Mancini’s Italy in the Nations League wants to start winning the finals again – Corriere.it

The finals, said Eto’o, one of the great protagonists of Inter’s treble in 2010, are not played but won. Instead we got used to losing them, four out of four in the space of just 12 days. Roma on penalties against Sevilla, Fiorentina in the 90th minute against West Ham, Inter after holding their own and playing better than the giants Manchester City. And Nunziata’s bold Under 20 players conceded only 5 minutes from the end of the World Cup against Uruguay. Bad luck and naivety. A little curse. Only the last chance remains to reverse this nefarious trend and entrusted to Mancini’s Italy, which will close the season with the Nations League Final four. The semifinal against Spain is scheduled for Thursday in Enschede, hoping to reach the final on Sunday against the winner of Holland-Croatia and not be forced into the bitter one for third place.

It’s up to Italy to lead the movement after the clubs gave color back to Italian football, in a season that began with sadness for the second missed World Cup in a row and closed by raising the column of self-esteem. We didn’t win, but we put ourselves in a position to do so, receiving compliments from everyone, starting with Guardiola. Mancini will have to cast off the spell also because the national team needs to strike a blow before qualifying for the 2023 European Championship, which will resume in September. The moment now. Because, as Acerbi says, compliments are fine because we did well, but if you don’t win in the end, you’re left with nothing. The speech focused on Inter, but it can be extended to the other finalists. The year remains positive: I don’t know if it’s the beginning of something, I hope it’s not a mistake, says the defender.

Mancini’s thoughts, in the brief retreat in Coverciano, aimed precisely at the physical and psychological conditions of the 5 Inter fans, considering that, in addition to Acerbi, Bastoni, Dimarco and Barella are also potential starters against Spain. Will they be ready after Saturday’s blow in Türkiye? I’m still nervous and I want to make up for it, if it were up to me I’d play tomorrow too, guarantees the man who stopped Haaland. It also applies to the others, all on the field in the first training session to the rhythm of upbeat music to ease tension, better tolerate fatigue and recharge the batteries. Valuable, these days, the work of Giuliano Bergamaschi, philosopher and sports pedagogist, joined the blue staff. Mancio will think above all of tactics: with Spain ahead with the 4-3-3 and the usual doubt in attack, this time between Retegui and Immobile.