Euro: Donnarumma, Bonucci, Insigne ... the key players of Italy

Squadra Azzurra, which will face England in the Euro final on Sunday night at Wembley, are backed by a strong and talented team.

Europe 1 takes a look at Italy's major players, from young goalkeeper Donnarumma to center-back pair Chiellini-Bonucci, to twirling winger Insigne. 

DECRYPTION

Thanks to them, Italy has returned to the forefront.

Three years after the trauma of not qualifying for the 2018 World Cup, Squadra Azzurra has spectacularly recovered to reach the Euro final on Sunday night against England.

Masterfully led by coach Roberto Mancini, the Nazionale has impressed since the start of the competition with its pressing, its offensive going and a very spectacular play in sequences.

This rebirth is based more on a perfectly oiled collective, where each player fully respects his role, than on stars.

Italy still have some great talents, such as goalkeeper Donnarumma, midfielder Jorginho or winger Insigne.

Europe 1 reviews the key players of this great Italian team. 

The Gianluigi Donnarumma wall in the cages

At only 22 years old, Gianluigi Donnarumma is already a taulier of Squadra Azzurra. The tall goalkeeper, by height (1 m 96) and talent, never ceases to impress and climb the ranks at full speed. At AC Milan, he disgusted many opposing attackers with his spectacular saves and greatly contributed to the qualification of the Rossoneri in the Champions League (second in Serie A behind Inter). With the national team, he is just as essential and is in line with his predecessor, the legendary Gianluigi Buffon. 

"Gigio" Donnarumma was even the man of the match for Italy against Spain in the semi-finals (1-1 ap, 4 tab to 2), with several decisive saves and especially his decisive save on the shot in the goal of Alvaro Morata, on the fourth Spanish attempt.

The young goalkeeper has all the qualities of a modern goalkeeper, even if his kicking game can still be improved.

In any case, his talent has not escaped PSG, where he should sign a long-term contract after the Euro, after having left AC Milan free.

Before that, he could afford his first major title with Italy. 

The stainless pair of central defenders Chiellini-Bonucci

The Italian defense does not only have a good goalkeeper.

She also has one of the best and most experienced pairs of center-backs in the world, along with veterans Giorgio Chiellini, who is also the squadra captain, and Leonardo Bonucci.

The two friends, who have made Juventus Turin happy for years, shone throughout the Euro.

Against Spain, they stepped up interventions and rescues while the Italian boat kept swaying in the face of the waves of La Roja. 

They will have to share their experience once again on Sunday, against young and twirling English strikers Raheem Sterling, Bukayo Saka or Jadon Sancho, not to mention star scorer Harry Kane.

A mission largely in the ropes of the "old" Chiellini and Bonucci, respectively 36 and 34 years old. 

>> TO LISTEN - Italy: Chiellini / Bonucci, the foundations of success?

Jorginho, the midfielder's metronome

Sunday's final also promises a great battle in midfield.

Italy is well supplied in this sector of play with obviously the Parisian Marco Verratti and the young nugget of Inter Milan Nicolo Barella.

But the essential piece of the puzzle put together by Roberto Mancini is called Jorginho.

The Brazilian-born player has asserted himself, as with his Chelsea club, which he led to victory in the Champions League, as a real metronome that sets the tempo of the match.

Often forgotten when we cite the best circles in the world, the discreet Jorginho is nevertheless part of the cream of the crop. 

This true shadow worker, as comfortable recovering as he is with the ball, impresses all his partners.

"With Jorginho, everything seems simple. He is essential to this team, untouchable", ecstatic Marco Verratti.

The 29-year-old midfielder also knows how to take responsibility: it was he who scored the decisive penalty shootout against Spain, qualifying his team for the final.

He will once again be indispensable at Squadra Azzurra on Sunday evening at Wembley. 

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Insigne and Chiesa, the little wingers with great talent 

Italy may not have stars in its squad, as it may have been in the past with Buffon, Pirlo, Totti or Del Piero, but it still has individualities that can rock a match. . In attack, it was two small wingers, Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Chiesa, who showed all their talent during this Euro. The first named, emblematic player of Napoli where he spent his entire career, is in full force of age, at 30 years old. The left winger of one meter 63 is an indisputable holder, technically formidable and very fast. He is also decisive as evidenced by his two goals against Turkey in the opening, and especially in the quarter-finals against Belgium with a fabulous curl right in the top corner. With his ability to return to the axis to get on his right foot,it should give headaches to the formidable English defense, which has only taken one goal so far. 

To find the fault, the Neapolitan will be accompanied by one of the revelations of this Euro: Federico Chiesa. The son of Enrico, former striker of the Italian team, fully assumes his prestigious lineage and asserts himself as the present and the future of Squadra Azzurra. The twirling winger of Juventus Turin, where he has been one of the few satisfactions this season, was not however starting at the start of the competition. But his starts were successful, especially against Austria in the round of 16 where he scored ten minutes after taking a place on the pitch. The 23-year-old right-hander has started in the quarter-finals and did not disappoint, with a magnificent goal following a perfect streak against Spain. Barring any surprises, he should be in the starting 11 again on Sunday against England.