Danilo D’Ambrosio’s versatility could have been handy for Roberto Mancini, but the Italy coach somehow decided to drop the Inter defender, writes Richard Hall.
D’Ambrosio is quite simply Mr Dependable. He has been the model professional at Inter for seven years and whilst he may not have been able to lock down a place in the first XI at all times, he has been ready when asked to perform.
A superb athlete, the 32-year-old keeps himself in top shape and there is a certain safety to his play that calms the rest of the team.
For Roberto Mancini, he would have offered much at Euro 2020, not only because the coach knows him but also because he is a utility player who could fill in as full-back, wing-back or as a central defender, if needed. He is mature and experienced and whilst he may not set the world on fire, he is a footballer with quality and poise.
The fact that he was coming off the back of winning the Scudetto for the first time in his career would only instil belief in him that he could have been one of the senior heads in the summer tournament. The former Torino full-back is always ready to put in the work and his intelligence on the pitch has grown year on year.
One should not forget he does also pop up with the odd late goal – remember under Stefano Pioli and his ability to save Inter, or more recently in the crazy 4-3 game against Juventus. These goals are no fluke either. They are testament to his incredible engine and never say die attitude; his belief in his own ability is certainly there even if, in the past, others may not have believed enough.
Some might say he is past his best but it’s worth asking how relevant that would he have been for the Azzurri. D’Ambrosio is capable of fulfilling a number of roles, which could have been useful. Perhaps his final ball into the box is not always the best but there is a strong argument to say that this has improved greatly in recent years.
Mancini included him in the preliminary 33-man squad for the Euros, but dropped him after the friendly against San Marino. His holidays will begin early at the end of a season where he has little to regret.