Published on : 10/07/2021 – 17:35
Italy’s central hinge, formed by two Turin Juventus defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, remains one of Italy’s assets for Sunday’s Euro-2021 final against England.
Between them, they are 70 years old. Suffice to say that they greatly increase the average age of the Italian selection of Roberto Mancini who will play, Sunday July 11, the final of Euro-2021. However, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, the central hinge of the Squaddra Azzura, are essential, bringing to the Nazionale their experience and their complementarity prowled at Juventus of Turin.
“For more than ten years, Bonucci and Chiellini have known each other wonderfully,” ex-Italian international Aldo Serena told AFP. “They have common reflexes with respect to each other, a lot of experience and know how to play tricks, use a little ‘underground’ gestures, small mistakes, the fruit of so many years of matches together. “
Prowled in Juve
If the two men know each other so well, it is because they have been playing together for years at Juventus Turin. Years in a club prowling their common reflexes. Automatisms that they have put at the service of the Nazionale for 219 selections of their own, the majority passed side by side.
The two men are complementary: on the one hand, Giorgio Chiellini has an old-fashioned defender, physical, aggressive, with the constant need for contact with the opponent. On the other hand, Leonardo Bonucci appears to be “modern” being more in the placement and anticipation and capable of relaunching the ball properly. Placed the two together and you get a tough lock to break: Italy only conceded two goals.
“When we meet side by side, as we know each other by heart, everything becomes more natural. Together, we also share leadership,” Bonucci noted at a press conference.
“I think I know Bonucci better than my wife”, sums up Chiellini, never stingy with a good word.
On this rock is built the Italian church
In Sunday’s final at Wembley, the old Italian guard will face the flamboyant English youth. For this match which will pit the “old” Italian defenders against the “young” English attackers, as Bonucci describes it with a smile, he demands “great attention” from his partners, especially in the face of the speed of the wingers and attackers of the Three Lions. .
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In the group that Roberto Mancini likes to rejuvenate, they look like veterans. From the top of their 36 and 34 years old, they are the last survivors of the Euro-2012 final lost against Spain (0-4). They are part of the memory of the group which does not forget where it comes from: a historic non-qualification for the 2018 World Cup which led to a great reconstruction that the postponement of the Euro allowed.
“It has helped us the year as well, young and old alike. During this year, we have gained experience and enthusiasm, which allows us to be here today, to believe in something that, three years ago, seemed utopian “, thus analyzed Bonucci.
La der des der?
If experience is an advantage, the two men are beginning to bear the brunt of the years. Last season, Leonardo Bonucci was less indisputable at Juventus under the leadership of Andrea Pirlo. On Chiellini’s side, the problems are physical, especially since his rupture of the cruciate ligament of the knee in August 2019, which has long kept him away from the lawns. Since then, he has had a series of muscle glitches. At the start of the tournament, he had to leave the pitch against Switzerland due to discomfort in his left thigh.
Georgio Chiellini is already thinking of the aftermath. The one nicknamed ‘King Kong’ for his chest-slapping goal celebrations, graduated with honors with a master’s degree in business administration from the School of Management and Economics at the University of Turin. .
Euro-2021 is probably their last competition together with the Nazionale. The two men hope to leave with a bang. And why not with their first trophy won with Italy?
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