Who's on the Plane? Italy Euros Squad Power Rankings - November 2020
By Max Cooper
It's all looking extremely peachy if you're a supporter of the Italian national team right now.
The postponement of Euro 2020 by a year was an almighty kick in the goolies for football lovers, who wanted to see their country on the big stage in one of the many destinations around Europe. For Italy however, it may have been a blessing in disguise.
Gli Azzurri have undergone a transitional period over the past couple of years, and while a handful of talented, precocious youngsters were bursting onto the scene, everything was all a bit raw and inexperienced - think England in 2018.
So, a year on and with 12 months of extra calcio under their belts, this team is starting to gel and look more and more like the force of old. With Roberto Mancini at the helm, this Italy side could really go the distance in next summer's rearranged tournament.
So, now we're all tucking into our spaghetti alla carbonara with a glass of vino rosso and Andrea Boccelli's Con Te Partirò ringing in our ears, let's see who else will be jetting off with the great opera singer to whichever country ends up hosting Euro 2020 in 2021.
And of course, this squad is ranked from bench warmers to team sheet starters, just for your pleasure. Let's get stuck in, shall we?
23. Nicolo Zaniolo
One man who was extremely grateful for the postponement of Euro 2020 was Nicolo Zaniolo. The AS Roma star ruptured his ACL at the turn of the year, meaning he would have missed his first major tournament.
Unfortunately, the wonderkid recovered, returned to action and then ruptured his other ACL, leaving him sidelined once more. He's too talented to rule out completely, though...
22. Salvatore Sirigu
A decent goalkeeper, and his first name translates to 'Saviour' in English. Born to live between the sticks.
Faces a battle with Alex Meret for a place in the squad.
21. Cristiano Biraghi
A solid enough backup, but an injury to the starters and you're beginning to worry. Are you winning a European trophy with Cristiano Biraghi in your side? Probably not.
20. Alessio Cragno
Probably the second choice shot-stopper, Cragno is developing quickly as one of Italy's most promising young goalkeepers. Plenty of competition from Meret and Sirigu.
19. Manuel Locatelli
As Sassuolo continue to take Serie A by storm, Manuel Locatelli continues his rise as an exciting and dynamic midfielder.
He's not a starter as it stands, but if the Neroverdi win the title Leicester style, he could go one better than Danny Drinkwater and become an international regular. Pips Bryan Cristante to the post - or should do.
18. Gianluca Mancini
Backup to the backup centre-back, Gianluca Mancini will step foot on the plane - but he won't be getting much air time on the pitch.
17. Federico Bernardeschi
He's been absolutely garbage for Juventus whenever he's stumbled onto the field, but Federico Bernardeschi is a bit of a favourite for Mancini.
The winger is also a much better performer in the national jersey, so may stake his claim as the Danny Welbeck of Italia.
16. Francesco Acerbi
Hilariously picked for a recent Italy game because Mancini didn't have his glasses on and gave the okay to a team sheet while blind.
Wouldn't get in ahead of Giorgio Chiellini under normal circumstances.
15. Alessandro Florenzi
Turns out, if you give Alessandro Florenzi no defensive duties whatsoever and just let him attack from right-back, he's a pretty good defender!
He may be the man for Paris Saint-Germain, but he's got a battle on his hands for this starting spot.
14. Stefano Sensi
Would have been a shoo-in for last summer's tournament, but injuries and competition for places have halted his development.
Still proper good, though.
13. Andrea Belotti
Andrea Il Gallo Belotti is a clinical forward for Torino, but for Italy, the Rooster is more of a sitting duck. Needs to prove he can do it on the big stage before he counts his Euro 2020 chickens.
12. Danilo D'Ambrosio
Currently the favourite to occupy the right-back spot, although Inter coach Antonio Conte is doing Danilo D'Ambrosio no favours by playing him out of position at centre-back and making him look terrible.
11. Lorenzo Pellegrini
Lorenzo Pellegrini may blow hot and cold for Roma, but he is becoming irreplaceable in Mancini's Italy side.
Previously described as having the brain of Francesco Totti and the feet of Ade Akinbiyi by this particular writer, he is finally starting to prove doubters (me) wrong with some impressive displays for club and country.
10. Federico Chiesa
Hated in Florence and loved in Turin, Federico Chiesa finally left boyhood club Fiorentina to further his progress at behemoth Juventus.
A good season in black and white and the 23-year-old should comfortably be pulling on the Italian blue come the summer.
9. Marco Verratti
The un-pressable pitbull in Italy and Paris Saint-Germain's midfield. Arguably one of the most talented players in the squad, injury is the only issue which plagues Marco Verratti
He'll be a valuable member of the team if he stays fit - but that's a big if.
8. Leonardo Spinazzola
Italy are not exactly blessed with brilliant full-backs, but Leonardo Spinazzola has been tearing it up with Roma this season.
The 27-year-old has looked a man possessed, and if he carries on this form, he'll be a vital outlet on Italy's left flank.
7. Gianluigi Donnarumma
The number one. The big man. The big friendly giant. The goalkeeper between the sticks now, and possibly for the next 15 years.
Gianluigi Donnarumma already boasts 20 senior caps at the age of 21, and as he grows with each passing year, he begins to represent the present and future for his nation.
6. Lorenzo Insigne
Lorenzo Insigne is one of the best left-wingers in the world on his day, and his trademark move of cutting in and bending one into the far corner is Arjen Robben-esque.
He'll be there.
5. Giorgio Chiellini
There have not been many better centre-backs than Giorgio Chiellini in football history. Now aged 36, he's approaching the twilight of his career, but he's still absolutely nailing it.
As long as father time doesn't catch up with him over the next six months or so, he'll still be a key figure in this side.
4. Ciro Immobile
Lazio star Ciro Immobile will be on the plane as Italy's first-choice striker, unless his evil, rubbish twin who kidnaps him and usually takes his place on international duty gets his own way again.
The relentless Serie A scorer needs to copy and paste that form onto the international stage, because right now, he's damn lucky there's not a whole lotta competition for his spot.
3. Jorginho
He may not be the most popular man at Stamford Bridge, and his insatiable appetite to pass the ball divides opinion among the Chelsea faithful - but Mancini knows just how to use him.
Jorginho was rated as one of the best midfielders in the world at the heart of Maurizio Sarri's entertaining Napoli side, and he plays a similar role for the Italian national team, too.
2. Leonardo Bonucci
The Dick to Chiellini's Dom, Leonardo Bonucci is Italy's best centre-back as it stands. He may not command the same respect as he did before crossing enemy lines to Milan, but he's still one of the canniest operators in Europe.
A brutal partnership.
1. Nicolo Barella
Italy's very own action man. If Nicolo Barella played for Liverpool, he'd be widely considered as the best box-to-box midfielder in the world: fact.
The tenacious youngster has got the lot, and he will be the first name on Mancini's team sheet.