Italy’s President Sergio Mattarella granted ‘Order of Merit of the Italian Republic’ honours on manager Roberto Mancini and his football team that won the 2020 European Championship against England.
The honours were “a sign of recognition of the sporting values and national spirit that animated the Italian victory at the European championship,” said a statement from the residential palace of Italy on Friday.
Italian football team coach Mancini and Italian Football Federation (FA) president Gabriele Gravina got awarded the honour of ‘Grand Officer of the Republic’ with team manager Gabriele Oriali and Gianluca Vialli the head of the delegation earned ‘Commander of the Republic’ honours.
Defender Giorgio Chiellini who also captains the Italian football team was titled an ‘Officer’ and were offered the honour of ‘Cavaliere’ (Knights) along with all the squad. Italy overcame Gareth Southgate’s England 3-2 on penalties with a 1-1 draw at the Euro 2020 final on Monday, June 12 in London to win the crown for the first time since their triumph in the year 1968.
Meanwhile, Italy is contemplating proposing to host the 2028 European Championship or the World Cup 2030 but before that, they must modify its stadiums if it is to accomplish, said the head of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) on Thursday. Some of the Italian stadiums have not been renovated since the World Cup in 1990 as it was the last major football tournament that was hosted by the country alone.
