‘Ant’ thinking big

Toronto FC‘s Sebastian Giovinco still has hopes of playing for Italy at Euro 2016 but insists he must earn the right to make the squad.

The 29-year-old opted to make a shock move to MLS 12 months ago after 11 years on the books with Juventus.

He spent a season on loan with Empoli and two with Parma during his stay in Turin and, having been on the peripheries of the side during his latter years at Juve, opted to move to Canada in last winter’s transfer window.

The diminutive midfielder has won 23 caps for the Azzurri to date but, with his old club coach Antonio Conte in charge of the national side, he clearly hopes for more.

However, the man nicknamed ‘The Atomic Ant’ denied he has had contact with his old boss and made it clear he will only be selected on merit.

“I haven’t spoken with Conte, I know that everything depends on my matches here,” Giovinco told Calciomercato.it. “But if I deserve it then he’ll definitely call me up for the national team.”

Italy have been placed in Group E for the summer’s showpiece event and are priced at 1.20 to advance to the knockout stage, with Belgium (1.10), Sweden (1.67) and the Republic of Ireland (2.38) also in the group.

Italy are on offer at 17.00 to win Euro 2016 while France are 3.75 favourites and Germany are priced at 4.00 to claim the spoils.

Spain can be backed at 6.00 to defend their crown and the Italians will hope to go one further this time around after being hammered 4-0 in the final four years ago.