Wednesday 07 July 2021
Chiellini’s great moment
Italy’s legend laughs at Spain from the EM
By Tobias Nordmann
What an impressive series. What an amazing trip. The Italian national team remains unbeaten in the 33rd game in a row and is in the European Championship final. After the successful stress test against Spain, she is definitely the top favorite.
Nice try. Pathetic attempt. Even after the toughest 120 minutes in this tournament, the legendary Giorgio Chiellini is still in excellent mental shape. In the very best. When the Spanish captain Jordi Alba tries to pull the penalty shootout to the side of his own fans in a dramatic first semi-final of the European Football Championship, when he tries to influence referee Felix Brych for a moment to throw him off guard the chief of the Squadra Azzurra in between. In a good mood, he resolves the situation. Unmasked the Spaniard’s game. With a laugh, a little nudge, a pat on the cheek. Walking the fine line between honestly charming and superficially friendly. Alba is embarrassed, Chiellini the charming (some say fake) winner of this “mind game”. The Tifosi will compete.
The Italians have mastered mind games better than anyone else. Even in the transformation of the team into one that plays offensively and thinks, that has not been lost. Why also? In central defense, Leonardo Bonucci and Chiellini are still the great heroes of the past. The men who made hard defensive work an art form. And who always lead the way in the decisive phases. On this evening, Chiellini is at the “mind games” and Bonucci at the tearing duel from the point. The 34-year-old turned as the third shooter of his Italians in complete sovereignty. The tragic hero of the evening was the Spaniard Alvaro Morata, who had only saved his team in extra time and finally missed miserably as the last scorer on his team.
So Italy is in the final. There it goes on Sunday in London’s Wembley Stadium against England or Denmark. The decision will be made this evening (9 p.m. / ZDF and in the live ticker at ntv.de). But Roberto Mancini’s team needn’t be worried anyway. Italy have not lost in 33 games. And somehow you can’t really think of something that should end the series soon. Now caution is always advised with overly euphoric prognoses, even Franz Beckenbauer misjudged them. But the Italian game actually looks brutally robust. The team also passed the biggest stress test of the European Championships to date against the dominant possession of the ball and Spain, who played almost tired of their opponents. With a lot of effort, with a little luck, but not undeservedly either. Because the defense is sovereign and because there is always something going forward. There is a special quality of this team that is surprisingly thrilling.
Every action is good for ecstasy
And that is so contagiously passionate. Every successful scene is good for collective ecstasy. A tackle, a pass, a shot, a parade. This team knows how to get intoxicated. Always and constantly. On the square and next to it. Bonucci called the high-class fight against the slightly better Spain the “hardest game I have ever played”. Italy have once again shown “values, heart and the ability to suffer”: “It is unbelievable what we are doing, we must not be satisfied with it.” These are sentences that German national players will probably never hear.
Incidentally, Bonucci also wrote a very special story that Tuesday evening. A story of passion. After the victory, he ran into the curve, built himself up in front of his own fans and together they screamed their joy, their longing for the first European title in 53 years (#Aerosol risk!). A conscientious steward lost track for a moment in this emotional state of emergency. Or maybe she was just doing her job. Because she did not recognize Bonucci, thought he was a euphoric fan, she temporarily denied him access to the interior. Only after a few moments and a puzzled expression on the central defender’s face did the steward let him pass and, in addition to a hearty laugh, also received a hug. One fan tweeted, “Classic Wembley stewarding.” Another wrote: “I’m just glad for the security guard that they didn’t have to deal with Giorgio Chiellini …”
Now this team is facing the extraordinary coronation. Before being rewarded for an extraordinary journey that began with a dramatic low point three years ago. At that time, the team had missed the World Cup in Russia. The nation’s pride was broken. Mancini has set up the team and the country again. After a huge player casting with around 70 footballers, Mancini has formed a perfectly functioning team. One who is in great shape. Always. Attentive, rascal, ripped off. One that can actually become European champions on Sunday (9 p.m. / ZDF and in the live ticker at ntv.de).
.