On Friday, the Italy national team had their final tune-up match ahead of the UEFA European Championship when they took on the Czech Republic. The striker position on the squad appears to be Lazio’s Ciro Immobile’s to lose, but the 31-year-old striker ensures that no one takes the job from him.
Immobile got the start against the Czech Republic, and the Lazio forward opened the scoring for Italy and would provide the assist on the third goal scored by Lorenzo Insigne.
MORE: Italian National Team Manager Mancini Draws Comparison Between Lazio’s Immobile and Torino’s Belotti
Ahead of the Euros this upcoming week, Claudio Marchisio commented on the striker battle between Immobile and Andrea Belotti during an appearance on Rai Sport (via Lazio News). For the former midfielder, the decision is easy; Roberto Mancini needs to go with Immobile.
Immobile has something more. He experienced the Champions League this year with Lazio and won the Golden Boot. Belotti lacks the experience of Immobile. Il Gallo has never played at the European level. Italy needs a striker with European experience because almost all the other teams have one.
Italy will kick off their Euro competition against Turkey, and after his performance against the Czech Republic should result in Immobile having first dibs. It will be interesting to see if he can continue this form to lead the Italian squad on a deep run this summer.