With Riccardo Calafiori suspended for an accumulation of yellow cards across the three Group B games at EURO 2024, the defence could be left to Gianluca Mancini. The Roma defender is in the running for a start on Saturday at the Olympiastadion in Berlin where we will play the round of 16 clash against Switzerland. For the moment, Mancini is training with grit and determination at the Hemberg Stadion ahead of game, like his teammate Stephan El Shaarawy who spoke in the press conference yesterday, and on Monday evening invaded the pitch after Mattia Zaccagni’s goal just like everyone else.

Mancini spoke to UEFA.com: “The game against Spain lowered the mood because we didn’t expect a game like that but we did well to react at the fundamental moment. We pulled one back at the end but we deserved to go ahead earlier on for how we were playing and everything we did in the 90 minutes. I think the draw and the qualification were deserved”. Then, a word on the enthusiasm for the goal from the last kick of the game: “You always hope during the game that things will turn out as well as possible but scoring such a good goal at the death is something that gives you a push ahead of the next game”.

Second in Group B, Italy will face the second-placed side from Group A, Switzerland, on Saturday at 18:00 CEST in Berlin as well as many players that Mancini has had to mark in Serie A. He explained: “We saw Switzerland against Germany, they are a very physical side, fast and run a lot. It will be a top-level game and we will try to get the best out of it. They have both young and expert players, it’s a good mix, a side with big names and other younger players who have the skill to do well. But our side too has a good mix of experience and youth. Many players have played or currently play in the Italian league. It will be an open game given that some of us know each other, others less so, but it is important to focus on ourselves and do things well to win the game”.

The approach will also be important for winning: “We have to use our heads and our hearts in every game, even those against friends. Football is technical and individual but these two elements, head and heart, just like intelligence, being ice cold, and understanding comments in the game, are especially important in games like this”. Mentality first, then the system on the pitch: “We’re only speaking about the initial set-up because things change during the game based on how it’s going and on the players you will face. In the last game, we started with a 3-5-2. In the first two, we employed a four-man backline but then built out with three. Football nowadays is like that, there is less of a clear setup, it’s the adjustments that players make on the pitch to try and bring the game to their side”. 

If the defence, without Calafiori, has to change, Gigio Donnarumma between the sticks is a certainty: “We all know Gigio. He has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world for a few years, he’s proving this and having him behind us is a big help, you see that on the pitch”. Mancini is part of a new era of defenders called in for Barzagli, Bonucci and Chiellini: “I am not the youngest but Bastoni and Calafiori are playing and doing very well. Then Buongiorno, Gatti and I are there to be ready when the Coach calls on us or when we have to get involved. We are a cohesive and compact group”.

Switzerland, then who knows: “Honestly, when the games ended yesterday we looked for the bracket on social media. There are many good sides on the left. But in reality, there are also strong sides on the right”.

After a day of rest, Italy will be back on the pitch to begin preparations for the game in Berlin. Spalletti has opened the doors to around 300 fans, who were able to support their squad from up close during a session with the players who picked up the fewest minutes against Croatia as they trained with players from the Borussia Dortmund youth sector.