Italy’s goalkeeper and captain, Gianluigi Donnarumma, has confirmed that the team’s objective is to secure victories in all three of their matches in the group stage of the 2024 UEFA European Championship.
Ahead of Saturday’s opening fixture against Albania, Donnarumma joined head coach Roberto Mancini for the mandatory pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon, with the game set to take place at Signal Iduna Park in Dortmund.
As the defending champions, Italy lifted the trophy in 2021 under Donnarumma’s custodianship, and this will mark the goalkeeper’s first major tournament leading the Azzurri as captain. He insisted that he doesn’t feel extra pressure, given the team’s natural leaders, but pledged to offer guidance to new squad members.
Donnarumma said, “When you play in such competitions, the energy comes naturally. The spirit from three years ago is still there, and we’ll try to recreate those magical nights.”
“The captain’s armband? I’ll give everything I have. This team is ready; they don’t need my advice. Those who were there three years ago will tell the newcomers how to get to the end.”
“Albania? It’s definitely our most intriguing challenge. We have a tough group, and tomorrow’s match allows for no mistakes. They’re fast, skilled, and play well, so we can’t afford to be at 70% or 80%; we must be at 100%. Then, we’ll take it one game at a time, but tomorrow’s match is crucial for moving forward in the group.”
“Albania is quick. We’ve seen some of their footage, and they have players with great individual ability. We must be cautious not to stretch ourselves too much; their counterattacks are effective. We need to be united, very compact as a team. Games can be won instantly, in the first or last minute.”
“Without big names like Bonucci and Chiellini? It doesn’t change anything for me. There’s certainly added responsibility, but it doesn’t really change anything for me. This team has different leaders, and I’ll make myself heard, doing my best. The last Euros were incredible, an unforgettable experience, but now we’re working on writing another chapter in the history books.”
Commenting on whether Italy will play with a back three or four, he added, “It’s not about the formation; it’s about how everyone interprets their role. But as a goalkeeper, it’s always the same. What matters is having a tight-knit, collaborative team that attacks and defends together. Nothing changes for me. Each team has its system, opponents will have different approaches, and the coach is very skilled at adapting to every situation. If we win tomorrow, it’s a significant step towards qualification, and the first match is always crucial. We have a challenging group, and a win tomorrow would put us in a good position. If we don’t get points, it makes the next two games even more important. That said, the goal remains to get points and win all three matches.”