London (AFP) – Giorgio Chiellini believes will probably be “beautiful” to end his worldwide career towards Argentina at Wembley on Wednesday after main Italy to Euro 2020 glory at the London floor final 12 months.
The now 37-year-old was a key determine, each as captain and defender, when Italy beat hosts England on penalties within the ultimate of a event that was delayed some 12 months by the coronavirus pandemic.
Now the Azzurri face the South American continental champions within the inaugural Finalissima at Wembley on Wednesday, a match the place Chiellini is set to win his 117th and final cap.
Italy supervisor Roberto Mancini is probably going to embody quite a few his Euro 2020 stars within the beginning XI for a match he has stated represents the “end of a cycle” following the shock failure of the four-time winners to qualify for this 12 months’s World Cup finals in Qatar.
Chiellini, requested about ending his worldwide career towards Argentina, informed UEFA.com: “It’s beautiful.
“Argentina have exceptional players. It’s obvious that the first one who comes to your mind is (Lionel) Messi but the others around him are fantastic. They didn’t win (the Copa America) by accident.
“Messi is a football icon. It’s not for me to say if he is the greatest of all time or not. It will just be a pleasure to play my last game for the national team against him.
“It has been, without a doubt, better than I could ever have imagined. When you’re a kid, you dream of playing for the national team, because that’s the ultimate.
“The thought of being able to play more than 100 games over the course of 18 years, being captain, and lifting an important cup like I did last year at Wembley was the icing on the cake.”
Chiellini, who has already performed his final recreation for Juventus after 17 years at the Turin membership, added: “I’m at peace. I feel happy with what I achieved and a little bit of pride for what I achieved in my career.”
Chiellini’s long-time membership and worldwide central defensive colleague Leonardo Bonucci stated returning to Wembley, the place his purpose cancelled out Luke Shaw’s early opener for England within the Euro 2020 ultimate, can be an emotional expertise.
“I often think about it,” Bonucci informed a pre-match press convention. “That goal allowed us to get to the penalty shoot-out and (for me) to score another goal in the shoot-out, so it’s a very emotional feeling for me.
“But then football puts you in front of reality and in reality you can’t rely on your memories. You need to keep growing, you need to keep improving and striving for more.
“We made history in this stadium, but it’s important to start over again.”
