Euro 2020: How Italy Stole the Show in Group A and Wales Stunned All

Group A’s Breakout Star

Manuel Locatelli is no stranger to those who follow Italian football closely. The young, dynamic midfielder has been a key figure for Sassuolo in recent years and remains one of his old clubs AC Milan’s greatest regrets.

Locatelli was brought into the Italian line-up to replace the injured Marco Verratti. He started both of the Azzurri’s first two group games at the current Euro and put in two brilliant displays.

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He scored twice against Switzerland in the second group game – first, putting the finishing touches to a move he had started with a wonderful pass to Domenico Berardi and second, a long-range effort.

Roberto Mancini now has a dilemma at his hands: does he stick with Locatelli – one of the revelations of the tournament – or does he drop him for the more experience Verratti?

Group A’s Best Player

Chelsea’s Jorginho is a player who often doesn’t get his fair share of plaudits. What the Regista does well goes under the radar.

On the other hand, the things he does wrong are much more pronounced, visible – a stray pass, a mistimed tackle, or getting beat in a duel. However, he barely put a foot wrong during the group stage and was the most consistent spark in a blazing Italian team.

Jorginho is also a leader on the pitch and one of Mancini’s most trusted lieutenants. Like a Generale in the middle of a battlefield, the Italian international leads his troops onwards – towards their target – with deft passes and loud instructions.