When Italy begin their Euro 2016 campaign against Belgium in the group of death encounter on 13th June, there are many who will consider the Red Devils to be favourites. However, as experienced followers of international football are well aware, it pays to ever underestimate Italy, given their penchant for going far in tournaments.
Gli Azzurri are not favourites by any means, but the presence of Antonio Conte at the helm, coupled with a formidable defence make Italy dark horses in these Euros. The Italian side is also a versatile and experienced one, able to switch formations and systems with aplomb.
Here is the 23 man squad named by Antonio Conte:
Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Federico Marchetti (Lazio), Salvatore Sirigu (Paris St-Germain).
Defenders: Andrea Barzagli (Juventus), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Angelo Ogbonna (West Ham), Federico Bernardeschi (Fiorentina), Matteo Darmian (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Antonio Candreva (Lazio), Daniele de Rossi (Roma), Mattia de Sciglio (Milan), Alessandro Florenzi (Roma), Emanuele Giaccherini (Bologna), Thiago Motta (Paris St-Germain), Marco Parolo (Lazio), Stefano Sturaro (Juventus).
Forwards: Eder (Sampdoria), Ciro Immobile (Torino), Lorenzo Insigne (Napoli), Graziano Pelle (Southampton), Simone Zaza (Juventus), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma)
Formation : 3-5-2
Goalkeeper
Of all the decisions that Antonio Conte makes regarding this Italian lineup, naming Gianluigi Buffon as his first-choice goalkeeper should be the easiest. The Juventus legend has been ever present in the Italian national squad ever since the 1998 FIFA World Cup, only missing the 2000 Euros due to injury. Yet, Buffon has not let age be a factor, in fact, there is an argument to be made that he’s getting better with age.
Marchetti and Sirigu provide some quality insurance were Buffon to be injured, although Sirigu’s indifferent season with PSG might not fill Conte with the greatest of glee. Nonetheless, Italy do have a leader of the highest stature in goal and fans of gli Azzuri will not have any palpitations at the prospect of a penalty shootout, with the thought of Buffon’s reflexes serving as a comfort.
Defenders
Conte has a predilection to playing 3 at the back, and the next Chelsea manager has sprung a bit of a surprise by only naming four centre-backs in his squad. Given his Juventus links, it is no surprise to see an all-Juventus backline, with Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini being undoubtedly Conte’s first-choice backline.
Being left-footed, Chiellini occupies the left-side of the central backline, with Bonucci patrolling the centre and Barzagli occupying the right centre-back role. The trio have enjoyed a stunning season, conceding only 20 times in 38 games in Serie A, despite an error-strewn start to the league season.
Ogbonna is the only other recognised centre-back in the squad, which raises concerns, but Conte could play De Rossi or Motta in an emergency, or have the option to shift to a 4-4-2, with Darmian, De Sciglio and Florenzi being available as fullbacks in a 4-4-2 system, although Conte rarely uses the formation.
Coupled with Buffon, the centre-backs form a back four that have played together all season, breaking records along the way to a domestic double. They have a telepathic understanding, covering excellently for each other and Conte will no doubt count on them for Italy to stand any chance of winning the trophy,
Midfielders
The Italian squad is heavily loaded with wing-backs, with Conte having the flexibility to play attacking options or defensive options. Given that Italy are slap bang in the group of death, Conte might opt for the defensive duo of Matteo Darmian and Alessandro Florenzi in the left and right-wing back roles respectively, with Mattia de Sciglio also an option on both wings.
Antonio Candreva was quite fantastic on the right in Italy’s most recent friendly against Finland, with El Shaarawy surprisingly occupying the left wing-back role, although Conte might opt to play them centrally in his final lineup. Bernardeschi also provides an attacking option on the wings, although he’s probably a wild card from the bench if Italy are chasing a game.
The 23 man squad that Conte has named is filled to the brim with versatile players, with the Italian manager trusting the combination of hard-working qualities to thrive in his system, as Italy return to their defensive nature to earn them another trophy, with the Azzurri considered rank outsiders for the trophy this time around.
Thiago Motta will occupy the defensive midfield role, although the absence of Marco Verratti will be keenly felt - but was a situation that allowed Roma veteran Daniele de Rossi to be drafted into the squad. Alongside Motta, Conte will opt for Marco Parolo, who has impressed for Lazio this season and can play the box-to-box role with great aplomb, with Sturaro a workman-like, if uninspiring option.
Antonio Candreva is undoubtedly Italy’s most creative player, and the Lazio midfielder might be called upon to operate in the hole behind the two strikers, a position that El Shaarawy can also play in. Emanuele Giaccherini is Conte's water-carrier in the squad, able to play in all roles across the 5-man midfield, but will probably not make the starting lineup.
Forwards
Italy have a history of boasting the best forward lines over the years. To come from the likes of Francesco Totti, Alessandro Del Piero, Roberto Baggio, Christian Vieri and Filippo Inzaghi to Eder, Ciro Immobile, Graziano Pelle and Simone Zaza will have the most ardent Azzurri fan cringing with embarrassment.
However, this is the pool Antonio Conte must choose from, and the Italian manager seems to still harbour doubts, changing his forward line regularly in the pre-Euro friendlies. Conte favours a tall-and-tiny combination up front, and with both Zaza and Pelle enjoying disappointing seasons, Simone Zaza’s relative familiarity with Conte’s Juventus system should see him get the nod.
Immobile seemed bright in the friendly against Finland, although given Stephan El Shaarawy’s fantastic performances for Roma in the second half of the Serie A season, Conte might have no option other than to pair his best attacking threat with Zaza up front, with Eder and Insigne, whose lack of effort Conte has been critical off, making up the numbers.
Here is the final formation (3-5-2):
