Italy head into Euro 2024 to defend their title and secure a third European Championship crown.

The Azzurri's journey in recent years has been a rollercoaster, marked by significant highs and lows. After the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, the team rebounded spectacularly under Roberto Mancini, embarking on a 37-game unbeaten run that culminated in their Euro 2020 victory.

However, this success was followed by another setback when they failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Despite these ups and downs, Italy managed to secure third place in the UEFA Nations League for the second consecutive time and finished second in their Euro 2024 qualifying group, trailing only England.

Spalletti only took over from Roberto Mancini in September 2023. The former Serie A-winning coach with Napoli appears to have steadied the ship.

With his leadership, Italy are expected to be one of the most formidable teams in the tournament. As the defending champions, they will face a challenging Group B that includes Spain, Croatia, and Albania.

Italy Euro 2024 Key Players to Watch

Under Spalletti, Italy are expected to showcase a blend of defensive solidity and attacking flair. The midfield will be crucial to their success, with Inter Milan's Nicolo Barella playing a pivotal role.

Barella's ability to link midfield and attack makes him indispensable to the Azzurri's strategy. Additionally, Italy will look to Federico Chiesa to recapture his scintillating form from Euro 2020, which was instrumental in their triumph.

The defense, traditionally Italy's strength, will feature key players from Inter Milan's Scudetto-winning squad. Federico Dimarco and Alessandro Bastoni are likely to be mainstays in the backline. A robust defense will be vital for Italy as they look to overcome the tournament's challenges.

Italy Full Squad for Euro 2024

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Donnarumma (PSG), Alex Meret (Napoli), Guglielmo Vicario (Tottenham Hotspur)

Defenders: Alessandro Bastoni (Inter Milan), Raoul Bellanova (Torino), Alessandro Buongiorno (Torino), Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna), Andrea Cambiaso (Juventus), Matteo Darmian (Inter Milan), Giovanni Di Lorenzo (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter Milan), Federico Gatti (Juventus), Gianluca Mancini (Roma)

Midfielders: Nicolò Barella (Inter Milan), Bryan Cristante (Roma), Nicolò Fagioli (Juventus), Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan), Jorginho (Arsenal), Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)

Forwards: Federico Chiesa (Juventus), Stephan El Shaarawy (Roma), Michael Folorunsho (Hellas Verona), Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli), Mateo Retegui (Genoa), Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta), Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio)

Italy Euro 2024 Schedule

1. Italy vs Albania - June 16, Sunday - 12:30 AM (Venue: Signal Iduna Park)

2. Italy vs Spain - June 21, Friday - 12:30 AM (Venue: Veltins-Arena)

3. Italy vs Croatia - June 25, Tuesday - 12:30 AM (Venue: Red Bull Arena Leipzig)

Italy Euro 2024 Predicted XI

(3-4-2-1): Gianluigi Donnarumma ; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Alessandro Buongiorno, Alessandro Bastoni ; Andrea Cambiaso, Nicolo Barella, Jorginho, Federico Dimarco; Davide Frattesi, Federico Chiesa; Gianluca Scamacca

Best Performance in the European Championship

Italy have participated in eleven European Championships. They have reached the finals four times but have won the competition twice - as hosts in 1968 and the last tournament, in Euro 2020.