste in your mouth since the start of the tournament

Right from the start of the tournament, the best could be expected from a team that was firm and that, perhaps, many did not count on to reach the final rounds of the competition. Nothing could be further from reality, Italy was ‘presented’ as a team with a lot of character and offensive power, being Camelenic depending on the rival and the situation of the contest and, incidentally, throwing away the thysterical peaks that pigeonholed him on the defensive end giving up the attack.

The result was full of victories, with 7 goals in favor and none against and, later, surviving the moments of anguish that were presented to him. He suffered in the second half against Austria, I won with authority to Belgium and was surpassed in many sections before Spain, but the penalties They smiled at him, as in the final, becoming his best ally to be crowned in London.

Euro 2020: summary and goals of Italy 1-1 Spain

Now, less than 500 days to the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the azzurra has confirmed its rebirth by raising the second European Championship in its history and, once again, showing that Italy can never be left for dead. Whatever happens.