At the start of this Euro Cup, there were as many as five Italian head coaches: Italy’s Mancini, Hungary’s Rossi, Slovakia’s Caltagirone, Belgium’s Tedesco, and Turkey’s Montella. After the group stage, all except Rossi’s Hungary advanced to the Round of 16.
The Italian sports newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport published a report stating, “Five Italian managers at this Euro, with four of them leading their teams into the Round of 16. Our coaches are shining in Germany. The 2024 Euros have showcased the dominance of Italian coaches. It wouldn’t be surprising if our managers faced each other in the final.”
However, what the Italian media didn’t anticipate was how quickly the tables turned. After the Round of 16, only one Italian manager made it to the quarterfinals. Mancini’s Italy, the defending champions, lost 0-2 to Switzerland. Then, Caltagirone’s Slovakia was knocked out after a 1-2 extra-time defeat to England. Next, Tedesco’s Belgium fell to France 0-1, also exiting the tournament. Fortunately, Montella’s Turkey narrowly eliminated Austria 2-1, becoming the sole Italian coach-led team in the Euro quarterfinals.
The Italian media’s hope for an all-Italian final has been dashed. As for how far Montella can lead his team, the prospects are uncertain. While Turkey’s half of the bracket doesn’t include France, Spain, or Germany, both the Netherlands, England, or Switzerland pose formidable challenges.
Facepalm! Italian Coach Domination in Euros Proves Short-Lived. Author：Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced：https://www.sportsuefa.com/football-world/13870.html
