Italy's stars Immobile and Insigne: “More than friends”

Ciro Immobile is the favorite victim. And Lorenzo Insigne is having fun. The 1,63 meter tall attacker eagerly hides behind all sorts of corners and pieces of furniture in the Italian national team's European Championship quarters in Florence in order to then scare the ex-Dortmunder Immobile and laugh out loud at his reaction. The two offensive players from Naples and long-time friends are responsible for the Azzurri's good mood off the pitch - and for the goals on the pitch.

The 30-year-old winger Insigne and the center forward Immobile, who is one year older, will also play in the European Championship quarter-finals against Belgium on Friday (21.00 p.m.) in Munich. Thanks to their offensive strength, Squadra Azzurra believes they have a chance of reaching the semi-finals against the favorites. “That makes us proud, nobody believed in us at the beginning,” said Insigne about Italy’s rise over the course of the tournament from outsiders to co-favorites for the title. “But we keep our feet on the ground and keep working.” Immobile once failed badly in Dortmund Especially in the three victories in the group phase with 7-0 goals, the Italian attack provided fun - and impressed the football world. There are two goals and one assist in Immobile's tournament record so far, and Insigne scored once. Despite a weaker game in the European Championship round of XNUMX against Austria, both are solid players in Roberto Mancini's team - and seem to have arrived after turbulent years.

One of the best strikers in Europe: Ciro Immobile. © POOL / BEN STANSALL

Immobile only had to move from FC Torino to Borussia Dortmund in 2014 and failed miserably there, only to then find his way to Lazio after several loans. He now scores reliably there and even secured the Golden Shoe as the best goalscorer in Europe in 2020 with 36 goals. “I owe it to my mom, who gave me this sense of goal, which allows me to be in the right place at the right time,” said Immobile with a smile about his goal rate. Ciro, Lorenzo and Marco With Insigne, the teamwork in attack works smoothly, even though both were only on the pitch together for a single season. It has been almost ten years since Insigne and Immobile, who were on loan at the time, as well as Marco Verratti, the Italian midfield boss at this European Championship, celebrated promotion to Serie A together with Pescara Calcio. “If we look now at where we were ten years ago, we would never have thought that at some point we would find ourselves together as protagonists in the national team,” said Verratti.

Even though Insigne and Immobile then parted ways, the two professionals from the poorer south of Italy share a deep friendship. “Ciro and I are more than friends. We grew up together, our families go on vacation together,” said Insigne, who, after returning from Pescara, made his way to his hometown club SSC Napoli and is now captain there. “For me, Marco and Ciro are two great friends on the pitch and especially off it.” Finally arrived thanks to Mancini The trio had already taken part in the 2014 World Cup, followed by changeable years with sometimes only limited playing time in the national team. Under Mancini they are now important regular players in the new, more attacking 4-3-3. “He lets us play a system that better suits me and all of us and our qualities,” said Insigne. “That’s good for all of us, that’s how we can best utilize our qualities.”

Mancini's tactics, the offensive qualities of Immobile and Insigne and the much-praised team spirit - all of this should help Italy topple world number one Belgium. The fact that the team's solidarity could carry them through the tournament is also thanks to the duo Insigne and Immobile. It is usually Insigne who sings the 1990 World Cup hit “Un'estate italiana” by Gianna Nannini after victories. “I'm someone who likes to have fun, I always have music on,” said Insigne about the scene as he led the choir in front of the team hotel after reaching the round of XNUMX with a boombox under his arm.

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Italy's stars Immobile and Insigne: “More than friends”

In the European Championship round of 16 against Austria, the Italian attack around Ciro Immobile and Lorenzo Insigne was largely ineffective. The duo from Naples is now even more challenged in the quarter-finals. The two friends have a long history together.

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