Italy CT Roberto Mancini is “optimistic” ahead of the 2020 European Championship but warns “the group isn’t as easy as everyone is saying.”
Italy have been placed in Group A alongside Turkey, Wales and Switzerland, and Mancini believes their opponents could prove to be very dangerous as “all three of them have nothing to lose.”
“The group is not as easy as everyone is saying,” Mancini told Radio Anch’io Sport. “But we can be optimistic. I believe all three of them have nothing to lose.”
Italy CT Roberto Mancini is “optimistic” ahead of the 2020 European Championship but warns “the group isn’t as easy as everyone is saying.”
Italy have been placed in Group A alongside Turkey, Wales and Switzerland, and Mancini believes their opponents could prove to be very dangerous as “all three of them have nothing to lose.”
“The group is not as easy as everyone is saying,” Mancini told Radio Anch’io Sport. “But we can be optimistic. I believe all three of them have nothing to lose.”
“They all have good and young players. Switzerland are always plucky. They know Italian football perfectly well.
“Wales can be surprise packages and Turkey took four points from France in their group in the qualifiers.”
Mancini then confirmed he had decided most of his squad but added he would be open to integrating new talent, particularly in attack.
“The outline of the squad is there. Then, if some young players break out, like a new Paolo Rossi or [Salvatore] Schillaci… we would love that.
“We hope to keep going as well as we are. We don’t just have faith in Immobile, but also in Gallo [Andrea Belotti] and some others.”
Italy raise the curtains for Euro 2020 with a match against Turkey at the Olimpico on June 12.
“I’ve sought to bring back the atmosphere of our ‘magical nights’. We need enthusiasm.
“It’s not easy to always win, even the lesser matches, so positivity is needed around the camp.
“We scored as many as Belgium, so it’s only right to be positive.”