Roberto Mancini says Italy’s 2021 European Championship success proved a team can win without a squad packed with celebrated individual stars.
Italy continue their Nations League campaign against Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye in Bursa on Thursday, with kick-off at the Ataturk Spor Kompleski Matli Stadyumu at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).
Mancini is already facing criticism and calls for his dismissal after returning to the Italy bench following three years away. His comeback began with a 2-0 home defeat by Belgium in the Nations League.
Speaking to Radio RAI, Mancini said he had paid little attention to the reaction.
“I don’t read the newspapers and I am not interested in social media,” he said.
“The truth is that nobody would’ve bet a penny on us in 2018, then we won the European Championship in 2021. We managed that despite not having any phenomenal players in the squad.
“We did it without a Totti, a Del Piero, a Baggio, or a Riva. You can win just by playing as a team.”
Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero were members of the Italy side that won the 2006 World Cup. Roberto Baggio helped the Azzurri reach the 1994 World Cup final, while Gigi Riva was part of the team that won the 1968 European Championship.
That triumph remained Italy’s only European Championship title until 2021, when Mancini’s side lifted the EURO 2020 trophy by beating England on penalties in the final at Wembley Stadium.
Italy’s starting line-up for that final was: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson (Florenzi 118); Barella (Cristante 54), Jorginho, Verratti (Locatelli 96); Chiesa (Bernardeschi 85), Immobile (Berardi 54), Insigne (Belotti 91).
The team combined experienced defenders with a strong midfield and talented attacking players. Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini formed the central defensive pairing, while Marco Verratti and Jorginho were key figures in midfield.
Federico Chiesa was substituted in the second half of extra time, with Federico Bernardeschi replacing him in the 85th minute. Leonardo Spinazzola had also played a major part during the tournament before suffering an injury.
Gianluigi Donnarumma became one of Italy’s decisive performers, saving penalties in the final shootout before being named player of the tournament. Mancini’s side had also benefited from the contributions of Nicolo Barella, Manuel Locatelli and the other members of a squad built around collective organisation rather than one dominant superstar.
The defeat by Belgium has placed immediate pressure on Mancini, but he continues to point to Italy’s run to the European title as evidence that unity and a team structure can outweigh the absence of globally recognised names.