European Championship Warm-up Matches: Can Italy Give Fans Hope? Respected Spirit of Austria's Manager

After clinching the title in the previous European Championship, Italy's football has once again plummeted into a trough, failing consecutively to qualify for the World Cup and facing controversies in the European qualifiers. These setbacks mark dark chapters for a team with four World Cup titles. Currently, the Italian squad seems to lack a trusted spiritual leader to inspire the fans. How can they reignite hope?

Italy's Recent Struggles

Italy's decline began with their failure in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, and despite winning the European Championship last time, one of the critical reasons was the tournament's postponement, providing ample time for adjustments. Moreover, coach Mancini's astuteness in utilizing Chiellini and Bonucci during their peak years laid the foundation for Italy's triumph. True, their group stage dominance resembled Spain's possession football, yet their victory over Spain and an improved England in the knockout stages relied on their concrete defense. Notably, their success was not solely due to the performances of veterans; forwards like Chiesa and goalkeeper Donnarumma emerged crucially, allowing Italy to handle adversity with ease. Chiesa is currently Italy's most dominant forward, using his speed and technique to outsmart even the top defenses in Europe. However, his style of play exacts a toll on his body, raising concerns about his fitness for this European Championship. Donnarumma's composure is striking; even after saving Saka's penalty in the final, he remained focused on the game, unaware that Italy had already secured the title. Although Italy winning penalty shootouts is not uncommon, achieving it twice in a single tournament is a feat usually reserved for psychological giants like Germany and Argentina. Furthermore, his calmness in possession within his penalty area, while not top-tier in footwork, shows excellent timing in distributing the ball, making it difficult for opponents to press.

Austria's Admirable Managerial Commitment

Austria has impressively qualified for the main tournament three times since the expansion of the European Championship. In the last tournament, they pushed eventual champions Italy to extra time, which was unexpected. In the current qualifiers, they ensured no surprises, following closely behind Belgium. Wins against Sweden showcased Austria's football progress and significantly boosted their confidence. Coach Foda's steadfast dedication to Austrian football is commendable; turning down lucrative offers from clubs like Manchester United and Bayern Munich underscores his commitment. It's worth noting that his club coaching income would undoubtedly surpass that of the national team.

Italy vs. Turkey - Stage for Substitute Players

In the friendly match scheduled for June 5, Italy will face Turkey. The defending champions started their decline after their failure in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers. Although they won the last European Cup, the main reason was the delay of the competition for a year, which gave them enough time to adjust. In addition, it cannot be denied that the head coach, Man City, his if you