Italy is Italy again

A different Italy, in pristine white, a team far from its historical archetype, started the Eurocup winning as always and convincing as never before. The work of re-founding a country reduced to ruins after being out of the World Cup has had an effect. It is only the first game of the first championship after the fiasco, but it shows why this team has not lost 28 games, including this opener against Turkey.

Italy has changed its costume, there is no doubt. With a midfield of fine stylists, led by Barella, and a trident more skillful than physical, he put a disappointing Turkey on the ropes. Mancini's team was fresh, a technician who has had a hard time adapting to the new times but who is finally closer to the style he had as a player than the one he always exhibited as a coach.

The game was dominated from beginning to end by an azzurra that knew itself local and immediately knew that it was better. The defensive bleeding of the Turks began on the right side, the left side of the Italian attack. Spinazzola was immeasurable in his climbs, just like Insigne opening the gap and receiving between the lines.

Italy was so easy to generate chances that it was surprising that they will not hit any, something that this team has always shown: efficiency. The first half also left for the debate the new application of the hands from this tournament. It's actually going back to business as usual. Hands will not be whistled unless there is a deliberate gesture that causes the infraction. Makkelie, perfect all night, showed it to the world by not decreeing three possible penalties, the last of them very close to the limit. Çelik braced as a result of his career, which saved him from being sanctioned with the maximum penalty.

The goals

For Turkey the meeting was an ordeal. His coach retired Yazici to put Under, but the problem was not in the lack of talent but in the water leaks behind. Mancini did see it clearly and introduced Di Lorenzo, another side with which to drill on the right as with Spinazzola on the left. Italy went from hurting one side to doing it for both. It was a tunnel boring machine.
The goal was a matter of time and it came with Italy turned into a whirlwind. Berardi broke his pair inside the area and his center was introduced by Demiral inadvertently in his goal when he tried to clear with his chest. Neither he nor Soyunçu, two good center-backs, were comfortable at any point in the game, overwhelmed by an unstoppable Italy.

Not even with the advantage on the scoreboard did Mancini's team give up on their efforts. Insigne was able to extend the rent, but it was Immobile who sentenced with a pure hunter's goal after being a loose rejection inside the area. This Italy lacks nothing, not a striker capable of scoring many goals in a short tournament like Ciro.

The Olympian was delighted to see that his team has returned, while Turkey raised the white flag of surrender. The offensive flow was such that Insigne made the third and put the icing on their phenomenal encounter. A meeting, his and that of Italy, that sends a message to the disbelievers and to those who still thought that Italy is the one that was not in the World Cup. Nothing of that. Mancini has built a team for much more than just playing tournaments again; he has made a team to win tournaments again.