Euro 2020: Matches with the biggest Chelsea influence
By Nate Hofmann
Italy vs. Wales
When: Sunday, June 20
Italy: Emerson, Jorginho
Wales: Ethan Ampadu
It’s tough to get a read on this Italy side. It isn’t light on talent, but it is light on players you want to watch. Even its presumptive goal scorers—Andrea Belotti and Ciro Immobile—feel like lukewarm propositions at best. If Italy is going to go deep in this tournament, which is feasible but unlikely, it will be pretty uninspiring stuff the whole way through. Very stereotypically Italian.
Of course, as Chelsea fans will be all too aware, no one provides “uninspiring stuff” quite like Jorginho. Now listen, Jorginho is good in his own unique way. He’ll more than likely be a positive contributor for Italy, but if he produces any personal highlights along the way, it’ll be a handful of penalties scored rather than any incredible feats of playmaking or technical skill.
As for Emerson, well…who knows? I have all sorts of opinions on players all over the game, but Emerson somehow defies my ability to have any meaningful feeling about him, good or bad. Manager Roberto Mancini seems to feel the same way, as he’s been selected with stunningly consistent irregularity. Emerson has played two full matches in a row for Italy only one time, back in November. Even in lead up to the Euros, he was not in the squad versus San Marino, and played 26 minutes against the Czech Republic. Expect his involvement to be equally spotty in the tournament itself. He’s another random player I wouldn’t be surprised to see score for no good reason, similar to his clinching goal as a late sub against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Wales is a similarly unexciting prospect, but with a far lower ceiling than Italy. Wales’ success will pretty much live or die based on Bale’s performance, which is always a sketchy horse to bet on. Of course, the Chelsea-centric draw here is Ethan Ampadu, whose stock has fallen precipitously after two consecutive underwhelming loan spells. Fortunately, Wales has been his safe haven for consistent top-level minutes, so he may be able to enjoy a nice run of fixtures where he can perhaps renew some people’s belief in him as a long-term player at the top level of the game. Be that at Chelsea or elsewhere. If he’s stationed in midfield against Italy, his battle with Jorginho will be worth watching, even if it’s likely to be a relatively soft stalemate.
This match, and really Group A in general, promises to deliver nothing of interest, even if something exciting happens. With all due respect, none of Italy, Wales, Turkey or Switzerland are likely to see so much as a quarterfinal. Of all the matches involving Chelsea players, this is probably the one I’d go ahead and schedule a haircut during. You won’t miss much.
Prediction: 1-0 Italy
Who cares?