EURO 2020: Angelo Ogbonna ‘amazed and bitter’ after Italy boss Roberto Mancini snub

West Ham defender Angelo Ogbonna has expressed his dismay at not being selected for Italy‘s Euro 2020 squad, despite powering West Ham United to European football.

Former Juventus man Ogbonna, 33, was in inspired form as the the Hammers spent the majority of the campaign challenging for Champions League football, only to fall away in the final weeks.

Ogbonna has now been forthright in his assessment of Italy boss Roberto Mancini’s selection group, while noting that Chelsea‘s Emerson Palmieri was selected in the provisional squad despite featuring infrequently for his club. 

‘I am very amazed and also bitter, perhaps he did not take into consideration the West Ham championship,’ Ogbonna told Italian publication Corriere dello Sera.

‘We fought until the end for the Champions League qualification with Jorginho and Palmieri’s Chelsea, who finished higher, but we showed that we can beat any team.’

‘In sport, meritocracy must prevail, based on the championship in which one plays, on the statistics, on the value of the player.

‘And this time, in my opinion, it did not prevail.’ Ogbonna added.

He was a huge reason behind the Hammers finishing 6th this season, cementing European football after fending off the likes of London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham.

Ogbonna helped provide a consistent base of protection as West Ham lost just 11 matches over the season, and pushed for a top four finish.

Mancini will this week further cut his squad by a further two players before submitting an official and final 26-man team for the tournament.

Everton striker Moise Kean, who took in a successful loan spell at Paris Saint-Germain last season under Mauricio Pochettino, has been sent home despite featuring in a 7-0 friendly victory over San Marino on Friday.