Euro 2020: Italy, Spain, Germany, giants in reconstruction
Italy's Giorgio Chiellini, Spaniard Alvaro Morata, Germans Joachim Löw and Timo Werner, before Euro 2021. © Getty Images
Text by: Tom Rossi Follow
7 mins
Less than a week before the start of Euro 2020 football (June 11-July 11), RFI is interested in three European giants in reconstruction after recent failures: Italy, Spain and Germany.
If they don't seem as strong as they used to be, these selections are going to go far.
And they have the means.
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After reviewing
the favorites for Euro 2020
(June 11-July 11), France, England, Belgium and Portugal, RFI details the strengths and weaknesses of Italy, Spain and the 'Germany.
Large selections in full mutation, but which we will have to be very wary of.
Like always.
Germany wants to forget the Russian fiasco
Quadruple world champion, the German team is historically placed automatically in the contending teams for the title.
His victory at the 2014 World Cup and his semi-final at Euro 2016 could carry on the tradition, except that the "Mannschaft" remains traumatized by its pitiful elimination in the
first round of the 2018 World Cup in Russia
, a first since 1932 .
The Germans stunned after their defeat against Mexico (1-0), June 17, 2018. REUTERS / Christian Hartmann
A revolution was expected.
It did not take place.
The coach since 2006, Joachim Löw, whose possession football, often purring, annoys in Germany, is still in place.
He will be replaced after Euro 2021 by Hansi Flick, his former assistant and former Bayern Munich coach.
Joachim Löw tried to breathe new life into the game by no longer calling former Mats Hummels (Dortmund) and Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich), but he reversed his decision.
1: 1 against Denmark.
Good match but we have to work in some details until the start of # em2020.
⚽️👍🏼 #GERDEN #DFB #Comeback #esmuellert pic.twitter.com/XulakFTaLL
- Thomas Müller (@esmuellert_) June 2, 2021
This selection therefore does not lack experience with the contribution also of die-hard Manuel Neuer (Bayern), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) and İlkay Gündoğan (Manchester City). But also young, very talented players who play in the biggest clubs like Bayern Munich: Leroy Sané, Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka. The latter two strengthen even more a midfielder which can be considered as the densest in Europe.
Offensively, if Timo Werner (Chelsea) is more talked about for his missed opportunities than his exploits, the performance of his teammate Kai Havertz is reassuring.
With defender Antonio Rüdiger, they have just won the Champions
League
and will therefore approach this Euro with confidence.
This is what Germany will need before facing France, Portugal and Hungary in the pool, and after two very worrying defeats in Spain, in November (6-0) and against North Macedonia, March 31 (1-2).
A new Spain, still a little tight
Spain is struggling to turn the page of its golden generation crowned at the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships. Since then, the "Roja" has not left the pools at the 2014 World Cup and has not managed to overtake the round of 16 at Euro 2016 and
the 2018 World Cup
.
Under the leadership of Luis Enrique, the selection is rebuilt with the arrival of a new generation without a big star and without a Real Madrid player for the first time in its history, because of the absence of Sergio Ramos, weighed down by the injuries.
The former French international hope Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City) must come to fill the lack of experience of a Spanish defense lacking benchmarks.
🚨 OFICIAL |
¡¡¡NUESTRA SELECCIÓN !!!
🇪🇸 Estos son los 24 futbolistas que defenderán los colores de la @SeFutbol en la # EURO2020.
💪🏻 ¡¡Vuestro grito de ánimo será nuestra energía en la lucha por el Campeonato de Europa !! # SomosEspaña # SomosFederación pic.twitter.com/KY87e0im3p
- Selección Española de Fútbol (@SeFutbol) May 24, 2021
But Laporte does not have the experience of a Sergio Busquets (FC Barcelona) who will supervise his young teammate Pedri in the midfield, supported by Koke (Atlético de Madrid), Thiago Alcantara (Liverpool) or Rodri (Manchester City).
Up front, it is Alvaro Morata (Juventus) who will guide his still little-known teammates Dani Olmo (Leipzig) and Ferran Torres (Manchester City).
This Spanish team is not lacking in talent, but brings together more in a laboratory for the 2022 World Cup, or even Euro 2024, than a selection ready to lift a trophy this year.
Leaving a group including Sweden (without Zlatan Ibrahimovic), Slovakia and Poland of Robert Lewandowski, however, seems largely within reach.
So why not consider a beautiful course on which the “Roja” can then capitalize.
Italy and its breath of fresh air
The shock of autumn 2017 now seems to have been digested.
After its non-qualification for the 2018 World Cup, Italy made its small revolution by ousting its coach Gian Piero Ventura and the president of its Federation Carlo Tavecchio.
Roberto Mancini, former Manchester City coach has taken the reins and seems to have succeeded in his reconstruction project.
#Nazionale 🇮🇹
📸 La foto ufficiale degli #Azzurri 📸 @ pumafootball # EURO2020 #VivoAzzurro pic.twitter.com/9xhLBAxdLy
- Nazionale Italiana ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Vivo_Azzurro) June 2, 2021
In three years, Mancini has started 33 new players.
This wide openness allowed him to make an informed choice in view of this Euro, without compromising the performance of a selection which remains on 26 matches without defeat.
As a good captain, defender Leonardo Bonucci is there to supervise a team that still lacks benchmarks, but no talent, like Spain.
The names of Nicolo Barella (Inter), Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo), Matteo Pessina (Atalanta), Moise Kean (PSG) should resonate several times this summer.
Without forgetting the more experienced Marco Verratti (PSG) and the goalscorer Ciro Immobile, author of 25 goals this season with Lazio, and in competition with Andrea Belotti (Torino).
We are 7️⃣ days from the start of # EURO2020 !!!
#VivoAzzurro 🇮🇹 pic.twitter.com/VvVYrYj1ep
- NAZIONALE FR 🇮🇹⚽️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@VivoAzzurro__) June 4, 2021
If Italy extricates itself from a fairly tough group made up of Turkey, Wales and Switzerland, it could be one of the good surprises of this Euro 2021. To achieve this, it can count on the support of its supporters during the group stage since it will play all three matches in Rome.
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