Italy midfielder Marco Verratti says Antonio Conte’s men will go to Euro 2016 – ‘with the intention of trying to win it’.
The Azzurri were disappointing in the 2014 World Cup, crashing out at the group stage, but the playmaker believes things will be different this time.
“We’ll go to the European Championships with the intention of trying to win it, even though there will be really strong teams, and our national team is at a delicate stage,” Verratti declared in an interview with Goal.
Italy midfielder Marco Verratti says Antonio Conte’s men will go to Euro 2016 – ‘with the intention of trying to win it’.
The Azzurri were disappointing in the 2014 World Cup, crashing out at the group stage, but the playmaker believes things will be different this time.
“We’ll go to the European Championships with the intention of trying to win it, even though there will be really strong teams, and our national team is at a delicate stage,” Verratti declared in an interview with Goal.
“Once we’re in France we’ll give everything to win.
“Conte? He prepares every game very well, he’s tactically among the best around, compared with other great Coaches who are more about management of the squad.
“Conte focuses a lot on motivation, with him you’ll only play if you deserve it. When I met him for the first time, I heard him asking for sacrifice from the whole team.
“He rarely talks to individuals, he prefers to address the whole group.”
Verratti is seen by many as the heir to Andrea Pirlo, but the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder expects the veteran to be at Euro 2016.
“Despite his transfer to MLS [with New York City FC], I think he’ll be part of the squad for the European Championships.
“He’s still in great shape, and to have him in the team can only be a good thing for us. We talked a little bit about his possible move to America, before it became official.
“It was his first choice, he wanted to experience a different kind of football and way of life. Someone like him can really raise the level of many clubs.”