Euro 2020: Why Italy can be the dark horses of the tournament

The delayed 2020 Euros are right around the corner, and we can see predictions everywhere about who will flop and who will take the glory.

Italy – who have not had the best of runs in tournaments and international football for a while despite reaching the final in 2012 – could be on their way back.

The new look, young Italian side, coached by former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini, qualified for Euro 2020 with a 100% winning record, becoming only the sixth team to do so.

They did it while conceding just four goals along the way. They sit in group A, with teams like Switzerland, Turkey and Wales.

What kind of football does Italy like to play?

Italy plays a 4-3-3 and has done it throughout qualifying. They like to play quite a direct style of football, usually playing with two controlling midfielders in the middle three.

They like to play out from the back, to draw teams forward, before using the likes of Chelsea’s Jorginho and PSG’s Marco Veratti to complete long passes up to their forwards.

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Italy also utilises its full-backs often, with one pushing up with the other staying back. The left-sided full-back tends to be the more aggressive of the two, using this forward play to link with the right-winger as he cuts in to make a run into the box.

One of the midfield’s three would then cover the space the right-winger has left open, to support the attack.

Throughout qualifying, Italy has managed to score a lot from outside the box, particularly through Manuel Locatelli, who can often be found picking up half clearances or balls that are played back by Italy’s front three.

There are many differences between this version of Italy and the one in the past, but some things still have not changed.

They are still very stout defensively, and are aggressive in individual duels, with the team’s centre-backs pushing up to contest headers and are not afraid to push up and press the opposition if they retreat to their goalkeeper.

One of Italy’s biggest strengths lie with their quick and dynamic forwards: Domenico Berardi is exceptional at cutting in from the right-hand side and Ciro Immobile is coming off another stellar season in Serie A. He was excellent in the international games for Italy as well.

Italy’s only real weakness is the lack of depth at the full-back positions, none the less they will be contenders.

No group is easy in the Euros, but they will be the front runners in group A and don’t be surprised if they make a run for the whole tournament.