Football News: Italy Aims to Bounce Back at Euro 2024 After Turbulent Years
Milan, Italy – The Azzurri have endured three years of turmoil since their thrilling triumph at Wembley, and arrive in Germany for the Euro 2024 tournament without several key men. Luciano Spalletti, the Italian national team manager, knows that his side are not yet on the same level as Euro 2024 rivals England, France, Germany, Croatia, Spain and Portugal. However, he believes that they can be.
Spalletti has emphasized that there are “no d*ckheads” in his squad, only players who are so committed to the cause that they’re even willing to give up playing PlayStation for a month. Consequently, the coach is adamant that he has a panel of players with not only the talent but the right attitude to emulate Italy’s shock tournament triumph at Wembley just three years ago.
“Even the Azzurri under [Roberto] Mancini in 2021 were not the strongest on paper,” Spalletti has argued. “Then, they became a special team.”
However, while Italy are once again arriving at a second successive European Championship having failed to qualify for the preceding FIFA World Cup, the similarities between Mancini’s men and Spalletti’s side end there. Italy were in rude health ahead of the last Euros, but this time around, they’re in utter disarray after three years of turmoil. As a result, most fans aren’t dreaming about winning the tournament; they’re fearing a first-round exit. Because not since Greece in 2008 have we seen a reigning European champion turn up to defend their title in such poor condition.
The road to the Euro 2024 final in Berlin will be a challenging one for the Azzurri, as they face stiff competition from the likes of England, France, and Germany, who are all favored to go deep in the tournament. Additionally, the women’s national team will be looking to make an impact at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, while the men’s squad will aim to secure a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In the domestic landscape, the Premier League, EFL Cup, EFL Championship, EFL One, EFL Two, and FA Cup continue to captivate football fans across the world, with teams vying for glory and European qualification. Meanwhile, the Africa Cup of Nations standings are hotly contested, as national squads from the continent battle it out for continental supremacy.
As the football world eagerly awaits the start of Euro 2024, the Azzurri will be determined to overcome their recent setbacks and reclaim their place among Europe’s elite. The journey ahead promises to be filled with drama, excitement, and the pursuit of glory.
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