Antonin Barak does not give Italy many chances to prevail in the Euro, as he considers Azzurri inferior compared to few other contenders. Czech Republic will instead try to make it past the first phase in the group that comprises England, Croatia, and Scotland. The two national teams will play in a friendly later today.
He gave an interview to Corriere della Sera: “The expectations are high, and that is only fair, but I do not see them as a team that can actually win the tournament. France, Belgium, and England are stronger. Lorenzo Insigne has had a great season; only a few players are as talented as he is. Marco Verratti is great too. Roberto Mancini made the right call in waiting for him to recover, they do not have another contributor like him.”
Barak dished on his side: “We are in great form. We have a squad that can be a threat to anybody. We have quality players like Patrick Schick and some youngsters with a great future ahead of them. We are very hungry, and we have a tight group, which is our strength. We have to start well: we will have 99% chances of advancing if we defeat Scotland. We have already topped England in the past. Making it to the quarter-finals is our minimum goal.”
They lost to Wales in March: “We flunked that game; Italy should certainly beat them.”
Italian players are seen as less ambitious than foreigners: “Very few of them are willing to try going to another League; they prefer to stay at home. But you grow as a person if you move abroad, and it can give you a lot.”