Immobile: United Italy up for challenge

The Italy national team has long benefited from the special understandings formed between players from the same club sides. In Marcello Lippi's 2006 FIFA World Cup-winning squad there were six players from AC Milan and another four from Juventus.

Yet in Devis Mangia's squad here in Israel, it is a less heralded club having a positive impact on the Azzurrini's fortunes, Pescara Calcio. The trio of Ciro Immobile, Lorenzo Insigne and Marco Verratti all spent the 2011/12 season together at Pescara, helping them win promotion from Serie B. Immobile, who had been loaned to Pescara by his first club, Juventus, went on to join Genoa CFC subsequently. Insigne went back to SSC Napoli, while Verratti left his home-town club for Paris Saint-Germain FC.

All three are reunited at this UEFA European Under-21 Championship, though, and according to Immobile, the Pescara connection – which also includes Marco Capuano, still at the club – can only help Italy. "This is a team, a group – there are no cliques. Lorenzo, Marco [Verratti] and I use this connection to do good things on the pitch," Immobile said on Friday.

Between them Immobile and Insigne certainly did that for Pescara the season before last, delivering 46 goals between them – 28 from Immobile himself. He was less prolific for Genoa in 2012/13, hitting five goals in Serie A, but did contribute four to Italy's qualification for these finals.

On Wednesday against England, he showed his lightning pace when running through to steer an early chance wide, and instead it was left to his mate Insigne to score the only goal with his late free-kick – evidence that the Pescara old boys are doing more than just clowning around, as Immobile stressed with a smile in Friday's press briefing.

There is, he explained, no time for beach trips yet if Mangia's squad are serious about their work, they are not feeling undue pressure. "We don't feel responsibility; we are here to express ourselves to the best of our ability, we want to give ourselves the best chance possible," said Immobile.

After getting the better of England, their next target is three points against Israel at Bloomfield Stadium but Immobile suggested it will not be easy. "The game against Israel will be even more difficult compared with the previous one as for a forward there will be little space," said the 23-year-old. "There is a lot expected of us attackers but it is difficult when you have little space. We must keep our focus because tomorrow's game will be very tough."

Tough on the pitch, and in the stands Italy are likely to find the home spectators considerably less supportive than they were during the England game. "People have given us a really enthusiastic welcome, and obviously tomorrow there'll probably be less warmth." That may be so, but Immobile and his brothers in arms are up for the challenge.