Mancini: ‘Nobody would bet a penny on Italy in 2018, we won without big names’

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 11: Giorgio Chiellini, Captain of Italy lifts The Henri Delaunay Trophy with coach Roberto Mancini following his team's victory in the UEFA Euro 2020 Championship Final between Italy and England at Wembley Stadium on July 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/UEFA via Getty Images)

Roberto Mancini insists ‘nobody would’ve bet a penny’ on Italy winning the Euros when he started in 2018. ‘We did it without a Totti, a Del Piero, a Baggio, or a Riva.’

The Azzurri continue their Nations League campaign this evening with a trip to Vincenzo Montella’s Turkiye.

It kicks off at the Ataturk Spor Kompleski Matli Stadyumu in Bursa at 19.45 UK time (20.45 CEST).

Mancini is already facing criticism and calls for his removal after just one game back in charge, the 2-0 home defeat to Belgium, his return to the bench after three years away.

Mancini insists Italy don’t need star names

“I don’t read the newspapers and I am not interested in social media,” he told Radio RAI.

“The truth is that nobody would’ve bet a penny on us in 2018, then we won the European Championship in 2021. We managed that despite not having any phenomenal players in the squad.

“We did it without a Totti, a Del Piero, a Baggio, or a Riva. You can win just by playing as a team.”

Francesco Totti and Alessandro Del Piero were part of the Italy side that won the 2006 World Cup, while legends like Roberto Baggio took the Nazionale to the 1994 World Cup Final.

Gigi Riva won the 1968 European Championship, which until 2021 had been the only time that Italy managed to lift that trophy.

Mancini’s Italy won the EURO 2020 trophy by beating England on penalties in the Final at Wembley Stadium with this line-up.

Italy: Donnarumma; Di Lorenzo, Bonucci, Chiellini, Emerson (Florenzi 118); Barella (Cristante 54), Jorginho, Verratti (Locatelli 96); Chiesa (Bernardeschi 85), Immobile (Berardi 54), Insigne (Belotti 91)