History has shown that defending European champions face an uphill battle in their quest for consecutive titles. Spain is the only nation to have achieved this feat, winning both Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, sandwiched between their World Cup victory in 2010. This level of success is rare and highlights the difficulty of maintaining a dominant position in international football.
Contrastingly, Italy’s recent history has been less illustrious. They failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, a shocking outcome for a country with such a rich footballing heritage. This setback raises doubts about Italy’s ability to defend their European title successfully.
Looking back at previous tournaments, we can identify a pattern regarding defending champions. Two nations, the Soviet Union in 1968 and West Germany in 1976, finished as runners-up after winning the previous edition. This suggests that the pressure of defending their title can have a detrimental effect on a team’s performance.
On the other end of the spectrum, Greece’s experience in 2008 serves as a cautionary tale. After their remarkable triumph in 2004, where they emerged as surprise winners, Greece finished at the bottom of their group in the subsequent tournament, losing all of their matches. This drastic decline highlights the challenges of maintaining momentum and motivation after achieving a major success.
Since Spain’s back-to-back victories in 2008 and 2012, defending champions have struggled to progress beyond the round of 16. Spain themselves were eliminated at this stage in 2016, while Portugal suffered a similar fate in Euro 2020. This trend indicates that the knockout stages pose a significant hurdle for defending champions, where any lapse in performance can lead to an early exit.
Considering Italy’s journey to win Euro 2020, it becomes evident that their success was built on various factors. The performances of players like Leonardo Spinazzola, who showcased his magical abilities before succumbing to injury, played a crucial role in Italy’s triumph. Additionally, their prowess in penalty shootouts demonstrated their mental resilience and ability to handle pressure.
However, the shadow of Covid-19 also loomed large over the tournament. The impact of the pandemic on teams and players cannot be understated. Italy, like other nations, had to navigate through uncertain circumstances and adapt to the challenges posed by the virus. Overcoming these obstacles further showcased their strength as a team.
As Euro 2024 approaches, Italy finds themselves in a similar position as they did before Euro 2020. Considered underdogs compared to powerhouses like England, France, Germany, Spain, and Portugal, Italy faces an uphill battle to defend their European title. History suggests that the odds are against them, but football is a game of surprises, and Italy has proven their resilience and determination in the past.
Ultimately, only time will tell if Italy can defy the odds once again and cement their status as one of Europe’s footballing giants. The journey ahead will be challenging, but if Italy can draw inspiration from their past successes and build upon their strengths, they may yet surprise the footballing world once more.