Analysis: Soccer-Mancini masterminds final stage of Italy's rise from the ashes

[ASFN Admin]

As a player Roberto Mancini was never able to truly write himself into the history of the Italian national team but as a coach he will have a chapter entirely to himself. To turn Italy from a shambolic team that failed to qualify for the World Cup into the European champions, in the space of just three years, is a remarkable achievement and Sunday's win over England at Wembley showed just how key Mancini has been to the return of the Azzurri. On a night when his counterpart, Gareth Southgate, saw many of his decisions back-fire so painfully, Mancini got them right when it mattered most.

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