In one of the most highly anticipated clashes of the ongoing UEFA Euro 2016 tournament, reigning World Cup champions will lock horns with Italy, a side which have surprised the critics to emerge as possible challengers for the title.
Antonio Conte’s men made their way to the quarter-finals after beating 2012 European Championship winners Spain 2-0 to send shock waves across the football world. However, with die Mannschaft now awaiting the Azzurri in the last 8, Conte admits that his boy will need to repeat their heroics from the previous round to progress.
Conte, who’ll depart the national side to take over Chelsea once UEFA Euro 2016 ends, was adamant that despites the odds being stacked against his boys, Italy can overcome the obstacles to book their spot in the semis.
“We started our journey with very little credibility in the eyes of the Italian press and also the international media. Everyone thought it was dark days regarding talent in the Italian game,” Conte stated in a press conference on Friday night, as per the Daily Mail.
“But we've shown that with hard work, organisation and 23 top players, who are willing, we can overcome obstacles.
"We did something extraordinary against Spain and now we have to do something absolutely extraordinary against Germany."
History backs Italy, having never lost to Germany in a major competition. The Azzurri’s most recent wins over Joachim Low’s side came in Euro 2012 and in the 2006 World Cup; nonetheless, Conte held nothing but admiration for die Mannschaft.
“We're playing a strong side from every perspective. I think they're better than Spain. They're the reigning world champions and have everything a strong side can possess: technical talent, physical power, organisation, a good tactical set-up.
“Germany are the most complete side in the world at the moment. They're in a very good period in football history with many strong players.”
Italy will be without key midfielder Daniele De Rossi through injury.
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