Giorgio Chiellini insists that the Juventus players in the Italy squad are still hungry for Euro 2012 success. “It would be the icing on the cake.”
The Old Lady officially ended a nine-year Scudetto drought this season and just missed out on the Coppa Italia when losing 2-0 to Napoli in Sunday’s Final.
Giorgio Chiellini insists that the Juventus players in the Italy squad are still hungry for Euro 2012 success. “It would be the icing on the cake.”
The Old Lady officially ended a nine-year Scudetto drought this season and just missed out on the Coppa Italia when losing 2-0 to Napoli in Sunday’s Final.
However, the Juve stopper is adamant that his Bianconeri colleagues are fully motivated ahead of the European Championship.
“Us Juventus players still have an appetite,” the former Fiorentina man stated at Coverciano on Wednesday.
“Winning at Euro 2012 would be the icing on the cake to what has been a great campaign for all of us.
“Italy will go into the tournament in good shape, with changes after the disappointment of the World Cup in 2010. There is a desire to show that Italy can do well.
“We were considered as a Serie B side over recent years and that was not right. We can’t wait to take on the best.”
Chiellini should be in the squad even though he picked up a thigh muscle strain on the last day of the League season.
“I’m calm and hopeful,” he added. “I couldn’t understand how serious the injury was at first, I was in real pain and I thought I’d miss out on something that I have waited two years for.
“Now I’m focused on getting back as soon as possible.”
Chiellini has been a key part of Italy’s tightest defence along with fellow Azzurri members Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci.
“A block of Juventus players in defence for Italy? That is something that the Coach will have to consider…”
The trio can be used in a three-man defence or a four with Chiellini being switched to left-back.