Italy winger Federico Chiesa said the Azzurri will try to give Leonardo Spinazzola something to celebrate and praised CT Roberto Mancini’s work over the last years.
The Juventus winger made history when he scored against Austria in the last 16, as he found the net in a Euro game 25 years after his father Enrico.
It’s the first time a father and a son score a goal in the history of the competition, something Federico was obviously really proud of.
“It was a fantastic feeling to carry my family name so high in European and world football,” Chiesa told Sky Sport Italia. “I’m proud to be the son of my father and my mother.
“This makes me realise how great my father was. I talked to him in the evening, he was very happy for the goal, but above all that we qualified.
“Unfortunately, he didn’t manage to go beyond the last 16 even in the World Cup with the national team. He was really happy.
The team suffered against Austria and Chiesa changed the game when he entered off the bench, something that motivated him for the big game against Belgium, when the former Fiorentina player started at right.
“It was an immense joy. Entering Wembley to play such an important match for your country and then scoring and starting the win, was an even greater emotion,” Chiesa added. “I think it’s the dream we all have as children when we start playing football. To play for the national team, participating in these games and even scoring goals.”
Chiesa felt Italy followed up the win over Austria with a great performance to eliminate Belgium in the quarter-finals.
“We played a great game, but this is thanks to the work the coach has done in the last two years, the idea of football he brought, the enthusiasm. Now the results are coming,” Chiesa continued.
“He is the strength of our group. We all love each other; the coach brought this great enthusiasm. We have to give him credit, he brought the national team back to great levels.
“We are almost like brothers. He told us to take one step at a time.”
Chiesa said the advice from the likes of Italy CT Roberto Mancini and staff member Gianluca Vialli has been ‘crucial’ over the last years.
“Important advice arrives from everyone. From the goalkeeper to the defenders, to everyone,” the 23-year-old stressed. “Everyone is involved, and we receive advice in training every day.
“Vialli and the other staff members have been champions in the past and therefore everyone is there to give us advice. This has been crucial to our great performance over the past two years.”
Roma full-back Spinazzola suffered a serious Achilles injury in the match against Belgium and Chiesa wants to give him something to celebrate.
“I’m very sorry for Spina,” Chiesa said. “He was having a great Euros. A fundamental player for us. We are really like brothers and losing one is not nice, in a metaphorical sense.
“I wish him the best, he’s a great player and we will miss him in these matches. Now, he must think about recovering. We will try to bring him something great to give him great joy.”