‘Spain? Let’s enjoy this victory’
Italy's detractors are running out of reasons to doubt their ability to win Euro 2020 after Friday's triumph over Belgium. The Azzurri's record unbeaten run has been well documented during the tournament, and it stretched to 32 matches in Munich.
But the fact that Roberto Mancini's side had not beaten any recognised international football powerhouses during that streak, which encouraged some pundits to raise questions about their ability to go far in the competition.
After Italy recorded back-to-back 3-0 wins against Turkey and Switzerland at the start of the Euros, former France midfielder Patrick Vieira said: "They lack intensity, power, pace, to be even more dangerous going forward… It's still a bit too early to take Italy into consideration, that they can go to the end."
Former England defender Gary Neville felt similarly, quipping: "I do feel once they start to play against the better teams, they won't have enough."
According to world football's governing body FIFA, there are no better teams than world number one side Belgium, who were considered one of the pre-tournament favourites.
But the Azzurri's 13th consecutive win was their most impressive yet as they came out on top not just with the final score, but also in terms of possession and shots.
It was a performance that felt like a statement of intent from a nation that has won four World Cups and one European Championship but has had to rebuild its reputation after the humiliating failure to qualify for the 2018 World Cup.
"Belgium beaten – we're back among the greats of football," said Gazzetta dello Sport's front page.
Coach Roberto Mancini was overjoyed with his Italy team. "We deserved to win. The boys were extraordinary in the game," he said.
Mancini said his players deserved to savour the triumph before thinking about Tuesday's game against three-times European champions Spain.
"We didn't have a minimum goal, we wanted to do our best, the road is still long, there are two games to go, we'll see what happens," he said.
"Spain? Let's enjoy this victory, then we'll think about it.Congratulations to my boys, they were very good."
Striker Lorenzo Insigne, who scored a curling strike, credited Mancini for building a "fun" atmosphere around the national team squad that has allowed him to put in his best performances
The win was however marred only by a serious injury to left-back Leonardo Spinazzola, who had to be stretchered off and looks set to play no further part in the tournament.
**Italy have set a new record for the longest winning run at the European Championship, qualifying included, their 15th consecutive victory taking them past opponents Belgium (14, 21-03-19 – 27-06-21) and Germany (14, 03-09-10 – 22-06-12).
** Italy have won their last 13 international matches (F36 A2) and are unbeaten in their last 32 internationals (W27 D5); their last defeat was in September 2018 (against Portugal).
**Italy's five-match winning streak at EURO 2020 is their best ever sequence of consecutive wins at the finals and equals the record set by France (1984), the Netherlands (1988 to 1992) and the Czech Republic (2000 to 2004).
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