“I’m not interested in the record,” Mancini said before the European Championship, and added with a smile: “I would be interested in becoming world and Olympic champion twice like him. But for now the European title is enough for me.” It is mainly thanks to Mancini that this no longer seems to be a utopia for the four-time world champion. He took over the team at the absolute lowest point in their recent history, after missing the 2018 World Cup. In his three years in office, the 56-year-old has done remarkable work. He called over 70 players, tinkered with the squad, gave young talents a chance and formed a team that is more than competitive again.
The result are the so far so thrilling appearances at this EM. With three wins with 7-0 goals, Italy made it to the round of 16 on Saturday (9 p.m.) in London’s Wembley Stadium against Austria – and also played beautiful football. “This Italy makes us dream,” enthused the “Gazzetta dello Sport”.
Cultural change as one of the greatest successes
This cultural change is one of Mancini’s greatest successes. Nominally, the team is similar to the one that missed World Cup qualification in 2017, but a completely different team is on the field. “He’s changed the team’s mentality. He makes us feel good on the pitch, we don’t feel any pressure. He’s made a family of us,” said defender Francesco Acerbi.
The statics of the Italian game have also changed under Mancini. While the Sdeuroper have long been known for their defensive tactics Catenaccio, the current team plays aggressively and courageously, even after a lead. “We always want to attack with as many players as possible,” said Mancini, describing his idea. The passion and team spirit as well as the clear plan followed by the selection on the pitch are also noticeable.
Winning rate of more than 70 percent
The record of the last eleven wins in a row with 32-0 goals reads impressive. With a win rate of over 70 percent, Mancini is already Italy’s most successful national coach. “From the very beginning, the coach has put a new mentality into the players’ heads: Dare to attack, be dominant and play beautifully without ever stopping, even if you are leading,” said the “Gazzetta dello Sport”. And after the 3-0 opening of the European Championship against Turkey, the newspaper headlined: “The Azzurri are attacking and having fun: Mancini has conquered everyone.”
As a club coach, the father of three grown children was not always successful. After winning championship titles with Inter Milan and Manchester City, his trips to Galatasaray Istanbul and Zenit St. Petersburg were less successful.
The respect and recognition for the charismatic and always elegantly dressed ex-national striker have increased enormously in the country of the four-time world champion. The enthusiasm for the strong EM performance was just as huge among the spectators in the stadium in Rome as the joy of the people in the country, as the TV ratings show.
Final as a declared goal
Now the final on July 11th at London’s Wembley Stadium is the declared goal. “Anything can happen in football,” said the coach, even if, in his opinion, his team is still a little short of the big teams.
The already equalized record of Pozzo, which marked the most successful era of Italian football with the World Cup titles in 1934 and 1938 and the Olympic victory in 1936, Mancini was able to beat Austria on Saturday. Goalkeeper legend Dino Zoff has already judged: “He has everything he needs to overtake Pozzo. But I’m not worried about that. What counts is the result at the European Championships.”
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
