Italy players celebrate after beating Greece in Rome.
#1 Italy send a statement of intent to the rest of the continent
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Roberto Mancini has transformed the Italian side.
In the lead up to the clash against Greece, Italy head coach Roberto Mancini came out to state that his side's ambition was to win UEFA Euro 2020.
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These were grand claims for a side that had not triumphed in the tournament since 1968, while they cannot genuinely claim to have been among the elite in European football for the last few years.
However, Italy have made steady gains in the last year. They might not yet be on the levels of nations like Belgium and France but they have significantly covered the gap between themselves and the elite nations in the last 12 months. Italy will be going into UEFA Euro 2020 with more than a fair chance of being champions.
Though their group was not exactly the most difficult, Italy ultimately did enough to prevail with three matches to spare and the rest of Europe would do well to keep tabs on them.
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About the author
Ume Elvis
Elvis is a seasoned football journalist and has been with Sportskeeda for more than 6 years. He specializes in writing match previews across several leagues and competitions around the world, and his insightful tips have amassed a total readership in excess of 9.2 million till date. Elvis' meticulous attention to detail and strictly following SK's editorial guidelines have been key to achieving a vast readership. He has also exclusively covered the 2021 Nigerian Universiy Games and has provided research for an upcoming biography for a Nigerian football legend.
Elvis has been a Super Eagles fan since 2004, and them beating defending champions Cameroon in the AFCON that year left a lasting impact on him. He supports Sporting Lagos at club level and loves to watch games live at the Onikan Stadium due to its buzzing atmosphere. His favorite football players are former Nigerian forward, Osaze Odemwingie and former Real Madrid legend Raul Gonzalez.
If Elvis could change one football rule, it would be to not be booked for celebrating with pitch side fans. He believes that football is a passionate game and celebrations should be encouraged to the fullest. When not analyzing the latest previews, Elvis indulges in activities such as swimming, reading, and karaoke.
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