SCOUTING REPORT

Manager

Roberto Mancini

Managed Inter and Manchester City to league titles and has brought a calm, assuredness to the national team. Defence-first ideology gets results.

Record P 31 W 22 D 7 L 2 All games

Strengths

• Home advantage through the group stage

• A classy keeper behind a hugely experienced defence

• They will pass teams into submission

Weaknesses

• Lack a world-class striker

• They come with few secrets

• Relying on an ageing core

Prospects

Three group games in Rome – where they haven’t lost since 2013 – ought to yield a top-placed finish in Group A and the prospect of a quarter-final against Belgium in Munich.

Inside info

Ciro Buono

Roberto Mancini’s possessionbased football saw Italy win all ten of their qualifying games. Chelsea’s Jorginho, Inter’s Nicolo Barella, and PSG midfielder Marco Verratti are key players in the 4-3-3 formation. In Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy have one of the best goalkeepers of his generation and, as ever, they will be defensively sound. The lack of a top striker could prevent them from reaching the final stages.