SO FAR SO GOOD
FOR MANCINI
A
fter being handed the task
of rebuilding the national
side following failure to
qualify for the 2018
World Cup, former Manchester City
and Internazionale boss Roberto Mancini
has overseen an unbeaten spell for the
Azzurri. They finished narrowly behind
Portugal in the inaugural Nations League
and have since gone on a run of six
straight wins in the Euro qualifiers.
Luck has played its part, though. In
their most recent qualifier, against closest
challengers Finland, a controversial
penalty tipped the match in their favour.
Jorginho scored the winning goal from
the spot after Nicolo
Barella’s shot had hit
Sauli Vaisanen’s arm
at point-blank range
when the Finland
defender had his
arm across his chest
and a penalty was harshly awarded.
Ciro Immobile had earlier headed Italy
in front with his first international goal for
two years before Teemu Pukki levelled
from the penalty spot with Finland’s first
goal against Italy since 1977.
“After the disappointment of the
World Cup, we’re bouncing back in
style,” Immobile said afterwards.
During Italy’s rebuilding process
Mancini has given plenty of youngsters
an opportunity, notably midfielder Nicolo
Zaniolo and striker Moise Kean.
But despite 18 goals in six games,
Mancini has yet to find the right blend
in attack. He has plenty of talent on the
wings with Federico Chiesa, Federico
Bernardeschi and Lorenzo Insigne, but
has yet to settle on the right central
striker. Kean, Immobile and Andrea
Belotti have all been used, while 38-
year-old Fabio Quagliarella became the
country’s oldest scorer during the 6-0
rout of Liechetenstein.
Finland’s campaign has been
bookmarked by defeats to Italy. In
between, four victories have seen Markku
Kanerva’s side establish themselves as
favourites to take the second automatic
qualifying spot.
Previously under-21 boss and assistant
to Mixu Paatelainen, Kanerva has relied
on team spirit to carry the squad throughas few play at the top level in Europe.
In-form Norwich City striker Pukki and
goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky of Bayer
Leverkusen are notable exceptions.
“Above all, I am proud once again
with how the team showed the fight
and determination to win and the way in
which we ended up playing,” Kanerva said
after September’s 1-0 win over Greece.
“It has been essential to our success.
We believe that working together will
produce results.”
The Finns now face crucial games in
October, away to Bosnia and at home to
Armenia, who retain hopes of snatching
second place after their 4-2 triumphover Bosnia in Yerevan. The result
effectively ended Bosnia’s qualification
hopes and prompted coach Robert
Prosinecki to offer his resignation.
Greece have been a huge
disappointment. Angelos Anastasiadis
was sacked following defeats to Italy
and Armenia in June and the run of
poor form has continued under his
replacement, Dutchman John Van’t
Schip, with a late equaliser from Dennis
Salanovic securing a shock draw for
Liechtenstein in Athens. It was the
part-timers’ first point of the campaign.STAR MAN
STEFANO SENSI
Italy
Over the last 12 months, the diminutive
midfielder has taken on the role of Italian
football’s rocket man, making his bow in
a friendly against the USA in November
2018, scoring his first international goal
in the 6-0 thumping of Liechtenstein,
earning a lucrative transfer from Sassuolo
and scoring on his Internazionale debut.
The 24-year-old from the Marche
region of central Italy is certainly theEURO 2020 | Qualifiers
GROUP
JSuccess...Finland
goalkeeper Lucas
Hradecky celebrates
against GreeceThreat...Italy’s
Alessio Romagnoli
in action against
Armenia“After the disappointment of the World Cup, we’re
bouncing back in style”
Italy’s Ciro Immobile