Verratti gives new impetus to high-flying Italy
Marco Verratti's return from injury has given new impetus to an Italy side looking increasingly like title contenders at Euro 2020.
The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder returned after a six-week knee injury layoff to help the Azzurri make it three wins out of three in the group stage against Wales last weekend.
Next up for Italy is a last-16 game against Austria in Wembley on Saturday.
It had been a free-kick from Verratti, referred to as the 'Little owl', that create Matteo Pessina for the only goal against Wales.
The 28-year-old took the captain's armband when defender Leonardo Bonucci was substituted in the next half, with regular skipper Giorgio Chiellini sitting out the overall game with a muscular problem.
A delighted Roberto Mancini hugged Verratti as he left the pitch at the Stadio Olimpico, having surpassed expectations by playing the whole match in midfield alongside Jorginho.
"(Verratti) showed that they are all starters," said coach Mancini, who left in-form midfielder Manuel Locatelli on the bench towards the PSG player.
Verratti and Jorginho are Mancini's first-choice midfield pairing, and getting the duo in the driving seat again is a boost to Italy's hopes of lifting a trophy they have won once, back 1968.
Both are experienced on the European stage, with Verratti a runner-up in the 2020 Champions League with PSG, while Brazil-born Jorginho, 29, lifted the trophy with Chelsea last month.
Mancini made eight changes for the Wales game with 29-year-old Jorginho, one among three players to remain, having played all three group games.
Locatelli played in Verratti's absence in the first two games and scored a brace against Switzerland.
But while Verratti could be back, Locatelli can still desire to are likely involved, with the pair rotating in team training in Coverciano, outside Florence.
"When we say that team is for everybody, we're not just saying that," said Verratti.
"There are 26 folks and all of us are proud to represent our country and ready to give our best."
He added: "I'm happy (to be back) and thank Mancini for looking forward to me. It had been tough, as in the beginning I wasn't even sure if I could play this tournament following the injury.
"It just happened in 2016 and I feared it was going to happen again. I thank the medical staff and the coach who waited for me personally. It was a special day and I'm happy."
Mancini took over after Italy's failure to be eligible for the 2018 World Cup.
Plus they have lost just twice in 35 games beneath the former Manchester City manager -- with 26 wins and seven draws.
Verratti and Jorginho were absent in both those defeats -- by France in an agreeable in June 2018 before they won the World Cup, and European champions Portugal in the Nations League the next September.
Since that time they are unbeaten and a 31st game without defeat against Austria would see Mancini's men overtake two-time World Cup winning coach Vittoro Pozzo's side's all-time Italian record in the 1930s, that was matched against Wales.
Mancini has used 25 of 26 players available, with the exception third-choice goalkeeper Alex Meret. Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma helped make it 11 consecutive victories without conceding an objective.
A 12th straight win would match the run of the team under Ferruccio Valcareggi, who led Italy to their only European title in 1968, and a runners-up spot on the globe Cup 2 yrs later.
