“Italy is back” they said… Then the exclusion from the World Cup (two in a row), the cases of betting, racism, video games. A national team like this is not very scary.
London (England) 07/11/2021 – Euro 2020 / Italy-England / photo Imago/Image Sport in the photo: Italy
Italy, a European champion involved in a thousand problems: out of the World Cup, illegal betting, racism…
This is the title with which the Spaniards of As they open their interactive article on the Italian national team, which we remember, is in the same group as Spain at the European Championships.
The crisis in Italy: sporting and non-sporting problems, racism and video games
“Italy is back” was the phrase that was often repeated after the victory at the European Championships in 2021. However, since then the Italian national team has turned into a box full of problems. It all started with the exclusion from the World Cup in Qatar, it was the first time that they did not qualify for two consecutive World Cups. There have then been various extra-sporting controversies: the most influential is that of the betting case, in which several national team players are implicated, namely Zaniolo, Tonali and Fagioli. For now, the only one really sanctioned is Tonali, who lost the opportunity to play the European Championships; but all three acknowledged having gambling addiction.
Sports and non-sports problems… what else can we add? The racism. Azzurri central defender Francesco Acerbi was accused in March for alleged racist insults (against Juan Jesus, ed.). He was recently acquitted due to lack of evidence. At the same time, Spalletti had to face another problem: banning video games for footballers who played until four in the morning and were not concentrated enough the next day.
Finally, the newspaper poses a survey to its readers: how far will Italy get in this European Championship?
For Marca, the Azzurri are not scary
“Italy is, without a doubt, the European champion who defends his title in the European Championship with the least intimidating power in history. An ugly goalless draw against Turkey. But the worst thing wasn’t the result. It gave the impression of a team with no desire to win and no rhythm of play. The worst analysis that can be drawn from the decent friendly played in Bologna“.
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