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Italy will be one of the dark horses at Euro 2020. After failing to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the Azzurri produced an emphatic qualification campaign to qualify for the quadrennial continental competition.
Under the tutelage of former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini, the four-time FIFA World Cup champions won all their UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying games. Italy scored an impressive 37 goals during qualifying and conceded just four. The Azzurri will arrive at Euro 2020 on an eight-game winning run in all competitions, conceding no goals in this period, a first in their history,
Italy has always been known for their defensive solidity but have been transformed into an aggressive, attack-minded unit under Mancini. The Azzurri are favourites to qualify from their Euro 2020 group containing Turkey, Switzerland and Wales.
The 1968 European champions have had some of the greatest players to have graced the game. Considering their rich history and impressive recent form. Italy will be expected to make a deep run at Euro 2020.
On that note, let's take a look at the greatest Italy XI of all time:
# Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon
Gianluigi Buffon is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers to have played the game. The 43-year-old is the most capped Italy player, with 176 appearances. Buffon has played for Italy at five World Cups and four European Championships.
Buffon won the 2006 FIFA World Cup with Italy and was awarded the Golden Glove award for keeping five clean sheets during the tournament. The Juventus custodian has been a key player for Italy in major tournaments in the last two decades. He also holds the record for most appearances for Italy as captain after receiving the armband in 2010.
Buffon is the only goalkeeper to win the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year award and finished runner-up to compatriot Fabio Cannavaro in the race for the 2006 Ballon d'Or award.
# Centre-back: Alessandro Nesta
AC Milan legend Alessandro Nesta is considered one of the best centre-backs of his generation. He made 78 appearances for the Italy and was a key member of the team that reached the Euro 2000 final and won the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
Nesta was named the Serie A Defender of the Year on four occasions. He won three Serie A, two UEFA Champions League and three Copa Italia titles during his two-decade playing career.
Along with Cannavaro, Nesta formed one of the most formidable centre-back pairings in international football. After Nesta's retirement in 2006, Italy had a paucity of quality centre-backs till the emergency of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonnuci.
# Centre-back: Fabio Cannavaro
Fabio Cannavaro will forever be remembered as one of the best defenders and captain Italy have ever produced. Cannavaro took over the captain's armband from Maldini and led Italy to the final of Euro 2000 before going a step better at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
For his impressive performances in that edition of the World Cup, Cannavaro earned the nickname 'The Berlin Wall' as he hoisted aloft Italy's fourth title in the competition. Following his exploits at the tournament, Cannavaro became the first defender to ever win the FIFA World Player of the Year award.
Fabio Cannavaro remains the last defender to win the coveted Ballon d'Or award. He made 136 appearances for Italy before announcing his retirement after the Azzurri endured an embarrassing group-stage exit at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
# Left-back: Paolo Maldini
The legendary Paolo Maldini was the captain of AC Milan and Italy for most of his career, which earned him the moniker 'Il Capitano'. In a storied 25-year club career at AC Milan, Maldini won 25 trophies.
He won the Champions League (formerly called the European Champions Club's Cup) a record five times, a record he shares with Juventus star Cristiano Ronaldo. Maldini helped AC Milan win seven Serie A titles and one Copa Italia.
During a 14-year stint with Italy, during which he led his country to the semi-finals of the 1988 Euros and the 1990 World Cup. Although he made the final of the 1994 FIFA World Cup and Euro 2000, a major international title remained elusive for the decorated left-back.
It was only four years after Maldini's retirement from international football that Italy won their fourth World Cup title in 2006.
# Centre-back/Sweeper: Franco Baresi
Legendary Italy defender Franco Baresi is arguably one of the greatest captains in his country's history.
Baresi was a member of the Italy team that won the 1982 FIFA World Cup, finished third at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and runner-up in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He captained Italy in the latter tournament.
Franco Baresi made 81 appearances for his country and spent his entire 25-year career at AC Milan. He won six Serie A titles and three Champions Leagues titles during his stint with the Rossoneri. He was named by Brazilian legend Pele as one of the 125 Greatest Living Footballers in 2004.
