After a five-year major tournament absence, Italy became the first side to reach the Euro 2020 knockout stage. Richard Jolly looks at how Robert Mancini has overseen an incredible turnaround.
Though Italy had yet to join it, World War II was a couple of months old when the longest unbeaten run in Azzurri history was ended. Italy had not lost in 30 games, or over four years, in a time that included their 1938 World Cup triumph, until Switzerland triumphed 3-1 in 1939.
Vittorio Pozzo’s record rarely seemed safer than in recent years. Gian Piero Ventura’s reign ended amid the ignominy and the historic low of Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
Roberto Mancini lost his second game in charge, and then his fifth. And then he stopped losing.
Italy arrived at Euro 2020 undefeated in 27 games; the opening 3-0 win against Turkey made it 28, victory over Switzerland by the score made it 29.
Ten consecutive wins, each with a clean sheet. They had only conceded nine shots on target in those 10 clean sheets; just three of those were from within the six-yard box and one of them was from an acute angle.
When the final whistle blew against Turkey, they had gone 875 minutes without conceding.
Part of Italy’s improvement under Mancini has been defensive. They conceded the fewest goals (two) of any of the 16 teams in League A of the Nations League in the autumn and the fewest shots (7.7 per game).
In Euro 2020 qualifying, only Belgium conceded fewer goals than their four; only Belgium and Ukraine had a higher save percentage that Italy’s 85.7.
By the Nations League last autumn, Insigne had emerged as the creator-in-chief. He recorded three assists and his average of 3.8 key passes per game was the most in the top flight of the Nations League.
At the other end, Giorgio Chiellini does more of the traditional defending. Even though he has played fewer games this season than his Juventus team-mate Leonardo Bonucci, Chiellini has made more challenges, more defensive challenges and more aerial challenges.
Bonucci’s reading of the game means he tops the team charts for ball recoveries. He has far more interceptions than Chiellini.
Euro 2020 Winner odds ()
- France - 7/2
- England - 5/1
- Belgium - 6/1
- Italy - 6/1
- Portugal - 15/2
Odds correct at 0800 BST (17/06/2021)
The caveat in any run in international football is that the standard of opposition can vary. It is worth noting that, apart from a two-minute cameo by Barella, Italy’s regulars sat out the 7-0 thrashing of San Marino, so it has not warped their personal statistics.
But, while they have an outstanding record against those they have met, draws have tended to keep them away from the supposed best. They have beaten Holland (17th in the world rankings), Poland (21st), Turkey (29th), Finland (54th) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (55th) in their revival under Mancini.
Italy will have to defeat higher-ranked teams if they are to cap their renaissance with silverware.
More from Sporting Life
Safer gambling
We are committed in our support of safer gambling. Recommended bets are advised to over-18s and we strongly encourage readers to wager only what they can afford to lose.
If you are concerned about your gambling, please call the National Gambling Helpline / on 0808 8020 133.
Further support and information can be found at and .