Roberto Mancini
Italy's Giorgio Chiellini heads the ball during the Euro 2020, soccer championship group A match between Italy and Turkey, at the Rome Olympic stadium, Friday, June 11, 2021. (Alfredo Falcone/LaPresse via AP)
Italy convincing in 3-0 win over Turkey to open Euro 2020

By Andrew Dampf Jun. 11, 2021 05:07 PM EDT

Italian fans watch the Euro 2020, soccer championship group A match between Italy and Turkey, on a mega screen set in downtown Rome, Friday, June 11, 2021. (Cecilia Fabiano/LaPresse via AP)
Euro 2020 opening marks return of mega-scale sports events

By Karl Ritter Jun. 11, 2021 06:15 AM EDT

Italy players attend a training session ahead of Friday's Euro 2020, group A soccer match against Turkey, at the Rome Olympic stadium, Thursday, June 10, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, Pool)
Italy vs Turkey 6/11/2021

Jun. 11, 2021 03:08 AM EDT

Italy's Nicola Barella, center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's second goal during the international friendly soccer match between Italy and Czech Republic in Bologna, Italy, Friday, June 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
A year late, Italy and Turkey play opening game at Euro 2020

By Andrew Dampf Jun. 10, 2021 04:52 AM EDT

Czech Republic's Alex Kral eyes the ball during the international friendly soccer match between Italy and Czech Republic in Bologna, Italy, Friday, June 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni)
Czech Republic vs Italy 6/4/2021

Jun. 04, 2021 05:20 PM EDT

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo reacts during the international friendly soccer match between Spain and Portugal at the Wanda Metropolitano stadium in Madrid, Spain on Friday June 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
Spain, Portugal draw 0-0 in front of nearly 15,000 in Madrid

By Tales Azzoni Jun. 04, 2021 03:52 PM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, June 16, 2016 filer, Germany coach Joachim Loew looks from the sidelines during the Euro 2016 Group C soccer match between Germany and Poland at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, France. France won the last major international soccer tournament — the World Cup in 2018 — by defending compactly, hitting teams on the break with clinical finishing, and being effective at set pieces. What will the winning approach be at the European Championship?. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
EURO 2020: Pragmatism the key to success in pandemic soccer

By Steve Douglas Jun. 04, 2021 08:10 AM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, March 25, 2021 filer, Italy's Ciro Immobile, right, competes for the ball with Northern Ireland's goalkeeper Bailey Peacock Farrell, bottom, during the World Cup 2022 qualifier group c soccer game between Italy and Northern Ireland at the Stadio Ennio Tardini in Parma, Italy. (Massimo Paolone/LaPresse via AP, File )
EURO 2020: Italy transformed after World Cup failure

By Andrew Dampf May. 31, 2021 08:57 AM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019 file photo, Croatia coach Zlatko Dalic looks at the field prior to the Euro 2020 group E qualifying soccer match between Croatia and Slovakia at the Rujevica stadium in Rijeka, Croatia. The last two World Cup winners (Joachim Loew of Germany and Didier Deschamps of France). The defending European champion (Fernando Santos of Portugal). And a World Cup finalist (Zlatko Dalić of Croatia). Not to mention a Champions League winner (Luis Enrique of Spain) and a Premier League champion (Roberto Mancini of Italy). There is no shortage of accomplished coaches at the European Championship. (AP Photo/Daniel Kasap, File)
Slovakia vs Croatia 11/16/2019

May. 31, 2021 07:28 AM EDT

Lazio's Ciro Immobile, right, celebrates after scoring his side's second goal on a penalty during a Serie A soccer match between Lazio and Genoa, in Rome's Olympic stadium, Sunday, May 2, 2021. (Fabrizio Corradetti/LaPresse via AP)
Italy players vaccinated ahead of Euro 2020

May. 03, 2021 12:44 PM EDT

FILE - In this Monday, July 29, 2019 file photo, Daniele De Rossi speaks during a press conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Italian soccer federation said Friday, April 9, 2021 that Italy assistant coach De Rossi had been admitted to an infectious diseases hospital with pneumonia after testing positive for the coronavirus. He was one of four Azzurri staff members to contract COVID-19 during recent World Cup qualifiers. (AP Photo/Tomas F. Cuesta, File)
Italy's De Rossi in hospital after positive virus test

