Italy reserved their place in the next round with 3-0 victories over Turkey and Switzerland (Image:.)
Patrick Vieira says he has great “doubts” that Italy can reach the final stages of Euro 2020, as he believes that Roberto Mancini’s team lacks “intensity, power and pace” in the future.
The Italians defeated Turkey 3-0 in their opening Group A match before beating Switzerland by the same margin to become the first team to reserve their place in the knockout phase, with Ciro Immobile adding to Manuel Locatelli’s previous double in Rome last night.
The convincing back-to-back victories have led many to praise the Azzurri as early tournament favorites alongside France, Belgium and England, but former Arsenal captain Vieira refused to be sucked into the hype as he analyzed their performances on ITV. Sport. study.
The iconic Frenchman, who won the Euro in 2000, said he was going to hold back his praise given that Mancini’s men have not yet been “really tested.”
Locatelli scored on both sides of halftime at the Stadio Olimpico last night (Image:.)
“I think the first two games they played were two easy games. I don’t think they have been really tested, ”Vieira said.
‘Of course you have to win what you have ahead but I still have doubts that they can make it to the end.
I think they lack intensity, power and pace to be even more dangerous in the future.
“I’m still going to wait, I think it’s too early to take into account that Italy can go all the way.”
Vieira still has doubts about Italy despite their progression to the knockout phase (Image: ITV Sport)
Italy’s head coach Mancini sought to downplay expectations following the victory over Switzerland, arguing that his team is still in its development stages compared to France, Portugal and Belgium.
«In the Eurocopa there are France, Portugal and Belgium. One of them is a world champion, another is a European champion and the other is the world’s number one team, “he told reporters.
“These are teams that have been built over several years and it is natural that they are more advanced than us, but in football anything can happen, you should not take anything for granted.
“Every game is difficult, you always have to go out and play.
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“I have been lucky to have had very good players who like to play, they like to be out there and they like to take risks.
‘The players are the ones who deserve the credit. I try to explain my thought process and there is still a long way to go ”.
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