Alessandro Costacurta, European view: “Italy’s goal (and the Donnarumma case)”

In 2018, after the great disappointment due to the non-entry of theItaly at the World Cup, Alessandro Costacurta – at the time in charge of the technical area of National – put on the table a name for the role of coach: Roberto Mancini. A candidacy that found immediate satisfaction of the federal leaders and that, after more than three years, on the eve of the European Championship, it seems to have proved particularly apt. The Azzurri, in fact, play well and have a streak of unbeatenness that is still at an altitude today 27 station, between qualifying matches, Nations League and various friendlies.

But now it gets even more serious:Italy – tra the debacle with the Sweden and the forced break for the Covid – does not participate in a big tournament for five years: «This is definitely one of the reasons why look at this European with even greater curiosity “, Costacurta reveals us, columnist and former champion, on the sidelines of the presentation organized by Sky Sport, official broadcaster of the event that will broadcast – also in 4K HDR with Sky Q Satellite – all 51 games, from 11 June to 11 July. “Then there will be the audience: for over a year we have suffered terribly from the lack ».

Will this be the plus of Euro 2020?
«For months, watching the games on TV, we hear the voices of the players, the screams of the coaches, even the sound of the ball. Well, now I think everyone wants to listen to the choruses and cheers of the people again. Which, albeit still to a lesser extent, will begin to populate the stands again ».

Other good reasons to follow the event?
«The race for the Golden Ball. The Champions League was won by Chelsea who do not have a player who stands out above the others, so the games for winning the prize are open. So the European Championship will become decisive ».

From Mbappé to Cristiano Ronaldo, there is no shortage of champions. Who will shift the balance more?
«My favorites are France and Portugal. England too: however, I have the impression that it will come with the players squeezed by the fatigue of the season. Then immediately below I see Germany, Belgium and Italy ».

Speaking of the Azzurri, where should we set the bar of expectations?
“This year we have all the credentials to get to the bottom: reaching the semifinals would be an excellent goal for the whole movement and for the country, then at that point you can play it”.

Strengths and weaknesses of the Mancini national team?
«I think that a midfield of this level has had it very few other times in history. If the strikers are released, we can make the leap in quality: however, I understand that it is not easy, one thing is playing with the club team and another is hearing the anthem. Which can burden you, but also be a burden ».

Then there is the Donnarumma case: will it be affected by the market situation it is experiencing?
“Honestly, I’m quite critical of how the story ended, but I must admit that in recent months – when there were already persistent rumors of the transfer market and the renewal did not arrive – he has shown that he knows how to keep his concentration and his head on the field” .

As a former AC Milan player, don’t you mind that there are no Rossoneri in the squad? Apart from Donnarumma, which is out.
«Of course, he’s out, but he earned the call-up by playing a great season with Milan. Sorry for Calabria, who has also returned from a super championship, but in that area of ​​the pitch the competition is really tough. Romagnoli, on the other hand, I think he was penalized by physical problems ».

What group will it be for the Azzurri?
«The European, unlike the World Cup, does not have easy matches, there are no“ buffer ”teams, I have also experienced it during my career. So we will have to pay attention to Switzerland and Wales which are terrifying and it will be very important to start well against Turkey which has an insidious striker, Yusuf Yaziki of Lille, who last autumn scored a hat-trick against Milan in the Europa League ».

In such a balanced tournament, could there be any unexpected exploits? Both teams and players.
«The only team that in my opinion can surprise is Holland, as long as it can be considered a surprise. As players, I have signed the Dutch Donyell Malen of PSV and the Swedish Alexander Isak of Real Sociedad: neither of them start in his national team, but I have the feeling that they will become one during the tournament ».

Mourinho, Inzaghi, Ancelotti, Allegri, Sarri, Spalletti: can the waltz of the coaches (in Italy, but not only) be a stimulus for the players?
“Absolutely yes. It is rare to see so many changes on the bench in a top-tier club: it is normal that the players want to try to impress their new coach right away by playing the tournament in a great way ».

One more reason to watch this European.