Salvatore Sirigu reveals he only knew he’d face Bulgaria a few hours beforehand and welcomed Oriundo Eder.
The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper was thrown in when Gigi Buffon pulled out with flu symptoms.
“This afternoon after our meal Gigi still wasn’t well, so then I knew,” Sirigu told Rai Sport after a 2-2 draw.
Salvatore Sirigu reveals he only knew he’d face Bulgaria a few hours beforehand and welcomed Oriundo Eder.
The Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper was thrown in when Gigi Buffon pulled out with flu symptoms.
“This afternoon after our meal Gigi still wasn’t well, so then I knew,” Sirigu told Rai Sport after a 2-2 draw.
“The Nazionale is still a work in progress. We are improving and need to avoid certain errors that get punished severely at international level, but we showed character and played very well in the second half especially.”
Eder got the decisive equaliser on his Italy debut, silencing the debate over Oriundi – foreign-born players with Italian heritage.
“Oriundi can be called up and other nations do it regularly, so I don’t see why we should be so far behind in this matter. Eder has been in Italy for years and he loves this country.
“The lads who perhaps only have a few caps under their belt feel confident and seem like they’ve been here a long time.
“Even if we aren’t finishing off the chances as regularly as we ought to, it is important to create those opportunities by developing the play the way the Coach wants.”