Roberto Mancini has addressed the Italian media in Rome ahead of the Azzurri’s first Euro 2024 qualifier against England at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Thursday evening.
The Italian CT gave his assessment of Italy’s mixed fortunes in International football over the last two years, spoken of the big challenge posed by Gareth Southgate and England and issued a message for the travelling English supporters.
Mancini began by expressing his excitement at the prospect of playing in Naples in front of a crowd who he knows will give the national team their full support.
“We are preparing well,” Mancini began. “Naples will support us with their warmth and we hope it will be a good match. We come off the back of the Nations League which is like a European Championship, where you meet the strongest teams. We have also faced England twice but tomorrow it will be another story and we would like to start the Euro 2024 qualifiers well.
“We went from great joy for winning the European Championship to great disappointment for not participating in the World Cup, which we didn’t deserve. We have qualified twice for the final four of the Nations League and now we have to start from scratch.
“We want to win the Nations League and qualify for the European Championship so we can play as reigning champions.”
Mancini confirmed that Italy will likely stick with the 4-3-3 formation that worked so efficiently in the Euro 2020 Championship.
He said: “We played with a different formation in the Nations League matches, we could still change. But in the 4-3-3 we feel at ease, especially if we want to play a proactive match.”
Speaking on the prospect of playing one of the world’s highest ranked sides in England, Mancini admitted it will be a difficult test and also issued a warning to the travelling cohort of Three Lions supporters.
“By now, It’s become a classic, they have one of the best teams in the world. It’s a list of extraordinary players. Tomorrow will be a very difficult match, we’ll try to play our game. It won’t be easy for both of us.”
“As long as the English fans behave well, there won’t be any problems,” Mancini reminded listeners.
As the first international break of the year, Mancini will be without former assistant Gianluca Vialli for the first time since his death in January, 2023.
The 58-year-old gave a touching tribute to his close friend and former colleague, labelling Vialli as “immortal”.
On his first game without Vialli, Mancini said: “It will be greatly emotional for me. It was a great fortune to have him in our group. What happened is an enormous disappointment. People like him are immortal.”
There was also an update on the available options in the Italian squad, with plenty of choices to make especially in the midfield department.
“In midfield we don’t have big problems,” Mancini confirmed. “We have the usual ones and a huge selection available. They are all good players, some stayed at home and will return. In defence we will have more or less the same players, Bonucci will be missing. I could change something up front but we are looking positive enough.”
Mancini also spoke of Mateo Retegui, who was included in the national team for the first time.
He said: “Coming from Argentina to Italy like this and not playing for a European club side isn’t that simple. It takes some time, but the boy is polite and smart. He’s a good centre-forward, he’s young, we have great trust and we need to give it some time.”
Kick off against England will take place at 19.45 at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples on Thursday evening.