In the past 20 months, Antonio Conte restored some of Italy’s lost pride following the national team’s first-round exit at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Conte had parted company with Juventus just a few days into the pre-season of 2014/15 and then newly-appointed Italian soccer federation president Carlo Tavecchio, with the help of an international sponsor, moved quickly to offer Conte a lucrative two-year contract.

Conte’s top priority was to help Italy reach Euro 2016 finals.

And the Azzurri reached that objective in style last year as they finished top in Group H, winning seven (and drawing three) of their 10 qualifiers.

The results earned Italy a spot in the final tournament, in France between June 10 and July 10, with a game to spare.

Despite running away with the group, which also included Croatia, Norway, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan and Malta, Italy never convinced the sceptics as they recorded five wins by a single goal, including home and away 1-0 victories over tiny Malta.

During his stint with the national team, the much-travelled Conte fielded no fewer than 49 different players and tried a host of tactical formations to boost the national team’s chances at this summer’s tournament.

However, nine weeks away from their Group E debut against one of the tournament’s favourites – Belgium – it is anyone’s guess what Italy’s formation will look like.

To complicate matters for the Azzurri, last month Conte made public his intentions of stepping down as Italy coach at the end of the European Championship.

In the words of Tavecchio, the Chelsea-bound trainer misses the day-to-day life of club football.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

The announcement could leave a devastating effect on Italy’s prospects in France this summer

On the contrary, in the aftermath of Conte’s appointment following the 2014 World Cup, I recall writing “career-wise, Conte has taken a gamble in quitting club management at the age of 45 unless he decides to embark on a long-term trajectory similar to the one taken by Germany’s Joachim Loew”.

Earlier this week, Chelsea unveiled Conte as their new coach on a three-year contract as from next season.

This is a great opportunity for him both from a professional and financial points-of-view because he has an opportunity to prove himself in currently the most entertaining and lucrative European league.

On Monday, Conte expressed his personal satisfaction.

“I am happy we have made the announcement now so everything is clear and we can end the speculation,” he told reporters.

“I will continue to focus on my job with the Italian national team and will reserve speaking about Chelsea again until after the Euros.”

I tend to disagree with Conte.

In my opinion, only he will benefit from this move as I consider this announcement nothing short of ill-timed… a move that could leave a devastating effect on Italy’s prospects in France.

Some 17 years ago, Marcello Lippi had made public his intentions of leaving Juventus at the end of that particular campaign.

Back then, speculation was rife that Lippi had a pre-contract with Juve’s bitter rivals Inter.

The move left a negative impact on Juve’s season as the Bianconeri, then the reigning champions, experienced a dip in form which eventually resulted in the sacking of Lippi.

Outside Italy’s shores, earlier this year Pep Guardiola also announced that he was not renewing his contract with Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich.

A few weeks later, it was made official that the Spaniard had reached an agreement with Manchester City in England.

Guardiola’s decision did not go down well with some players and officials at Bayern.

In fact, the Bavarians are no longer the side they were before Guardiola’s exit announcement was made public.

City found themselves in a more precarious situation as they stumbled out of the Premier League title race at the expense of less quoted sides Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

Moreover, Man. City’s participation in next season’s Champions League is all but secure.

Conte had every right not to renew his contract with the national team and return to club management.

However, whilst reckoning that he will remain loyal to Italy’s cause through and through in the European Championship finals, I have big reservations as to the timing of his decision to make public his plans for the new season.

To say the least, his announced departure will not boost the Italian team’s chances of leaving their mark in France.

Only time can prove Conte right.