Euro 2016: 5 memorable counter-attacking teams from the past

#3 Italy (2000)

They might not have won Euro 2000, but Italy came agonisingly close to it and wrestled some great results when public opinion was very much against them. What’s more, they did it with some rather effective counter-attacking football.

Losing the final against France 2-1 after a David Trezeguet golden goal dealt them a cruel blow, the Italians saw all of their hard work come to nothing, and for many it was what they deserved for their defensive stifling which many had deemed too negative and boring. Their former coach Arrigo Sacchi was particularly back-handed with his praise at the time, following the Azzurri’s 2-0 win over Belgium:

“We were very good in defence, even if we defended with too many players, always using the same 3-5-1-1 formation."

Sitting back, overpopulating the defence whenever teams camped outside their 18-yard box and looking to soak up pressure before unleashing it with reflexive attacks. Their forages forward were rare occurrences, but they were deadly when carried out properly.

Against Sweden in the group stages, they conjured two great counter attacks as they ran out 2-1 winners, and in the final up against Les Bleus they brought the same game-plan, nearly punishing the eventual winners on the break a number of times, not least when Alessandro Del Piero should have doubled their lead after a quick transition from defence to attack only to see his shot bobble wide of the right post.

Both matches were characteristic of their style for the tournament and although it earned them some criticism, they were almost rewarded for sticking so confidently to their guns.