Fabio Capello believes “Italy can be a contender for the trophy” at Euro 2016.
Antonio Conte’s side have won both of their first two games, and are already assured of progressing to the Last 16 as the winners of Group E.
“I believe that Italy can be a contender for the trophy, because they’re a very difficult opponent to deal with,” Capello said on Radio Anch'Io Sport.
“They’re a humble team, based on organisation and what is clearly the best defence at the European Championships.
Fabio Capello believes “Italy can be a contender for the trophy” at Euro 2016.
Antonio Conte’s side have won both of their first two games, and are already assured of progressing to the Last 16 as the winners of Group E.
“I believe that Italy can be a contender for the trophy, because they’re a very difficult opponent to deal with,” Capello said on Radio Anch'Io Sport.
“They’re a humble team, based on organisation and what is clearly the best defence at the European Championships.
“Everyone must be wary of us, because at any moment we can come up with a goal on a free-kick or corner, but above all because we’re very hard to score against.
“There isn’t a team there which is much stronger than all the others. There have been teams who have won, but they haven’t convinced.
“There isn’t an absolutely dominant team, but that often happens in the early stages of the tournament.
“The real games start now, where you start to figure out who the really dangerous teams are and who are the candidates to win.
“We don’t have any star players, but we have the strongest and best-organised defence.
“Defenders like those of Juventus, who know what to do and move in perfect harmony, are very difficult to find.
“We play the ball, we keep it and we have players who can find solutions from defence.
“Don’t compare Italy with Greece [from 2004], we have more quality.
“That Greece was just about defence, with sporadic periods of play which took them all the way to – deservedly – winning the Euros.
“It had nothing to do with what we have at the moment. We have real players, an outstanding goalkeeper and defenders and a midfield which can play.
“The team that wins will be the one that establishes itself at this European Championship.”