Italy won its second European title on Sunday after 1968. In the final, Squadra Azzurra defeated England, at home at Wembley, during the penalty shoot-out (1-1, 3 tab in 2).

It is the culmination of three years of work by coach Roberto Mancini, to whom the Italians owe a lot.

It was not necessary to go very far in the end to detect the European champion nation. Italy, victorious in the opening match of the Euro against Turkey (3-0 on June 11), closed the competition on English soil on Sunday by winning in the final against England in London (1-1 , 3 tab to 2). A result that was not really expected on the other side of the Alps. Italy was in full reconstruction since its very noticeable absence at the last World Cup in Russia in 2018. Taken over by Roberto Mancini, former coach of Inter Milan and Manchester City in particular, Squadra Azzurra has transformed to display his best face during the competition. The Italian tactician gave her back the keys to lead her to the top of European football.

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Unconventional mental work

This victory, Italy owes it first and foremost to the long-term work of Roberto Mancini.

Winner several times of the Italian championship with Inter, the technician was the man for the job to straighten out a Squadra Azzurra stammering a few years.

After the resounding failure against Sweden in the 2018 World Cup play-offs, Mancini, just in post, instilled confidence and new enthusiasm in his selection.

Thanks to the work of his staff and in particular of Gianluca Vialli, his great friend since their joint adventure at Sampdoria in Genoa in the 1980s, Roberto Mancini has made his players progress mentally.

First by putting the selection back on the right track after the debacle of the non-qualification for the 2018 World Cup, but also by restoring strength to the Italians at the decisive moment.

This is how the Nazionale won in two penalty shootouts in this Euro, in the semi-final against Spain (1-1, 4 tab to 2) then in the final, where it was even led at the score at half-time (0-1).

A very playful Squadra Azzurra

His result would not have been possible without a revolution in his game. This is how Roberto Mancini proceeded at the time at the helm of the selection. With the help of a hard-working and technical midfielder made up of PSG's Marco Verratti, Chelsea's Jorginho and Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella, the Squadra began to develop a pleasant collective and offensive game against this. that she was producing until then. A revolution for the country of "catenaccio" which has nevertheless kept its defensive automatisms with the experienced and tireless hinge Leonardo Bonucci (34 years) and Giorgio Chiellini (36 years).

Italy have become one of the best attacks in the Euro with 13 goals, including seven in the group stage and without conceding in the first three matches.

Statistics that validate the state of mind desired by Mancini: the Nazionale concluded Sunday against England a 34th consecutive game without defeat with the draw at the end of extra time (1-1).

The biggest series in the history of Squadra Azzurra which comes at the right time for the second European title in the history of Italy.

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Gianluigi Donnarumma, Italy's new hero

During the Euro, Italy also discovered a hero in the person of Gianluigi Donnarumma, a young 22-year-old goalkeeper who is preparing to join PSG at the start of the school year. Carrying this first name, as a replacement for the charismatic Gianluigi Buffon, winner of the 2006 World Cup, was not easy for him. Donnarumma, however, showed a steel mind in hot situations, turning into a savior of the nation during the shootouts. In the semifinals, he stopped the decisive attempt by Spaniard Alvaro Morata to send his country to the Euro final. The young goalkeeper put it back a few days later, disrupting Marcus Rashford's run and then parrying two strikes, including that of young Englishman Bukayo Saka which ultimately gave the victory to Italy.

[VIDEO] # EURO2020 # ITAENG


ITALY IS EUROPEAN CHAMPION !!!!!!!!!


AZZURRI WIN ON GOAL SHOTS AGAINST THREE LIONS!

pic.twitter.com/pKw9AjKfvU

- beIN SPORTS (@beinsports_FR) July 11, 2021

As a symbol, Gianluigi Donnarumma was voted best player of the competition.

As a symbol too, the young goalkeeper appeared very measured on his goal line when he stopped the decisive shot and made his country win.

The sign of a considerable level of maturity at only 22 years.

"I have great regard for him," said Dino Zoff, one of his glorious predecessors.

"The evidence is that he has important prospects to become a great goalkeeper. Then it will depend on him, but the possibilities are immense," he continued in an interview with AFP, a few days before the final.

What to talk about a bright future for Donnarumma, and why not from next season with PSG.

Individualities at the rendezvous

Beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma, Roberto Mancini has put his field players in the best shape for the Euro. He was initially able to count on an always solid defensive hinge, with Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini, revenge of the final of Euro 2012 lost against Spain (0-4). Against England, the two players made their contribution: by leveling for Bonucci in the 67th, by stopping with a lot of cunning the English striker Raheem Sterling at the end of the match for Chiellini. Two experienced defenders very difficult to puncture for the English who only got a few chances on Sunday night.

In the same way, the Italian collective game made individualities shine. In midfield, hub Jorginho, although he felt awkward, allowed Italy to get the game going again thanks to his interceptions. Situations from which the Parisian Marco Verratti has benefited greatly, directing the game as he pleases very regularly. Italy also owes a lot to the explosion of Juventus Turin striker Federico Chiesa, scorer in particular in the semi-final and author of a remarkable game again on Sunday, with two big scoring chances, including the second well pushed back by the English goalkeeper Jordan Pickford (35th, 62nd).

Another sign of the individualities at the rendezvous: five Italian players - Chiesa, Locatelli, Pessina, Insigne, Immobile - scored two goals during the competition. Individual talents who have put themselves at the service of the collective, and that is what allowed Squadra Azzurra to win in the final. The technician Roberto Mancini and his staff have managed to administer a great dose of confidence, footballing and mental, to their players in the space of three years. A promising masterpiece for the rest of the history of the Nazionale, and in particular the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Mancini's contract had been extended until 2026 even before the start of the Euro.