Euro 2024: ‘Reigning champions Italy are far from favourites’ – BBC Sport

The enduring image of Roberto Mancini and Gianluca Vialli embracing as Italy celebrated victory at Wembley Stadium on 11 July, 2021 will forever be etched in the minds of the nation.

It was the culmination of an extraordinary project designed to set the national team on a new path.

Three years have gone by and Italy have sadly lost Vialli to pancreatic cancer, failed to qualify for yet another World Cup and Mancini has departed after five years as manager.

With qualification for Euro 2024 on the line, Italy appointed Luciano Spalletti, the man who had just led Napoli to the Serie A title after a 33-year wait.

The 65-year-old insisted he had left the Partenopei to enjoy some much-needed rest on his Tuscan farm but when the Azzurri came calling, he could not refuse.

To coach the national team was a dream come true and the tactician was thrilled to be afforded the opportunity to guide his country forward.

Qualifying for the tournament was not easy as Italy only clinched second place in Group C, behind England, with a goalless draw against Ukraine in the final game.

They have since had the misfortune of being placed in the group of death at Euro 2024 alongside heavyweights Spain, experienced Croatia and dark horses Albania.

Italy will arrive in Germany fully aware that despite being the reigning champions, they are far from favourites to win the competition again.

Void of world-class players and a true identity, Spalletti is hoping the strength of the collective coupled with Italy’s history at International tournaments will help push them forward.

“I don’t see top-class players except [Gianluigi] Donnarumma in goal,” said Carlo Ancelotti when asked about his country’s chances at Euro 2024.

At Euro 2020, Italy could count on the revered and serial-winning defensive duo of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci.

In the middle they boasted the creativity of Marco Verratti, while up front they had the technique and genius of Lorenzo Insigne and Domenico Berardi.

None of those players will be in Germany and nor will be their most experienced defender, Inter’s Francesco Acerbi who had to pull out after picking up an injury.

Instead, Italy will be relying on several new faces to prove their worth and the power of one superstar coach, Spalletti.

Famous for being one of Italy’s finest tacticians, Spalletti was always complimented for his teams’ style of play, but criticised for his inability to win trophies.

Winning the Scudetto with Napoli while playing the most captivating brand of football in Europe finally earned him the respect he deserved.

Under his guidance, individuals always shine, while the patterns of play have often proved tantalising. The problem is, he has not had much time at the helm of this Azzurri side to design the perfect set-up that would extract the quality of these younger individuals.

Ideally, he wants a team that can adapt easily to the opponent and can play with either three or four men at the back.

Throughout the qualifiers, Spalletti’s Italy always started in a 4-3-3 formation, but in the friendlies since he has largely toyed with a three-man backline that has not always produced the best of results, including leaving the team vulnerable to the counter-attack.