Man For The Big Occasion

Inspirational Roberto takes his old men to new heights with Wembley triumph

- MIKE WALTERS

Now we have established that garnishing a pizza with pineapple is culinary vandalism, football’s renaissance under Roberto Mancini is unrivaled in Italian culture.

And although a penalty shootout was a horrible way to confirm it, the better side conquered Europe on the night.

Even when Luke Shaw drilled England in front after just two minutes, the Azzurri were ahead on points.

They get Nessun Dorma and a national anthem that warms the cockles – on this sceptred isle all we get is Sweet Caroline and a dirge about an outdated monarchy.

But in Italy, football isn’t just culture – it’s a religion.

Somewhere on the road to Wembley, renaissance man, Mancini must have delivered the most stirring sermon by a coach to his players since Al Pacino fired up the Miami Sharks in Any Given Sunday.

When he took over as Azzurri coach, Italy had failed to qualify for the World Cup and had slipped to their lowest ranking in the FIFA charts.

But on their 33-game unbeaten run to the Euro 2020 final, Mancini summoned his inner Pacino.