The return of Magical Nights. 31 years after the last time, Italy finds itself playing a major tournament on the lawn of the Stadio Olimpico, albeit in a very different context. To begin with, it is not a question of a World Cup of our own, but of first traveling European in history, divided between 11 cities. One of these is precisely the blue capital, which will host four matches: Italy's three in the group stage and the quarter-final on 3 July. The stands, unfortunately, will only be filled to 25% of capacity, but this, after a year of closed stadiums, is good news, in the light of the 17 fans ready to push the boys from Mancini, even if a strong Turkish presence is also expected.
“It would have been better to have many more people given how the Covid situation is evolving – the Jesi coach thought – A full stadium would have given us an extra boost, but this is already a first step that we are very pleased about. Now that things are looking better it's time to give some satisfactions, our goal will be above all this: we will try to do our best”.
Very delicate match this against Turkey, because the first game, in such a short tournament, can direct an entire journey, in one direction or another. Furthermore, Group A promises to be very balanced, even if Italy, both in terms of emblem and technical values, is certainly the favorite compared to Turkey, Switzerland and Wales. We start with Senol Gunes' team, in 29th place in the world rankings (the Azzurri are seventh) but full of important and well-known players, above all Calhanoglu, Demiral and the fresh French champions Yazici and Yilmaz.
“They are full of talent, we have to respect them – he warned Mancini – The debut is always difficult, it will be essential to be mentally free. Too much enthusiasm around us? It's right that the fans do this, it can be important for us, provided we know exactly what to do."
The technician, who had to say yesterday farewell to Lorenzo Pellegrini (flexor problem) and replace it with Castrovilli, knows well that he has generated a climate of great confidence, son of 27 consecutive useful results (minus 3 from Vittorio Pozzo's record), the last 8 even without conceding a goal, but he is equally aware that, from today, another game begins : a flop at the European Championship, in fact, would cancel in an instant what was done previously.
From today, in short, it's getting serious and Mancini, net of theinjured Verratti (will try to get him back for Switzerland next Wednesday), will field his 4-3-3 type with Donnarumma in goal, Florence, Bonucci, Chiellini e Spinazzola in defence, Stretcher, Jorginho e Locatelli in midfield, Berardi, Property e Insigne in attack. 4-1-4-1 instead for Turkey, who will respond with Cakir between the posts, Celik, Demiral, Soyuncu and Meras in the back, Yokuslu in the midfield, Karaman, Tufan, Yazici and Calhanoglu in the trocar, Yilmaz the lone striker.
It will start tomorrow the real European, with an average of three games a day (15pm, 18pm and 21pm) and all our opponents on the pitch. Yes, because Gravina's declared goal is the Wembley final on 11 July and to get there it will be necessary to overcome various obstacles, some extremely fierce. There France starts with the favors of the forecast, partly because he is the reigning world champion, a lot because of a very strong squad, which can count on top players of the caliber of Mbappé, Benzema, Griezmann, Pogba and Kanté, just to name a few.
But the Les Bleus are not the only ones to scare: to keep an eye on, in fact, there are also the Belgium by Lukaku, Hazard and De Bruyne, England by Kane, Sterling and Foden, the Spain by Dani Olmo, Gerard Moreno and Ferran Torres, the Germany by Kroos, Muller and Gnabry, not forgetting the Portugal by Cristiano Ronaldo and the Netherlands by Depay.
Anything else to report? Surely the Croatia by Modric (finalist at the World Cup in Russia), Ukraine of the Shevchenko-Tassotti couple and the Poland by Lewandowski, while the Sweden, an orphan of Ibra, is a little less scary (at least on paper). Twenty-four teams, 51 matches, 11 host countries, all in search of the most important place, the one that will allow, for the next 3 years, to look down on Europe.
