El Shaarawy switching focus to Euro 2016

Stephan El Shaarawy has revealed that his focus is gradually switching towards Italy’s Euro 2016 campaign as he looks to stake his claim for a place in the squad with key goals for Roma.

The 23-year-old has boosted his chances of going to France with the Azzurri this summer by scoring six Serie A goals in nine games with the Giallorossi since joining them on loan in January from rivals AC Milan.

El Shaarawy had endured two injury-hit seasons with Milan before joining Monaco at the start of this season on a loan deal with a view to a permanent switch.

However, he returned to the San Siro after being frozen out at the French Ligue 1 side when he moved to within one appearance of the club having to buy him outright and they were uncertain if they wanted him on a full-time basis.

El Shaarawy’s move to Roma in January has turned into a masterstroke and, following his goal in the 4-1 derby win against Lazio, he is looking to add more before the end of the season to possibly help the side snatch second spot behind Juventus away from Napoli.

The former Genoa man will then hope that, added to his recent goal in a friendly against Germany, his exploits will be enough to earn him a place in Italy coach Antonio Conte’s squad for Euro 2016.

He said: “I’m happy here and I was able to integrate myself immediately. The objective is to do well at Roma so I can play Euro 2016 as a protagonist. Ever since [Coach Antonio] Conte took up the Azzurri, I’ve always been called up. I never felt cut out with him.

“This is an important goal, no less than the one I scored with the national team [against Germany]. It lets me build confidence. Second place? We must take advantage of the mistakes of the teams ahead of us. This win gives us the confidence we need to aim higher than third place.”

Roma are 1.33 to win their next Serie A game at home to Bologna on Monday, while the opposition are 9.50 and the draw is 5.00.