Giorgio Chiellini reveals what he told his Italy teammates during the half-time of the Euro 2020 Final against England and how the Azzurri failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
On Wednesday, the 37-year-old will retire from international football after the Finalissima against South American champions Argentina at Wembley Stadium.
“When I’ve learned we will play against Argentina, I thought it was a present from destiny,” Chiellini told La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper.
“The last chance, one final game against Leo Messi, one of the best players in the history of the game. I am ready to enjoy this game after Juventus–Inter. It’s my only thought and I want to play at a high level.
“Wembley is a symbolic place where the European and South American champions will meet. Without this chance, I would have retired in Turkey, in the sadness of Konya, because the Nations League belongs to the new course.”
What does he remember about that Final?
“I remember that at half-time, I told the lads to remain calm even if we were one goal down. I was sure that we could have made a comeback if we hadn’t suffered counterattacks. We were serene, we felt their fear.”
At that time, nobody could imagine that the Azzurri would fail to qualify for the World Cup for the second time in a row only eight months later.
“We got the first game against Bulgaria wrong. It came too early. I could barely play for 20 minutes and the younger ones had one and a half games in their legs,” explained Chiellini.
“That result affected the whole path and we got to decisive games without important players. The success at Wembley was inebriating and, perhaps, we paid a high price for that too. We could have lost against Portugal, but we should have got there. The defeat against North Macedonia was unacceptable.”
Roberto Mancini was confirmed in charge of the Azzurri despite the embarrassment in the World Cup play-offs and Chiellini shares the decision of the FIGC.
“Mancini is the right man to bring this project forward. Young players need time but can develop with him. I think about Manuel Locatelli, who would not have played if the Euros had been played in 2020. He was a key player.
“Think of Sandro Tonali, he has become a different player. I noticed his qualities the first time he joined the national team and I am happy that they have now emerged.”
Chiellini has recently named Alessandro Bastoni as one of his possible heirs.
“Alessandro is left-footed, like me, and is becoming stronger at an international level. He must have time to learn from his mistakes, just like me.
“We can see the results of the work on young players who are technically evolved. However, we can’t lose some distinctive characteristics, such as the ability to mark.”
How about his Azzurri coaches?
“I made my debut under Marcello Lippi, he had the same quality that I see in Carlo Ancelotti and Massimiliano Allegri. He could read the games and it’s something that nobody teaches you,” said Chiellini.
“Roberto Donadoni was underestimated and paid for his introverted nature. Cesare Prandelli taught me the tempo of football, we played at a high level for two years. Roberto Mancini has surprised me. He looked like a tough coach and not too emphatic as an opponent. But I was impressed by his humanity and his ability to transmit self-esteem. He immediately told us that we should have aimed to win the Euros.”
Who is the most surprising footballer he played with and the most challenging striker he’s faced with the Azzurri?
“I’ve always been in love with Antonio Cassano, an incredible talent. He missed consistency and patience, but I’ve always been on good terms with him, even with his exuberance.
“Luis Suarez has always sent me mad. I faced him for the first time in 2010 when he was playing for Ajax and I immediately noticed that he was a top striker. It was stimulating to face him. He has uncommon shrewdness and one always needs to find some tricks to stop him.”
Chiellini: "Giusto lasciare, Bonucci mio erede. Torino? Casa mia" #Juventus https://t.co/2v4lFpmUYW
— La Gazzetta dello Sport (@Gazzetta_it) May 30, 2022
“We got the first game against Bulgaria wrong. It came too early. I could barely play for 20 minutes and the younger ones had one and a half games in their legs.”
We hear this excuse all the time. It is pathetic.
1 – All nations have early International fixtures in their seasons. This isn’t exclusive for us.
2 – We were not good enough. It really is that simple. We bossed games and created numerous chances, but we failed to take them again and again.
3 – After Immobile and Insigne’s poor performances in the Wembley final, Mancini learned nothing and chose them yet again, and again we had the same outcome – a blunt attack.
I agree Bruno. They are just pathetic excuses!
Well stated Bruno. Agreed.