Fresh from Wednesday evening’s big win against Moldova, Italy are ready to take on the double challenge of the Nations League, starting with Poland. Tomorrow evening, they will take to the pitch at the Energa Arena in Gdansk, showing the customary enthusiasm that we always see from this Azzurri side.

It is Italy’s record breaking year, thanks to their leader. In fact, Roberto Mancini best record of any head coach after 22 games in 50 years (15 wins, 5 draws and 2 defeats): they’ve taken 50 points, three more than both Sacchi and Vicini. His Italy side are unbeaten in eleven home matches (6 wins and 5 draws, 31 goals scored and 6 conceded) and his success over Moldova has increased the total number of unbeaten games to 17 (14 wins and 3 draws).

Mancini gave all the credit to the team: “I hoped that the team would improve match after match,” he emphasised in the press conference on the eve of the match. “And they didn’t let me down. The lads have been great, the credit is theirs, they have been quick learners.”

First Poland, then the Netherlands in Bergamo. “They’re two important games,” Mancini explained, “I don’t know if they’ll be decisive. We haven’t planned any sort of turnover. Firts, we’ll play against Poland, and then we’ll take stock.”

Italy and Poland have played each other 16 teams, with the last meeting coming in the last season of the Nations League. The Azzurri won in Chorzow thanks to a last-minute Biraghi goal. Ahead of the game, Mancini has one or two doubts to deal with, one which pertains to Giorgio Chiellini: “We need to assess the situation with the player and we’ll do so tomorrow morning. He’s doing a lot better than when he arrived. We’ll see tomorrow, but we’re quite positive. In any case, if he’s well, he’ll play, otherwise he’ll play against the Netherlands on Wednesday.”

If he plays, Chiellini will have to deal with Lewandowski: “I think he’s one of the world’s very best strikers, and he has been for a number of years. It’s a shame to not have seen him play in Italy. He’s fundamental for Poland, but they also have some other great players. It’s not true that we struggle against top players; I think that guys like Dzeko and Lewandowski can cause problems for any team. Furthermore, Italy have always had the best defenders in the world, and we still do today.”br />
Around 10,000 spectators are expected to be present at the game tomorrow. To a question alluding to FIGC president Gabriele Gravina supposedly asking Mancini to take a step back from the debate on reopening stadiums, the head coach had this to say: “They’re adventurous with their rumours. I got in touch with president Gravina only to wish him a happy birthday.”