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DPA
Berlin
Italy may have reinvented themselves in a positive, attacking light under coach Roberto Mancini but captain Giorgio Chiellini, who crowned his career with Sunday’s Euro 2020 triumph, was an old school key to their success too.
Catenaccio defending may be a thing of the past and Chiellini, 36, has certainly moved with the times in adopting his game - including in the crucial aspect of psychology both his team-mates and opponents.
“We started in the worst possible way,” he told ITV of the 1-1 draw which proceeded Italy’s 3-2 penalty shoot-out triumph over England at Wembley. “It was difficult for us, the fans in the stadium gave England all their energy.
“But we were quiet and calm, and that was important. We started to play.
“We talked at half-time, we said we needed to find the right pass, take the right shot. We have to control the game, this is the way to win.” There are many paths on road to victory and Chiellini inspired the team down one of them from the very start - his goal-saving block against Switzerland in the opening game was accompanied by a roar of triumph as if it prevented a match-winner rather than late consolation.
With Juventus since 2005, Chiellini has a host of Serie A and Italian Cup titles but had always fallen short internationally both in the Champions League and the final of Euro 2012 lost to Spain.
And when he retired from international football following Italy’s failure to reach the 2018 World Cup, his chance appeared to be gone.
Mancini, however, talked him round, made him captain and was rewarded handsomely.
Berlin
Italy may have reinvented themselves in a positive, attacking light under coach Roberto Mancini but captain Giorgio Chiellini, who crowned his career with Sunday’s Euro 2020 triumph, was an old school key to their success too.
Catenaccio defending may be a thing of the past and Chiellini, 36, has certainly moved with the times in adopting his game - including in the crucial aspect of psychology both his team-mates and opponents.
“We started in the worst possible way,” he told ITV of the 1-1 draw which proceeded Italy’s 3-2 penalty shoot-out triumph over England at Wembley. “It was difficult for us, the fans in the stadium gave England all their energy.
“But we were quiet and calm, and that was important. We started to play.
“We talked at half-time, we said we needed to find the right pass, take the right shot. We have to control the game, this is the way to win.” There are many paths on road to victory and Chiellini inspired the team down one of them from the very start - his goal-saving block against Switzerland in the opening game was accompanied by a roar of triumph as if it prevented a match-winner rather than late consolation.
With Juventus since 2005, Chiellini has a host of Serie A and Italian Cup titles but had always fallen short internationally both in the Champions League and the final of Euro 2012 lost to Spain.
And when he retired from international football following Italy’s failure to reach the 2018 World Cup, his chance appeared to be gone.
Mancini, however, talked him round, made him captain and was rewarded handsomely.
