Giorgio Chiellini was not part of the Italy squad that won the 2006 World Cup, but he revealed he was in the stands for the Final in Berlin. ‘I begged for a ticket.’
The defender has now retired from international duty after 117 senior caps and is currently playing in MLS with LAFC.
During a commemoration for the end of 20 years with Puma as their kit sponsors, Chiellini sat down with Gigi Buffon to reveal what happened around the Final against France.
“In 2006 when I was in Florence, I had already made five appearances for the national team, then I joined Juve, where I played for a whole year and rightly did not play that much and was not in the squad.
“I followed you like every other Italian in Italy, and when we won the semi-final, I called Mauro Vladovich and told him, Mauro, I’m coming, please find me a ticket for the Final. I swear it’s just me, I’m begging, and he found it.
“I took a flight from Milan to Berlin on the morning of the Final and spent the whole game with the families of the players.
“There was your family, I had Fabio’s (Cannavaro) little daughter in my arms, she was six years old then and now is a grown woman!
“I remember crying with joy sitting in the stands with all the family members because of this victory.”
That was a great time for Italian football. Hopefully, Italy turns the national team fortunes around soon!