Chiellini’s bittersweet Italy career

Giorgio Chiellini will play his final game with Italy against Argentina in June, ending a bittersweet international career.

Chiellini reached the peak with his country in the summer, winning UEFA Euro 2020, but the experienced defender has gone through tough times with the Azzurri and will end his international career with just six games played at the World Cup.

Chiellini: ‘Love with Juventus will never end, but last Italy game with Argentina’

The 38-year-old played at South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014 and the 2-1 victory against England in 2014 is the only match ever won at a World Cup for Chiellini. Italy collected two more draws and three defeats in their last six games at the World Cup, facing two consecutive eliminations in the group stage. This means that Chiellini has never played a knock-out game at the World Cup in his career.

The Azzurri failed to qualify for Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022, so Chiellini has been forced to end his international career earlier than expected.

Those disappointments partially overshadow Italy’s Euro 2020 victory, with the Azzurri captained by the 38-year-old. His last game with Italy will be played at the same venue where he lifted the trophy in July: Wembley Stadium.

Chiellini will play his 117th and final match with the Azzurri in one of the most iconic stadiums in the world, although he would have surely hoped to end his international career in Qatar a few months later.