With Euro 2020 beginning on Friday 11th June, there’s a lot of conjecture surrounding how the tournament will play out. Italy will be starting strong, going into their first match knowing they haven’t lost a game since 2018.
With Roberto Mancini having been appointed as head coach, the team is in a great position to dominate on-pitch. His elevation to the role will hopefully help Italy to forget its disastrous performance at the 2018 World Cup, where it failed to even qualify.
Working on the assumption that Italy beats San Marino and the Czech Republic in their pre-tournament qualifiers, they’ll be going into their first match with an unbroken winning streak stretching back a phenomenal 27 games.
But which Italian players are most likely to shine once they hit the turf? For those who are ready to pick their Euro 2020 dream teams, here’s who you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
Gianluigi Donnarumma
Keep fighting ??
2??5??0??@acmilan pic.twitter.com/QxpAh6vacH— Gianluigi Donnarumma (@gigiodonna1) May 16, 2021
The Dream Team Euros have Gianluigi Donnarumma rated as their joint-most expensive keeper, with a value of four million, and there is good reason for this – he’s worth it. While he may be young at 22 years old, Donnarumma is a highly rated shot-stopper whose recent performances on the pitch have been impeccable. This is a player who doesn’t make mistakes.
Donnarumma has also lucked out concerning his groupings. He’s set to play against Switzerland, Turkey, and Wales, none of whom should cause him any real problems. Certainly, Italy’s goalkeeping has been top-notch throughout their qualifying campaign, with only four well-placed shots having made it through.
Emerson Palmieri
Emerson Palmieri is valued at only 2.5 million, but we think he’s worth far more – and that he’ll easily prove this in his matches. The 26-year-old has spent a mere 89 minutes on the pitch for Chelsea so far this season, but we’ve been impressed by the little we’ve seen.
Not only this, but we know Palmieri has been favoured by Mancini of late and has been a regular starter for Italy. We’re likely to see this trend continue during the Euros, and we have an inkling that this nurturing of his talent is a wise move on the part of the new Italian manager.
With this in mind, be sure to keep a close eye on Palmieri if he appears on the pitch during the opening match against Turkey.
Federico ChiesaItaly has a fantastic midfield collective, and experience shows that attack-minded individuals are fundamental to a team’s success. Considering this, we think Federico Chiesa is another to keep an eye on.
While the Old Lady has proved underwhelming this season, Chiesa has been the standout star at Juventus. Though he’s been largely let down by his teammates, he’s still managed to score an impressive 15 goals, while providing 10 assists in addition. Chiesa is the most expensive Italian midfielder for good reason – because his attacking output is exceptional. Because of this, we’re certain he’ll shine during this all-important tournament.
Making the most of Euro 2020
To say UEFA Euro hasn’t had a wider influence would be an understatement, and it is seen across a lot of games. Konami has rights for Euro 2020 in their title eFootball PES 2020 in the form of free downloadable content. FIFA fans will have to do without this year, then again, they last had access to it for FIFA 12 so this shouldn’t come as a big surprise.
For something a little different again, try one of the many online titles inspired by the Euros, such as slot game Euro Reels. If you’re searching for the ‘migliori casinò’ (that means ‘best casino’ in Italian) to play at, sites like BonusFinder are a useful place to search. That’s because these online directories share the top offers and bonuses on the internet to help you find the right provider for you, with one of their listed sites – 888 Casino – including this game among its many offerings.
How will you choose to enjoy Euro 2020? With so much exciting on-pitch action ahead, the possibilities are endless. Even more so, you can take the experience into your own hands if you want to play the experience yourself.
