Italian head coach Roberto Mancini has said his players must put out a big performance against Spain in Tuesday’s semi-final at the Euro 2020.
Italy and Spain will battle it out under the Wembley arch for a place in this weekend’s final.
Following their enthralling quarter-final win over Belgium in Munich, an inspired Italy squad return to London this week to take on one of their oldest rivals, who they first met at the 1920 Olympics.
That win against Belgium served to set yet another record for an impressive Italian side, as they became the first nation to win 15 consecutive matches in European competition – including tournaments and qualifying – and only the fourth to win five European Championship finals fixtures in a row.
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And ahead of the crunch tie against the three-time European champions, Mancini posited that despite parading a young squad, it will a difficult game for his side.
“I hope it is right [that Italy will win] but we know it won’t be that easy.
“We know that we need to produce a big performance because Spain are a top side. Despite the fact they have brought through some younger players, they still have an excellent squad and a very capable coach, so it will be a tough match.”
The former Manchester City boss described as “very unfair” that the vast majority of the 60,000 spectators expected at Wembley on Tuesday for the Euro 2020 semi‑final between Italy and Spain will not be from the respective countries.
“I think it’s pretty unfair if I’m perfectly honest,” the Italy head coach said.
“We’re better off playing in front of any crowd as opposed to playing in front of a small number of people; that’s what’s great about football and entertainment in general. But I do think it’s very unfair that we don’t have half the stadium full of Italian fans and half the stadium full of Spaniards.”
