Roberto Mancini assures Italy ‘want to win the group’ with a victory against Wales, but being runner-up could be more beneficial for the Azzurri going forward at Euro 2020.
They have six points from two games so far in Group A and go head-to-head with Wales on Sunday at 17.00 UK time, the Dragons on four points.
The winners of Group A will meet the runners-up of Group C in the Round of 16, which would probably be Ukraine or Austria.
The path from then on would be trickier, most likely running into Belgium, then France in the semi-final.
On the other hand, the runners-up in Group A would face the team that finished second in Group B, so between Finland, Russia and Denmark.
The quarter-finals can bring the Netherlands, then someone between England, Portugal, France and Spain for the semi-finals.
Nonetheless, Mancini assured Sky Sport Italia today that he has no intention of holding back or handing the top spot to Wales, especially as it would mean ending Italy’s 29-game unbeaten run.
A point will be enough to secure first place in Group A.