Respected Italian journalist Mario Sconcerti has heaped praise on Roberto Mancini for the work he has carried out on the Italian national team in his time in charge.

“The players very much follow Mancini, this is his team. He had made the national team player better than many of his other sides. I do not remember an Inter so brilliant,” he remarked in an interview with Tutto Mercato Web.

“He has turned the team over in such a short time and it is almost as if it is a club team. I think we will always play like this under him.”

Mancini’s Italy are undefeated in their Euro 2020 qualifiers group having won all six of their games. They have averaged three goals a game and have conceded just three goals over the course of the campaign and look as good as certain to secure their place at next year’s tournament, which will be played across a number of host cities.