Mancini rekindles Italy’s love for Azzurri

Roberto Mancini has turned the clock back for Italy, recapturing the atmosphere of the 1990 World Cup the country hosted, with a 1-0 win over Wales capping a perfect Euro 2020 group-stage run.
Three years after taking over following Italy’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for the first time in 60 years, Mancini has lead the Azzurri back to centre stage in emphatic fashion.
The song “Notti magiche” (Magical Nights) popularised during its home World Cup 31 years ago when Italy reached the semifinals rang out at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, where it has played all its matches.
After a perfect European qualifying run, Italy has continued that form in the group stage, beating Turkey and Switzerland, both with a 3-0 scoreline, before the victory over the Welsh sealed top spot in Group A. It was an 11th consecutive victory without conceding a goal.
‘Magical Nights’
“It was nice to hear the Stadio Olimpico singing ‘Notti magiche’ (Magical Nights),” said 56-year-old Mancini.
“It brought us back a few years when we were all younger and we felt an extraordinary love for the national team.


