Why Italy are one of the best teams at the Euro 2020

The Italian National Team are not a side to be looked over. After a resounding 3-0 battering against the strong core of Turkey on Friday in the opening game of the Euros, many saw the potential that the Azzurri had to offer. Italy breezed through qualifying, winning all 10 matches to top their group, and are currently unbeaten in 26 games, a run stretching back to September 2018 and have not conceded a goal since October of last year.

The issue had been scoring goals, rather than conceding for Mancini's side in previous games and tournaments, however this issue seems to be resolved. Not only are Bonucci and Chiellini in fine form, but the offensive options in Ciro Immobile, Andrea Belotti, Lorenzo Insigne, Domenico Berardi and Federico Chiesa are all at the peak of their game. Talisman up front, Ciro Immobile, who plays for Lazio in the Serie A, has been producing ridiculous numbers throughout this season and is a reliable source of goals now for Italy. The former Torino striker has 26 goal contributions in the League this season and has already proved vital in their fixture against Turkey.

This Euro 2020 campaign will mark Italy's return to a major tournament after they were unable to qualify for the World Cup in 2018, hosted in Russia, and they will be looking to bring back the trophy after winning it once fifty-three years ago in 1968.

In possession, Roberto Mancini rotates from a 4-3-3 to a lop-sided 3-4-3 of sorts with the left back, Spinnazola, pushing further forward in attack. Chiellini, Bonucci and Florenzi drop into a defensive three with Barella playing slightly wider and Jorginho and Locatelli making up the midfield maintaining an intense and controlled game. Immobile usually leads the line for the Azzurri and he is accompanied by star player Lorenzo Insigne and either Berardi or Chiesa, all three of whom have performed phenomenally this season. With PSG playmaker, Marco Veratti, still to join the side for the rest of the Euros, the reformed Italian side look to be genuine contenders for the trophy this year.

The performance and result against Turkey on Friday highlighted what this team and system under Roberto Mancini is all about. Turkey conceded possession 17 times and 10 of those were forced in their own half. The higher press compared to previous years shows how high they are winning the ball and are then inevitably able to take more shots and create more chances as a result. They took 24 shots in total, 15 of which came inside the box and it is the dominance of territory high up the pitch which leads to this.

Despite this, with the centre-back pairing of Chiellini and Bonucci with a combined age of 70, an efficient and fast counter-attacking side could exploit the higher line. Overall, it will be interesting to see how far Italy can go in this tournament and I have them down as winners.