Italy are the first nation to qualify for the knockout stages of Euro 2020 thanks to their three group stage wins.
His collective game is appealing, but is it enough to make him a possible favorite of the competition?
Squadra Azzura will first have to confirm their performance away from home.
Seven goals scored, none conceded, and above all a faultless one with three wins in three matches ... The figures highlight the Italian team, which easily qualified for the knockout stages of Euro 2020 in first place in its group A, ahead of Wales, Switzerland and Turkey.
Squadra Azzura will face the runner-up in Group C, either Ukraine or Austria.
An opponent within the reach of the Italian selection of Roberto Mancini, who seduced in the game since the start of the competition.
Marco Verratti's partners impress, even applying as possible favorites for the Euro.
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An offensive and seductive Squadra Azzura
On what they showed in the group stage, Squadra Azzura has everything to go far. Carried forward, unusual for the nation of the "catenaccio" - very defensive tactic - Italy managed to become the best attack of the competition with seven goals. The particularity: five different players have scored at least one goal. Midfielder Matteo Pessina as well as forwards Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne and Domenico Berardi (also involved in Italy's three goals against Turkey) all showed their effectiveness in finding the loophole. It is also necessary to underline the offensive contribution of the midfielder of Sassuolo, Manuel Locatelli, author of a double against Switzerland (3-0).
Good performances validated by a solid Nazionale defensively. Italy have not taken goals since the start of the competition. It does not have big stars in its ranks but it relies on a very experienced defense, made up of Giorgio Chiellini (36 years old) and Leonardo Bonucci (34 years old). And that's without counting on the impeccable performance of the young international-class goalkeeper, Gianluigi Donnarumma (22), who will play with PSG next season. The Squadra should also gain momentum with the return of Marco Veratti, who made a successful comeback in the third qualifying game against Wales: author of an assist, he is the player who touched the most balls (136), made the most passes (103) and created the most chances (5). Promising, therefore.
The successes of Italy in attack finally come from a change of mindset wanted by Roberto Mancini, former coach of Manchester City and Inter Milan.
Since the tactician's arrival in the national team in 2018, Squadra Azzura has scored more goals and conceded fewer.
By winning their last group match against Wales on Sunday (1-0), the Nazionale signed their 30th game in a row without defeat.
A capital performance that turns the page on the disillusionment of 2018, where Italy had failed to qualify for the World Cup under the orders of Gian Pero Ventura.
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Next reveal: on the outside, tougher opponents
Italy can therefore allow themselves to dream of a good course at Euro 2020. But the knockout phase which begins on June 26 will be a new revelation for the Nazionale. Marco Verratti's teammates had the advantage of playing their three group matches at home, carried by their home crowd. It will be quite different for the future, where Squadra Azzura will travel to London for the round of 16 before possibly joining the Allianz Arena in Munich in the quarter-finals. Even if the most ardent tifosi will make the trip, it will be a new test for the Italian selection which will evolve far from its land.
Finally, with its stranglehold at home, Italy has not yet had real opponents at its height in Group A. The failure of Turkey, the fragility of Switzerland and its technical superiority over Wales reduced to 10 made it easier for him.
Although its performances have been convincing, the Squadra Azzura will have to confirm against tougher opponents, at least from the quarter-finals.
After Ukraine or Austria in 8th, the Nazionale could meet Belgium in the next round.
A major challenge for the Italians, who will then remember their confrontation won at Euro 2016 in the group stage (2-0).
Italy at the table of the great
While it may be too early to speak of a favorite, therefore, Italy still appears largely at the level of the nations expected for the final title. It is doing at least as well as Belgium, first in Group B with two victories, which however doubted against Denmark before finally winning (1-2). The Netherlands also seduced with two wins in Group C, but the Dutch still conceded many scoring chances, like their entry into contention against Ukraine (3-2).
Another country presented as favorite: France of Didier Deschamps, obviously.
But the Blues are still struggling to take off despite one of the finest numbers in the tournament.
If their first match against Germany (1-0) was successful, the Blues stuck in Hungary in a hot stadium (1-1).
They still position themselves at the head of the "death group" of this Euro 2020.
Compared to these three title-contending nations, Italy made a better impression at the start of the competition.
His team play has always been there and he seems more effective than ever.
It will nevertheless be necessary to monitor its ability to adapt in a setting other than its own, and against these great European teams, to assess its real chances of final victory.