Italy will make their debut tomorrow, Saturday 15 June, at 9.00 pm, in Dortmund against Albania.
We, as has happened for some years on the eve of major tournaments, wanted to have local journalists who cover or have covered sports play Euro 2024 in advance. This is what they told us about the favorite, the Italian national team and possible outsiders.
VALENTINO LOSITO (Former president of the Order of Journalists of Puglia and National Councilor) – I think Germany is the host favorite anyway. I see Italy until the quarterfinals, hoping to be wrong, and Holland as a team with an excellent squad capable of becoming a surprise.
ANTONIO QUINTO (Director of Viva Network) – I think England are the favorites due to the quality and depth of the squad. He plays against France. Among the possible surprises, teams that can move forward beyond all predictions, I like to think there could be Poland, even if they have lost important players in the last few friendlies. I see it as solid. As far as the Azzurri are concerned, I suppose we could reach the quarter-finals, more than that would be a feat.
NICOLA MICCIONE (Viva Network – Daily newspaper of Puglia) – Despite the rumors to the contrary on the eve of the match, I think that Germany is still the favourites, they are playing at home and won’t want to make mistakes. Unfortunately I believe that Italy cannot reach the quarter-finals, the team seems incomplete to me. And unfortunately in our group there is Croatia, my possible outsider, a tough nut to crack for the Azzurri.
GIANLUCA BATTISTA (Viva Network – Telebari) – I think I can say that France, England and Portugal have the most complete squads, with the former having to deal with the arrogance of some of their players and the latter having a difficult group. The Lusitanians will instead have to adjust some defensive mechanisms, according to the latest friendlies.
I think Italy could reach the quarter-finals, but the group will be the test for a national team in which I don’t see leaders like in 2021. The challenge against Albania is fundamental, where we need to win 3 points, otherwise we risk returning home very soon. Given for certain the German effort to impose itself at home (the friendlies say little), as a presumed surprise I would see Croatia (which in any case came second and third at the last two World Cups) or the Netherlands, the latter damaged more by its coach than from opponents. Belgium? He missed important appointments, who knows, maybe his graduation has arrived. The fact remains that in my opinion the European Championships are much more complicated than the World Cup.
MASSIMILIANO DILETTUSO (Viva Network) – I agree with some colleagues: England favourites, if only for the deep squad and the talent especially in midfield and attack. Italy probably capable of reaching the quarter-finals, but I would be lying to say that you don’t hope they get to the end. It would be nice to raise that cup again. As for the surprise… well, it could be plausible that it could be the Netherlands due to the quality of some players. We’ll see…
MARIO SICOLO (from Bitonto) – I will answer bluntly: for me the favorite is Spain, ready to win something important again. I don’t have much hope for Italy, we risk stopping at the group stage. And I see as an outsider, a formation that is transformed into a story perhaps to be told: Vincenzo Montella’s Turkey.
