As Italy captain Giorgio Chiellini lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy high into the drizzling London sky nearly a month ago, the sheer scale of what Roberto Mancini’s side had achieved in just three years wasn’t lost on some. “We’ve come from missing out on the 2018 World Cup, which was a tragedy, the worst tragedy that you can imagine for a country like Italy, who loves football that much,” said Alessandro Del Piero on ESPN FC following Italy’s victory. 

From tragedy to ecstasy, Italy’s transformation has been nothing short of miraculous. A nation who looked so utterly toothless in both World Cup playoff games against Sweden in October 2017 had now dazzled the world just three years later, playing an intoxicating brand of football never before seen by an Italian side. The country that lived and died by the result was now playing – and winning – with style.