EURO 2024 TEAM GUIDE: Italy seek unlikely title defence after being placed in the 'Group of Death' with a new coach and a host of different faces - but as the Azzurri proved three years ago, they can never be counted out Two-time winners drawn in a tough group alongside Spain, Croatia and Albania Luciano Spalletti's side are outsiders to win the European Championship Sunday league, grassroots, pub football...
how Pep’s influence has trickled down the pyramid - Listen to the It's All Kicking Off podcast By Tum Balogun Published: 22:05, 3 June 2024 | Updated: 22:05, 3 June 2024 e-mail 1 View comments The defending champions Italy come into Euro 2024 as dark horses - not too dissimilar to how they were perceived ahead of their triumph three years ago. Under the management of Luciano Spalletti, arguably the best coach in the competition, the Azzurri have designs of joining Germany and Spain as the tournament's most successful nations on three wins. The European Championships have proved to be a safe space in recent years.
Remarkably, many Italian fans now in their teenage years are yet to see their team play a World Cup knockout match. Indeed, they have been absent from the last two tournaments altogether. Yet, on the continent, Italy have reached the final in two of the last three editions and bowed out in the last-eight in their other campaign since 2012.
Additionally, Germany holds a special place for many supporters, having been the scene of their most recent global success.