The opening montages of Euro 2024 are certain to include some recent history. The chiselled Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini standing as Italy’s hard-faced defensive wall. The towering Gianluigi Donnarumma diving to save a penalty down low to his left. Roberto Mancini, in a crisp white shirt, draped in the Italian flag and holding the trophy on the Wembley pitch. Italy as European champions.
It may only be three years ago but so much has changed since beating England on penalties. Mancini is long gone and Bonucci and Chiellini have retired from celebrating blocks and last-ditch clearances. In Germany, Italy are playing under the shadow of history: of their triumph at the last Euros and their victory at the 2006 World Cup, the last major tournament to be held in the country. But Italy are not being talked about as potential winners. Rather, they are hardly being talked about at all.
