Pundits agreed that Italy will be ‘tough to beat’ after they reached the final of Euro 2020 with a penalty shootout victory over Spain.
Federico Chiesa’s opener was cancelled out by substitute Alvaro Morata’s 80th minute equaliser to send the game into extra-time and then penalties.
Morata and Dani Olmo missed from the spot to send Italy to the final with a 4-2 shoot-out victory.
Roberto Mancini has helped turn the nation’s fortunes around after they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
After the match, BBC pundits Alan Shearer, Rio Ferdinand and Jurgen Klinsmann all praised Mancini for how he has built them back up to the top.
Former England captain Shearer said:’ You’ve got to complement Mancini and his team. What a team of character he’s got, 33 matches that’s now unbeaten for Italy.
‘The togetherness they have in that squad together with their ability, they’re going to be very tough to beat in the final.’
Ferdinand agreed with his co-pundit’s view that Italy will be a tough opponent for whoever wins the second semi-final between Denmark and England on Wednesday.
He also gave special mention to experienced defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci for the performances they have put in during recent weeks.
He said: ‘The Italians, I fancied before the game they’ve got that character, mentality, toughness and with all six substitutions that were used for the Italians, the two warriors at centre-half (Chiellini and Bonucci) stayed on the pitch.
‘They are integral to this team’s success and what they are doing.
‘The way Roberto Mancini has turned the fortunes of the national team around he deserves huge credit and they’re going to be a tough side to crack in the final.’
Klinsmann said that Italy’s success was a great story after the struggles the country has had over the past year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He said: ‘Seeing the Italians going to the final after what they went through, we feel for this country, they were struggling so big with Covid, it’s just amazing the story of Roberto Mancini and this team and every individual player of that team.
‘It’s a fantastic moment. They’re all united, all the Italians they came together, it’s unbelievable this story and how they stick together.’
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