Italy is the defending Euro Cup champions after beating England in a thrilling final at London’s famous Wembley Stadium. Since then, the team has suffered as Italy could not qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The country secured its 2024 spot in the Euro after a nervy goalless draw with Ukraine. It is clear to all football lovers that the four-time World Cup-winning and two-time Euro Cup-winning team is not in great shape.
Over the last decade, the performance of the football team hasn’t been great. Italy could not go past the group stage in both the 2010 and 2014 World Cups and failed to qualify for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments. The only time the team succeeded was in the 2020 Euro Cup, which it won to the surprise of many.
UEFA Euro 2024
There is more bad news for the country as Italy has been placed in Group B of UEFA Euro 2024 with Spain, Croatia, and Albania. It is clearly one of the more difficult groups in this tournament with many saying that this is the “group of death”. But this was bound to happen as the draw pots were drawn based on group points and position during the qualifying stage. Portugal was ranked #1 whereas Italy got a dismal rank of #18.
In Euro 2024, Italy plays Albania first on June 15th, followed by the two other games in the group stage. So how can the football team perform this time? What are the prospects?
Buffon is Hopeful About Italy’s Success
Gianluigi Buffon, the most-capped player of Italy is hopeful of Italy’s chance, despite the tough draw. He says Italy needs to be confident going into the tournament. He acknowledges that the group could have been kinder but still insists on the need to stay confident leading to the big games. “This group is a bit like the one we had at Euro 2012 with Spain, Croatia and the Republic of Ireland”, he says.
In 2012 too, Italy was placed in pot 3 but managed to come second in the group, drawing against Spain and Croatia and beating Ireland. Eventually, Italy went all the way to the final losing only to Spain – a wonderful performance no doubt. There are so many football player images of the success of Italy’s football team.
The Euro 2024 Format
The Euro 2024 format allows four of the best third-placed teams to make it to the next round, which means, Italy has a good chance of progressing beyond the group stage even if it comes third. It is a knock-out from there on, so anything can happen. Of course, given Italy’s rich football history, Spain and Croatia too won’t be thrilled about playing Italy so early in the tournament.
Buffon says that there is still time for Italy to improve before June. He feels there will be only 3-4 teams that have a stronger squad like France, Belgium, Spain, and England. “When we are working as a single unit, with one mind, I don’t know how many teams are really stronger than us”, he adds hopefully.
Coach Luciano Spalletti, who has been with Inter Milan, Napoli, and Roma, is also confident. “It could’ve gone better, but then we were in pot four. And never forget that we are Italy”, he says.
True, the Italian football team can never be ruled out in an international tournament. The team has won four World Cup titles just behind the five of Brazil and has won the Euro Cup twice.
