Roberto Mancini, Italy coach, did not hide his ambitions for the next European Championship on Thursday and set the final in London as the goal of his team, which returns to a great international competition after his absence from the 2018 World Cup in Russia. wants Giacomo Raspadori, the surprise on the list, to be a new Paolo Rossi, who unexpectedly entered the squad for the 1982 World Cup in Spain and ended up being a hero, key to the world title of the 'azzurri'. Raspadori is 21 years old and plays for Sassuolo.
“We want to play every game, from the first to the last in London (the final on July 11). We will need everyone,” said Mancini at the press conference prior to this Friday's friendly in Bologna against the Czech Republic, the last before the June 11 debut against Turkey in the opening match.
Mancini, who made the final list of his 26 summoned official last Tuesday, acknowledged that the friendly at the Renato Dall'Ara stadium will help him to rehearse an eleven similar to the one he plans to line up in the debut in the Eurocup.
“I have a couple of doubts, we will see how (Jorge Frello) Jorginho is, he may rest, but otherwise, except Lorenzo Pellegrini and Marco Verratti, they are all available and we will not have problems. It may be that the eleven will resemble the one from the game against Turkey “, affirmed the selector 'azzurro'.
Mancini included Verratti on his list despite the fact that the Paris Saint Germain midfielder is injured in the collateral ligament in his right knee. “Verratti is taking giant steps. He has improved a lot in the last ten days and we will see how he will be,” said the Italy coach.
Mancini surrendered to the experience and leadership provided by Juventus defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci and gave young striker Giacomo Raspadori confidence, the big surprise on his final roster.
“I chose Raspadori because he is a different player with respect to Ciro Immobile and 'Gallo' (Andrea Belotti). He may be the future of the national team, he has technical quality,” said Mancini.
And he wished him to have an impact like that of Paolo Rossi in the 1982 World Cup, when he was summoned by surprise by coach Enzo Bearzot and was the protagonist on the way to the title won at the Santiago Bernabéu.
“I hope he does like Paolo Rossi, but I chose him because I think he can have a great future in the national team,” he said.