The National's Sport cover for the Saturday, June 18 issue, featuring Italy as they chalked up another win at Euro 2016, beating Sweden 1-0.
The Italians look set to top Group D, after they were widely doubted coming into the tournament and dismissed as one of the least-talented ever assembled by the country.
Incoming Chelsea manager Antonio Conte, however, has guided them deftly:
“He feels blessed with a golden touch right now. If the manager is match-winner, it is just as well. Italy have few others, but they are making a comparative paucity of talent go a long way. They are into the last 16, very probably as group winners.
“They have found different ways to win: convincingly against Belgium, unconvincingly versus Sweden. They prospered as underdogs against the team Fifa generously rank second in the world. They were favourites against the Swedes, a status less gifted teams can often fail to exploit.
“They were billed as the weakest team Italy had ever sent to a major tournament. Yet, after two games, they have already done something their predecessors failed to do at the 2010 or 2014 World Cups, Euro 1996 or Euro 2004: they have qualified from the group stages.”
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