The captain of Italy national team, Giorgio Chiellini has described the bench of the England national team as a bench that can also play in the final of the European Championship.
Chiellini said this with players like Phil Foden, Jadon Sancho, Bukayo Saka, and Jack Grealish in mind who have been among the players coach Gareth Southgate likes using from the bench in most parts of the tournament.
Later today, Italy will play against England in the final of Euro 2020 at the Wembley Stadium. The kick-off time of the historic final is 20:00.
During the pre-match press conference of the final, Giorgio Chiellini noted that every player in the current setup of the English team has a different attribute which makes the English team difficult to play against.
The 36-year-old Italian defender who is currently without a club noted that the approach needed to face a player like Raheem Sterling would be different from the approach needed to mark Harry Kane.
Giorgio Chiellini said: “Kane and Sterling aren’t that young, they are no spring chickens. (Phil) Foden, (Bukayo) Saka and (Jadon) Sancho, that’s different.
“Everyone has their attributes. If you match me against Sterling in a foot race, I don’t think I ever beat him to the punch. Maybe in situations where there is a ball to be won in a 50-50 or there is a long ball from the goalkeeper, I might be more likely to win the header.
“I need to limit their attributes, it also depends on who plays. Kane and Sterling are different, the others have their qualities.
“England’s bench could have made it to the final themselves because they have extraordinary players.
“Thankfully it is a team game, it’s not Chiellini and Bonucci versus Kane and Sterling, ultimately it is Italy versus England.”
Giorgio Chiellini praised Harry Kane
One of the biggest names in the current setup of the Three Lions of England is Harry Kane. The Tottenham Hotspur talisman has scored four goals in 6 games so far in the ongoing European Championship.
In reaction to the performance of Harry Kane so far in the tournament, Giorgio Chiellini said he has been a big fan of the English striker long before Euro 2020.
“I still remember the first time I came up against him in a friendly in Turin and he immediately impressed with how many attributes he has,” Chiellini said.
“He is very technical, shoots well from distance, he’s good in the air and takes free-kicks.
“He impressed me from day one when playing against Tottenham, I am a big fan of him. I have the ‘good fortune to play him tomorrow night, it’s an exciting battle.”
