Roberto Mancini continues his mission to turn Italy’s international football fortunes around as Euro Championship 2020 qualifying kicks off on Saturday.
Italy head into matchday 1 in Group J against Finland. The Finnish have never qualified for the European Championships, but they are assured a playoff place. Finland achieved promotion to League B in the UEFA Nations League. They will feel confident in Group J against the likes of Italy, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Greece, Armenia, and Liechtenstein.
Italy missed the 2018 World Cup, but enjoyed a strong end to the year. The Azzurri are undefeated in six of their last eight matches. Mancini has led the team to four straight matches without defeat. The Azzurri drew against Ukraine and Portugal while gaining wins over Poland and the United States.
Mancini’s biggest issue is a lack of scoring. In 11 matches in 2018, Italy scored more than 1.5 goals just one time. That two-goal performance came against Saudi Arabia. All of Italy’s last six games, including all four Nations League matches, ended in fewer than 2.5 goals. Against both the U.S. and Poland, Italy needed second half stoppage-time goals to get on the scoreboard.
Manager Markku Kanerva’s Finland have had a mixed bag of results post-World Cup. After starting the Nations League well with four wins from four, Finland lost their final two games of the competition. In preparation for Euro 2020 qualification and due to the Finnish domestic league begin on winter break, Kanerva’s team played two January friendlies. Results were again poor with Finland losing against Nordic rivals Sweden 3-0 before a defeat to minnows Estonia, 2-1.
Mancini has called up a large squad to choose from with 29 players in the Italy fold. Mancini has not called up Mario Balotelli, who has been a staple in the manager’s squad, due to fitness. Napoli’s Lorenzo Insigne has also been left out with his absence down to injury.
Some of Italy’s familiar faces are in the squad: Giorgio Chiellini and Marco Verratti. But Mancini has added new names such as Armando Izzo and Nicolo Zaniolo. The latter has been brilliant at Roma this term. In addition, Mancini has rewarded the ageless Fabio Quagliarella for his 21 goals in 27 games in Serie A.
Finland will have experienced Bayer Leverkusen player Lukas Hradecky in goal. They will need his experience. Italy’s player talent per position is better than Finland’s. So, the Finnish will need Hradecky to keep out the Azzurri’s repeated attacks at goal. Having given up five goals against Sweden and Estonia, it is hard to believe Finland’s defence will keep out Quagliarella and company.
Italy have struggled to find goals, but Saturday they will break out of their scoring slump. The Azzurri will start off Euro 2020 qualifying with a big win and over 2.5 goals scored.