AFP, London :
Having taken over Italy at their lowest ebb, Roberto Mancini revelled in defying expectations after the Azzurri made it through to the final of Euro 2020 with a dramatic penalty shoot-out win over Spain on Tuesday.
Italy’s transformation under Mancini in the last three years has been extraordinary, from a team that failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup to one that has gone on a national record of 33 games unbeaten including their Wembley semi-final.
They were made to fight all the way against Spain, taking the lead through Federico Chiesa’s brilliant goal but being pegged back as Alvaro Morata’s equaliser made it 1-1 and forced extra time before the Azzurri prevailed 4-2 on penalties.
However, they merit their place in Sunday’s final against England or Denmark having been the outstanding side thus far at this European Championship.
After putting seven goals without reply past Turkey, Switzerland and Wales in the group stage they ground out an extra-time win over Austria, then beat Belgium in the quarter-finals despite losing star left-back Leonardo Spinazzola to a torn Achilles tendon.
Now they are closing on a second European Championship title. “When you play in a World Cup or a European Championship it is intense, and there always comes a game where you have to dig in and suffer to win,” said Mancini.
“It can’t all be smooth as our progress had been up to now. “We knew this was the one that was going to be really tough and that is why I think the players and everyone who has worked with us over the last three years deserves a lot of credit because it has not been easy by any means. “Almost nobody believed we could do it and yet we are in the final, so we are pleased for Italians everywhere.”
