The European urn was our friend, but watch out for the unexpected and the rebounds of the ball. In a tournament that consumes its spark in a month, anything is possible. Turkey (11 June), Switzerland (16 June) and Wales (20 June): the three games of the Azzurri at the Olimpico in Rome, 270 minutes to play with the goal of the pass for the round of 16, when everything will be decided in the matches direct elimination. But after the last friendly before the tournament – closed with one 4-0 victory over the Czech Republic – let’s find out who our opponents are.
Turkey
Toh, who sees himself. Turkey has been missing in a great tournament since 2008. It is a solid, tough team, which throws it on competitive spirit and builds its matches on the granite strength of defense. The precious piece is our acquaintance, the attacking midfielder Calhanoglu, who has been in Milan for years (but now he could change his shirt). But the Azzurri will have to fear above all the center forward with a gladiator’s physique, Burak Yilmaz, goalscorer of Lille who surprisingly won the French championship. Coach Senol Gunes pretends and preaches humility: “Italy, Wales and Switzerland are ahead in the Fifa Ranking and therefore are stronger than us”. Is there to believe him? Not even.
Switzerland
They know us well, which is why they will be the most difficult to deal with. They are not very talented, but they are very organized, as is the tradition of the Swiss school. The coach, Petkovic (speaks 8 languages, they call him the Doctor and sits on the Swiss bench since 2014), has coached Lazio: he knows how to stop us. And he sets no limits: “Our minimum objective is to qualify for the round of 16”. Switzerland won their qualifying group (D) with 17 points and ahead of Denmark and Ireland, effectively subverting the prediction of the eve. The star of the team is Arsenal playmaker Xhaka, sweet foot and always shot in the barrel. He has been attending Serie A Freuler for years, a midfield motor that plays a fundamental role in Atalanta. In our history we have faced the Swiss 18 times, the first even at the 1924 Olympics.
He Wales
Never trust the Welsh Dragons, who are running for the tournament’s possible surprise. After all, in the previous edition of 2016 the Welsh reached the semifinal by surprise. Two showcase names. The first is that of Bale, the ace that Real Madrid bought for the stratospheric sum of 101 million euros still knows how to be decisive, despite his career is declining towards the avenue of the sunset. The other name is that of Ramsey, Juventus midfielder: he too comes from a couple of seasons in chiaroscuro, but the talent is crystal clear. Pride is not lacking, even the desire to amaze. Wales approaches the European Championship with some torment: accused of attacking two women, the coach Giggs has been relieved of his post, in his place there is Page. In the FIFA ranking, Wales is in 18th place. Nine direct matches with the Azzurri, 7 victories for Italy and 2 for Wales, the last in 2002.
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