(by Francesco Matera) A dream that can become reality for the Italian national team, the European final is really one step away, Spain is the last obstacle. What we have seen is a beautiful and strong national team who know how to play good football and suffer at the same time, showing everyone that they are a team. He knows how to vertically fill all the spaces on the pitch and above all manage the game by changing his tactical attitude during the match. A test of maturity that will take Mancini's team very far and not just to the Europeans.
Thus Nicola Barella commented on the semifinal match with the Spaniards: “It will be a beautiful and difficult challenge, between two teams that look alike, both always want the ball of the game, so we will do everything to catch it and make our opponents go out of time. The Spain that won the European Championship had a formidable midfield, Xavi and Iniesta were models that inspired everyone, not just myself. We will try to repeat what they have done and maybe do even better ”.
Stretcher on Italy"It's nice to receive so many compliments, we are doing an important job even if the group makes the difference. Like at Inter, here too there is a great unity of purpose, the goal in my club was to win the Scudetto and we succeeded, here it was to get as far as possible in this competition and we are doing it. Thanks to Mancini who has transmitted a winning mentality, we always go out on the pitch to win, it has been like this since the beginning of the tournament and we will do it until the end ".
Yesterday the last training and tampons for everyone, today the departure from Florence. Mancini will confirm the team that dominated Belgium, the only exception being the replacement of Spinazzola with Emerson. Speaking of Spinazzola, yesterday he left Coverciano to go to the hospital for the planned operation on his Achilles tendon.
Federico Chiesa commented the magic moment on the UEFA website: ”Our coach told us to take one step at a time. The secret is the group, we almost feel like brothers, and this is thanks to him and his staff (by Mancini ed) formed by many former champions ".
Church on Spain: “They play differently we are more dynamic in all phases of the game, but both teams aim to keep the ball, with a high offensive pressing, always trying to dominate the opponent. They may have been doing it for longer, we use the ball possession to finalize and build more opportunities in attack ”. And the Azzurri worked on this during training, with the exception of Toloi and Belotti who, after the warm-up phase, did specific work, apart from some physical discomfort, even if in compliance with an already established program. So there don't seem to be any alarms in the blue clan, and barring unforeseen events in front of Donnarumma will act By Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini e Emerson, in the middle Stretcher, Jorginho e Verratti, up front Church, Property e Insigne.
