Azzurri deserve to take title back to Rome

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This article was published 12/07/2021 (1836 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

“Fratelli d’Italia; l’Italia s’e desta…”

To see the Italy players singing Il Canto degli Italiani at the outset of their Euro 2020 matches was, to in-person fans and television spectators, a sort of performance art.

The camera would go down the line of 11, starting with Lorenzo Insigne and proceeding slowly to the likes of Federico Chiesa, Marco Verratti and Leonardo Bonucci — each belting out their anthem’s patriotic phrases, eyes closed — and then stop at Giorgio Chiellini, the captain, almost screaming the words, and yet with half a smile, “Siam pronti alla morte, l’Italia chiamo!”

“We are ready to die; Italy has called.”

To opponents, the Italian national anthem, and the players yelling the lyrics, arms entwined around each other’s shoulders, must have seemed a sort of Haka — the traditional, intimidating, Maori performative dance acted out by the New Zealand rugby team before their matches.

And throughout the European Championship, Italy backed up their proud, daunting presentation with appropriately dominant showings on the pitch.

It was the Azzurri, don’t forget, who opened the tournament with a 3-0 shellacking of Turkey, after which they dispatched Switzerland by an identical scoreline and beat Wales 1-0 to finish atop Group A. Then, after struggling to break through Austria’s defence — they scored twice on 27 shots over 120 minutes — they rather comfortably knocked out Belgium, the world No. 1, in the quarter-finals.

Granted, they went long stretches without seeing much of the ball in their semi-final win over Spain, but neither were they particularly troubled about their lack of possession. The game — again 120 minutes — was mostly played in front of their defence, and they kept their bottle to win 4-2 on penalties.

Ah yes, penalties.

They were required once again in Sunday’s final against England at Wembley, and after Harry Kane and Harry Maguire converted for the Three Lions, Marcus Rashford hit the upright and Jadon Sancho and Bukayo Saka were denied in succession by Gianluigi Donnarumma. Meanwhile, Domenico Berardi, Bonucci and Federico Bernardeschi beat Jordan Pickford from 12 yards.

England manager Gareth Southgate will no doubt take some heat, and rightfully so, for including three recent substitutes among his penalty takers. Rashford had touched the ball just twice before stepping up to the spot, ditto Sancho, and Saka had only come on in the 70th minute.

Given the previous behaviour of some England fans — and the boorishness, vulgarity and outright violence many displayed on Sunday — one has to be concerned for the three failed penalty-takers, if not for their persons than at least their social media accounts and physical property.

As it happened, there were two very different Englands present for the Wembley final.

One, predominantly white and overwhelming drunk, fought boozily among themselves on the streets and in the squares prior to kick-off. Then, overpowering the event stewards, they rushed into the stadium, with tickets or without, in scenes a Daily Mail correspondent described as “carnage.”

A Financial Times columnist watched as supporters claimed an area reserved for disabled fans as a standing section.

The other England, who opened the scoring through Luke Shaw before two minutes had expired, acquitted themselves admirably, even in defeat on penalties after a 1-1 draw — and the result should in no way overshadow a group that did so much for its country over the previous month.

Not only did England advance to only its second major final on merit, but the England players also presented a version, and vision, of their country whose leaders continue to rule through division, xenophobia and fear.

In late June the Migration Museum released a graphic showing the England team, and what it would look like without migration. All but three players were shown to have at least one parent or grandparent born overseas. This, in contrast with home secretary Priti Patel’s plans for offshoring asylum centres — the “answer to a crisis,” says The Guardian, “that doesn’t exist.”

Then there are the Rashfords, Raheem Sterlings and Jordan Hendersons whose community support initiatives put Boris Johnson’s government to shame.

If England’s defeat felt different this time, it’s because it was. The team didn’t fail, and its players are genuine role models and established civic organizers. They should be celebrated — and, in time, they will be.

But they just couldn’t muster enough to deny Italy a championship that seemed predestined for Rome.

Following Shaw’s shock opener and the subsequent 15 or 20 minutes in which England were on the front foot, the Azzurri largely controlled the Euro 2020 final — their all-action midfield of Verratti, Jorginho and Nicolo Barella eventually overwhelming England in the centre of the park.

Verratti, who touched the ball 134 times, completed 94 per cent of his passes and executed five tackles, bravely launched himself head-first onto a failed clearance from an Italy corner that Bonucci was able to bundle home in the 67th minute. Chiesa, it should be noted, was instrumental in bringing the ball downfield and was his side’s best attacker before going off injured late in the second half.

And manager Roberto Mancini also deserves plaudits.

With Shaw and Kieran Trippier running riot down the flanks, he positioned Chiellini further to the left as Verratti and Jorginho took turns operating as a sort of sweeper from the back.

Chiellini, having picked up a yellow card for a horse-collar foul on Saka, was especially heroic, diving to deny Sterling a late opportunity and winning seven headers over 120 minutes of football that didn’t seem to tire him in the least.

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In a country of both historic and footballing heroes, he is just the latest to achieve glory.

And, if there is to be a lasting image of a quite memorable Euro 2020, it must surely be him, head raised and eyes closed, screaming the anthem at the top of his lungs.

“Siam pronti alla morte, l’Italia chiamo!”

jerradpeters@gmail.com

Twitter @jerradPeters