‘We are a fairy tale!’: Italian media praise Roberto Mancini’s impressive Euro 2020 side

‘We are a fairy tale!’: Italian media heap praise on Roberto Mancini’s ‘relentless’ side after win over Wales saw them complete THIRTY games unbeaten… and reach Euro 2020 knockouts with three straight victories


It’s remarkable to think that Italy failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup when you consider the standard of their performances at Euro 2020.

Roberto Mancini’s men are the pick of the bunch from what we’ve seen in the group stages so far and they advanced into the last-16 with three wins from three, beating Wales 1-0 on Sunday night.

It left the Italian press singing the praises of the national team on Monday morning.

Corriere dello Sport described the Italy team as ‘a fairy tale’ after their win over Wales

La Gazzetta dello Sport said that Mancini is the star of the Italy team

Matteo Pessina, who scored the winner over Wales, made Tuttosport's front page

La Gazzetta dello Sport (left) and Tuttosport (right) were just as triumphant about the team

‘We are a fairy tale,’ wrote Corriere dello Sport alongside a picture of goalscorer  Matteo Pessina celebrating his first-half goal at the Stadio Olimpico. 

The front page of La Gazzetta della Sport says that manager Mancini is ‘the star’ after rotating his team so well in the groups – he made eight changes to his team from the Switzerland game to face Wales.

The Italian publication also says that Italy, who will play their last-16 match at Wembley, will be growing in confidence of returning there for the final.

Italy will likely take on Austria or Ukraine in the next round before likely meeting Belgium in the quarter-final.

‘Implacabili’ or ‘relentless’ reads the front page of Tuttosport, paying tribute to the fact Italy are now 30 games unbeaten and have won their last 11 matches.

Speaking after his side’s 1-0 win in Rome on Sunday, Mancini was eager to pay tribute to his squad and the talent he has at his disposal.

Pessina pictured wheeling away in celebration after scoring in the first half against Wales

Pessina pictured wheeling away in celebration after scoring in the first half against Wales

Mancini's men will now prepare to face either Ukraine or Austria in the last-16 at Wembley

Mancini’s men will now prepare to face either Ukraine or Austria in the last-16 at Wembley 

‘I was very pleased to see that I changed eight players and yet the team played well, could’ve scored more goals against a side that was very defensive,’ he said.

‘It’s better to have everyone at our disposal and ‘suffer’ by leaving someone very talented out rather than not having the choice,” Mancini said.

‘We’ve been doing that since the start, there are so many players who deserve to be there and we have to make choices.

‘A different tournament kicks off now. If the lads continue like this, then I could not ask for more.’