Apr. 09, 2021 12:38 PM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 7, 2018 file photo, Italy coach Roberto Mancini gestures during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Italy and Poland at Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy. Italy coach Roberto Mancini has tested positive for the coronavirus days before the international break. The Italian soccer federation says that Mancini is “completely asymptomatic” and is self-isolating at his house in Rome. The Italy squad will meet up on Sunday. It plays an international friendly against Estonia on Wednesday and hosts Poland in the Nations League four days later. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)
Italy's national team smiling again under Roberto Mancini

By Daniella Matar Nov. 19, 2020 10:32 AM EST

Referee Orel Grinfeld of Israel tells Poland's goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski to go to his goal as Netherlands' Memphis Depay, left, prepares to take a penalty shot during the Nations League soccer match between Poland and The Netherlands at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland, Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)
Host Italy, Belgium advance to stellar Nations League finals

By Graham Dunbar Nov. 18, 2020 06:29 PM EST

Belgium's Kevin De Bruyne, left, looks to pass the ball past England's Declan Rice and Dominic Calvert­-Lewin, right, during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Belgium and England at the King Power stadium in Leuven, Belgium, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
MATCHDAY: Italy, Belgium eye Nations League finals spots

By The Associated Press Nov. 17, 2020 07:47 PM EST

FILE - In this Friday, Sept. 7, 2018 file photo, Italy coach Roberto Mancini gestures during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Italy and Poland at Dall'Ara stadium in Bologna, Italy. Italy coach Roberto Mancini has tested positive for the coronavirus days before the international break. The Italian soccer federation says that Mancini is “completely asymptomatic” and is self-isolating at his house in Rome. The Italy squad will meet up on Sunday. It plays an international friendly against Estonia on Wednesday and hosts Poland in the Nations League four days later. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, File)
Virus-hit Italy hosts Poland without coach and star forward

By Daniella Matar Nov. 14, 2020 01:24 PM EST

Italy's Vincenzo Grifo, front left, celebrates scoring the third goal of the game during the international friendly soccer match between Italy and Estonia, at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
Ronaldo scores in round of friendlies affected by virus

By Tales Azzoni Nov. 11, 2020 06:00 PM EST

Italy's Kevin Lasagna, left, and Estonia's Mihkel Ainsalu during the international friendly soccer match between Italy and Estonia, at the Artemio Franchi Stadium in Florence, Italy, Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020. (Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse via AP)
Virus-affected Italy beats Estonia 4-0 in friendly

Nov. 11, 2020 05:04 PM EST

FILE - In this Sept. 8, 2020 file photo, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo sticks out his tongue during the Portugal against Sweden UEFA Nations League soccer match at Friends Arena in Stockholm, Sweden. The Portuguese soccer federation says on Tuesday, Oct. 13 Cristiano Ronaldo has tested positive for the coronavirus. The federation says Ronaldo is doing well and has no symptoms. He has been dropped from the country's Nations League match against Sweden on Wednesday. (Janerik Henriksson/TT via AP, file)
MATCHDAY: Spain-Netherlands highlight of round of friendlies

By The Associated Press Nov. 10, 2020 07:10 PM EST

Roma's Henrikh Mkhitaryan, right, celebrates after scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Genoa and Roma, at the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa, Italy, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. (Tano Pecorao/LaPresse via AP)
Club quarantines prevent players from joining national teams

By Andrew Dampf And Rob Harris Nov. 08, 2020 06:13 PM EST

FILE - In this Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020 file photo, Italy's coach Roberto Mancini wears a face mask during the international friendly soccer match between Italy and Moldova, at the Artemio Franchi stadium, in Florence, Italy. Italy coach Roberto Mancini has tested positive for the coronavirus days before the international break. The Italian soccer federation says that Mancini is “completely asymptomatic” and is self-isolating at his house in Rome. The Italy squad will meet up on Sunday. It plays an international friendly against Estonia on Wednesday and hosts Poland in the Nations League four days later. (Marco Bucco/LaPresse via AP)
Mancini names 41-man Italy squad amid virus concerns

Nov. 07, 2020 01:38 PM EST