Milan (AFP)
Italy coach Roberto Mancini said on Sunday that he has no objection to the postponement of the European Nations Championship from 2020 to 2021 due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus.
"If we could win the European Championship this summer, we can also win it in 2021," said Mancini on Rai Sport TV.
"We are awaiting the decision by UEFA, but I will adapt to everything. For the time being the priority is to save lives," continued the former international from Sampdoria and Lazio.
The European body meets Tuesday to discuss the possibility of a postponement or cancellation of national, continental competitions as well as Euro-2020, normally scheduled from June 12 to July 12 in twelve European countries.
Italy is scheduled to host the opening match in Rome on June 12.
All sporting events in Italy scheduled for April 3 have been postponed or canceled due to the pandemic which has so far left 1,809 people dead and more than 24,000 infected in the peninsula.
"The fact is that the problems we are facing now will be faced by other countries soon," said the former Manchester City and Inter Milan coach. "Above all we have to protect people's health, we have to wait for the peak (of the epidemic) and then when the situation improves we can start talking and making decisions."
"When we get back to normal life in football, we will be happier, we will feel free, we can go back to the stadium and have fun," said the 55-year-old technician. "These dramatic situations can make us better. I hope so."
Italy, quadruple world champion, won only one European Championship in 1968.
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