Belgian forward Dries Mertens is a big fan of the Italy national team but believes his team should take advantage of this opportunity in the Euro 2020 quarter-finals.
Belgian forward Dries Mertens. (Reuters Photo)
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- Dries Mertens is a big fan of the Italy national team
- We should take advantage of this opportunity against Italy: Dries Mertens of Belgium
- Belgium still looking for first major tournament trophy
Belgium’s Dries Mertens is most looking forward to Friday’s European Championship quarter-final against Italy, where he has spent the last eight years of his club career.
Mertens broke Diego Maradona’s goalscoring record at Napoli last year and has played with several Italians, which he will face in Munich.
“Playing against Italy is special because I have lived there for the last eight years and I know all their players,” he told a news conference on Wednesday.
Mertens is a big fan of the Italy national team, the most influential team to date at Euro 2020.
“This generation can play football. They have won a long series of matches and conceded few goals. They have a good mix between youth and experience,” he said.
“Many people didn’t expect him to play aggressive football, but he has shown great confidence in that approach. It’s nice to see him at work.”
Despite Belgium being ranked top-ranked by FIFA, Mertens insisted Italy would also be the favourite.
Italy are in a 31-match unbeaten run with a 1–0 defeat by Portugal in the Nations League in September 2018. The goal was the first of 12 in a 2–1 victory over Austria in Saturday’s last-16 match. match.
Belgium also has big dreams for its “Golden Generation”, still looking for a first major tournament trophy.
“This is not the last chance because I believe in the future of Belgian football, but I am the first to say that we should take advantage of this opportunity,” said Mertens.
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