Italy looking for 'identity' under Mancini says Scalvini
ROME: Italy defender Giorgio Scalvini said Wednesday the Azzurri were still defining themselves under new coach Roberto Mancini as they prepare to take on Zinedine Zidane’s France in the Nations League this week.
Italy's goalkeeper Giorgio Scalvini expressed that the Azzurri are still finding their identity under new coach Roberto Mancini as they prepare to face Zinedine Zidane's France in a Nations League match. While they are just beginning to gel, Mancini's goal is to create a dominant team that enjoys the game.
Mancini, returning to the Italian national team coach after a three-year absence, has chosen a youthful squad for his first selection. The 22-year-old Atalanta center-back Scalvini noted that Mancini encourages the team to dominate matches and to have fun.
Italy had previously won the European Championship under Mancini in 2021, but failed to qualify for the World Cup for the third consecutive time after losing to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the European play-off final. In his first match back, Italy suffered a 2-0 defeat to Belgium before rebounding with a 4-1 win against Turkey.
Scalvini emphasized that the veteran players are crucial in supporting the younger ones, highlighting the true spirit of Italy. The 10-cap defender is looking forward to Friday's match against France in Paris, acknowledging that France is one of the world's best teams with exceptional attacking abilities. However, Scalvini and his teammates remain positive and brave, aiming to play fearlessly against France to determine their current standing in the sport.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