# Midfielder: Gennaro Gattuso
Gennaro Gattuso's combative and aggressive style of play was the embodiment of Italian football in the 2000s. The defensive midfielder was renowned for putting his body on the line in every game he played for club and country.
Gattuso's ability to do 'the dirty work' and his warrior-like presence in midfield gave Andre Pirlo the freedom to play a more free and attacking role for Italy. Gattuso was one of the standout players for Italy at the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Gattuso won two Serie A, one Coppa Italia and two Champions League titles during his storied career. The midfielder played 73 times for Italy before announcing his retirement from international football in 2010.
# Midfielder: Andrea Pirlo
Andrea Pirlo is regarded as one of the greatest midfielders of all time. The Italian was renowned for his vision, calmness, ball control and creativity.
Pirlo led Italy to success at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, winning the Bronze Ball award at the tournament. He was also instrumental in Italy's run to the Euro 2012 final. His creative and languid style of play inspired an entire generation of players.
Pirlo played three World Cups and as many European Championships for Italy. He made 116 appearances for his country before announcing his retirement in 2015.
Andrea Pirlo won the Serie A Player of the Year three times. He won a total of two Champions League titles and six Serie A titles, two with AC Milan and four with Juventus. and was inducted into AC Milan's Hall of Fame and the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
# Midfielder: Francesco Totti
'The Golden Boy' and 'The Eighth King of Rome' are some of the nicknames that were given to Italy's Francesco Totti during his legendary career.
Totti is one of the greatest attacking midfielders Italy have ever produced. He spent his entire career at Roma, winning a Serie A, two Coppa Italia and two Supercoppa Italiana titles. He is the top goalscorer and the most capped player in Roma's history, scoring 307 goals in 786 appearances in all competitions for the club. He is the second-highest scorer of all time in Italian league history, with 250 goals.
Despite his stellar club exploits, Totti never shone for Italy the way he did for AS Roma. Nevertheless, the AS Roma legend played a key role in Italy's run to the Euro 2000 final and their 2006 FIFA World Cup triumph.
Totti won the Serie A Italian Footballer of the Year award five times and the Serie A Player of the Year award twice. He made 58 appearances for Italy in an international career spanning ten years.
# Forward: Alessandro Del Piero
Alessandro Del Piero represented Italy at three FIFA World Cups and four European Championships during a 13-year international career.
Del Piero was an integral part of the Italian team that made the final of Euro 2000 and won the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Del Piero scored Italy's second goal in extra time in their 2-0 semi-final win against Germany at the 2006 World Cup.
He spent most of his club career with Juventus. During his time in Turin, Del Piero six Serie A and one Champions League title. He was named the Serie A Player of the Year in 1998 and 2008 and was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
Del Piero is the second-most prolific scorer for Italy in all competitions, with 346 goals.
# Forward: Giuseppe Meazza
Giuseppe Meazza is one of only three Italy players to have won two FIFA World Cup titles. He was given the nickname 'il genio' (the genius) by the Italian press for his fabulous exploits. Meazza is regarded as one of the best strikers of all time and the best player of his generation.
He won the Serie A top-scorer award on three occasions. Meazza is the second-highest goalscorer for Italy, with 33 goals in 53 appearances.
He won the Golden Ball Award at the 1934 FIFA World Cup as he led Italy to victory on home soil. Meazza captained Italy to victory at the 1938 World Cup.
# Forward: Roberto Baggio
Roberto Baggio is regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time. He played 56 times for Italy, scoring 27 goals. In 1993, he was named the FIFA World Player of the Year and won the Ballon d'Or award.
Baggio played a starring role for Italy at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, where the Azzurri finished third. At the 1994 World Cup, he led Italy to the final, scoring five goals and was awarded the World Cup Silver Ball.
Although he was the star performer for Italy at the tournament, Baggio will forever be remembered for missing the decisive penalty in the final shootout against Brazil. Baggio scored twice for Italy at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France before the Azzurri were eliminated by the hosts in the quarter-finals.
Baggio is the only Italian player to score in three World Cups. With nine goals, he holds the record for most goals scored in World Cup for Italy, along with Paolo Rossi and Christian Vieri.
In 2011, Roberto Baggio was the first player to be inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame.
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