Europeans: Game and form, Verratti's return is a master

Already impenetrable in defense and reliable in attack, Italy against Wales found in Marco Verratti that pawn he needed in midfield to tie the ranks of the left-handed project even better. On a sporting Sunday of rediscovery, as evidenced by Marc Marquez's victory at Sachsenring, the Pescara player played the first game of his career in the final phase of a European championship, given his absence in 2016 due to groin pain. Returned - after almost 40 days of stop for the collateral ligament injury of the right knee - in the match that sanctioned the Azzurri victory in group A, the 28-year-old, since 2012 center of gravity of Paris SG, not only provided Pessina with the assist of the goal victory, but above all he convinced for personality and effectiveness. And if in the end he thanked Mancini "who waited for me",it is safe to bet that the coach is now happy to have strongly believed in the possibility of recovering him. His clarity has not escaped the 'neutral' commentators, who have in fact underlined it, from L'Equipe to the Guardian. Preferably moving along the half-way line, in 93 minutes Verratti distributed the balls equally to all sectors, with almost surgical precision. Overall he has accumulated 136 touches (equaling the Pirlo of Euro 2012), from his foot 113 steps have started, 106 of which have reached the goal, with a positive percentage of 94%. His role as a hinge between the departments is highlighted by his teammates with whom he spoke more: preferred recipients Bastoni (20), Jorginho (17) and Bernardeschi (14);in turn Verratti was still the most chosen reference by Bastoni (17), followed by Emerson (16), Jorginho (15) and Bonucci (13). An inconspicuous presence that of 41 / a in blue, rather sober, but in control of the game. The return of Verratti gives Mancini's storyline another gear. In a team without stars, it is the variable that can confuse opponents thanks to its somewhat vagabond role in the heart of the midfield. What is universally recognized is that he is not afraid of possession, "with his way of moving his foot over the ball, like a street magician who challenges you to find the coin under the cup," writes the Guardian. After a round comfortably lived in the Olimpico in Rome that pampered her, now also theItaly will have to start traveling in accordance with the itinerant formula of this European. On Saturday Wembley the stage of the second round. Then, Mancini hopes, a more challenging quarter-final awaits him, maybe Belgium in Monaco. However, with the certainty of having found his small, agile point guard. The music of Italy now has a wonderful note of variation.