The European Championship has come and gone with Portugal defying the odds to claim the title after stunning hosts France in a tense final, in Paris, on Sunday.
The big guns on the continent did not have it all their way as an extended tournament enabled the likes of underdogs Northern Ireland, Wales, Poland and, in particular, Iceland to reach the knock-out stages at Euro 2016.
Italy were not ranked as favourites even though the Azzurri were among the first teams to qualify for the finals as they finished top in qualifying Group H with 24 points from ten matches.
Antonio Conte’s team lacked in quality, mostly in midfield following the withdrawals through injury of Marco Verratti (Paris SG) and Claudio Marchisio (Juventus) as veteran Andrea Pirlo was not considered for selection following his move to the US Major League Soccer.
Indeed, Conte had a modest squad to rely on at Euro 2016.
The Italians had failed to make it past the group stages at the last two World Cup finals and in France they were pitted in a difficult group, further weakening their chances.
However, on the field of play, Italy proved the sceptics wrong.
Victories over more quoted sides Belgium (2-0), Spain (2-0) and a 1-1 draw with Germany in the quarter-finals, before the world champions progressed on penalties, were not obtained by sheer coincidence or mere luck.
The results were fruit of hard work and an impeccable work ethic from everyone within Conte’s squad. Personally, I think that he was the mastermind of Italy’s fine showing in France.
Italian football federation chief Carlo Tavecchio hailed Conte at the end of the tournament, saying the Azzurri were “a total disaster” two years before the Euro 2016 finals.
“When we arrived after the 2014 World Cup, the situation was a total disaster. The national team was totally lost, without a commanding figure or a structure,” Tavecchio was quoted as saying to the media.
“Today, Italy have earned respect from the critics all over the world. I called Conte a commander... a real leader, and that was perfectly accurate.
“He viewed the game like a man who was in football for over 40 years. Germany struggled to get into our organisation… we missed the semi-finals by a whisker.”
Conte, 46, moulded a side which many reckon was a mirror image of himself as a player… combative, energetic and tactically versatile and astute.
The players have left a significant mark on this tournament and shown that with desire and hard work, you can achieve something
In his heydays, Conte played for Lecce (1985-1991) and Juventus (1991-2004). He was deployed as a defensive midfielder, albeit he used to find the back of the net quite regularly.
Although lacking the finesse to make him a top-notch player, Conte had a work rate second to none and was considered a mainstay in Marcello Lippi’s star-studded Juventus side.
Lippi, in fact, had chosen Conte to wear the captain’s armband after Gianluca Vialli left Juventus in summer of 1996.
At Euro 2016, some sides were primed for success more than the Italians. Belgium and Spain are good examples.
However, despite not producing dazzling football on a consistent basis, Italy adopted a humble approach where all players gave their best, enough to outsmart holders Spain in the last 16 stage before another hard-fought clash with sporting nemesis Germany in the quarter-finals.
Chelsea-bound Conte eventually failed to lead Italy all the way to the final at the Stade de France but, quite remarkably, he still left strong foundations on which his successor – veteran Giampiero Ventura – can build on.
Conte believes this Italy side could go on to greater things.
“In this tournament we have really come together, it will leave a lasting mark, a number of these players can only progress,” he told reporters in his last press conference after the Germany match.
“I hope we can leave a love for the national team, love for the shirt, and I hope this message can be conveyed despite our elimination from the tournament.
“Football can bring you joy and sometimes can leave a bad taste.
“However, these players will always have a place in my heart.
“The players have left a significant mark on this tournament and shown that with desire and hard work, you can achieve something.”
Meanwhile, this will be the second time that Ventura takes over from Conte in his coaching career… the first time in 2009 when Conte quit Bari soon after leading them to Serie A.
Incidentally, Ventura’s first match on the Azzurri bench will be at Bari’s Stadio San Nicola against beaten Euro 2016 finalists France, on September 1.
Conte had also made his Italy debut at Bari – a 2-0 win over The Netherlands on September 4, 2014.
One augurs that Ventura will keep the Italian national team momentum going, starting with the 2018 World Cup qualifying group where Italy’s opponents will be Spain, Albania, Macedonia, Liechtenstein and Israel.