The 2016 edition showed us that, with this format, the Eurocup starts in the eighth. Portugal finished the group stage by qualifying as one of the best third-tier teams and, in the end, they took the trophy. For that, perhaps, many still do not take Italy seriously even though they are living a streak of eleven consecutive victories (all without conceding goals) and thirty games without losing, the best in its history together with that of Vittorio Pozzo in the 30s.
This Saturday, against Austria, the Azzurra can show that you are serious against an inferior opponent on paper like the previous ones, but not to be trusted (Follow the game live on As.com).
Franco Foda, a German coach with an Italian family, formed a team that mixes the quality of leaders like Alaba and Sabitzer with enormous intensity. They press well and, as Mancini said, they know how to make the opponent play badly. The Austrians, yes, they suffer from dating the greats, something that Azzurra has returned to be thanks to his selector.
The eleven against Wales confirmed that he can count on some high-level revulsives, but 'Mancio' will return to the line-up that worked great in the first two days. The novelty will be Verratti, who has returned like a train and, barring surprises, will take the place of Locatelli.
La Nazionale said goodbye to the Olímpico, where 'notti magiche' had lived like the 90s, but going back to Wembley has its charm. In 1973 the Italians won there for the first time thanks to a legendary goal by Capello. In 2007 the new version of the stadium was inaugurated with an England-Italy Under-21 who finished 3-3, thanks to a hat-trick by Pazzini.
The best pages in history azzurra in this field they can be written in these weeks, but everything will depend on what happens today in the game against Austria. The moment of truth has arrived for the Italian National Team.