Giorgio Chiellini is planning his managerial career following the end of his playing days with Juventus and the Italian national team. The Juventus and Italy star, who is currently retiring, announced Tuesday that he would retire from international football following Italy’s Copa America victory over Argentina this summer at Wembley Stadium. Giorgio Chiellini is set to step down from international football following Azzurri’s Finalissima clash with Argentina at Wembley. Chiellini hoped to make his final appearance in FIFA World Cup, but Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2022 edition in Qatar means that he will retire at Wembley instead.
Twice the runner-up in UEFA Champions League competitions for his club, the centre-back hit his peak in football last summer when he captained European champions Italy to glory at UEFA Euro 2020 Final. Giorgio Chiellini has won 116 international caps for Italy, including two appearances in the World Cup, winning a European Cup, being runners-up at the 2012 European Cup, and two FIFA Confederations Cups, amongst his achievements playing for the Italian national team.
Having said goodbye to his club in May, Giorgio Chiellini is set for his 117th and final cap for the national team, with European champions Italy set to face South American rivals Argentina at Wembley for the first-ever Finalissima. European champions Italy is set to face South American counterparts Argentina in the first edition of the Champions Cup match-up between European champions and Copa America winners, now called Finalissima Copa America, at Wembley Stadium. Italy coach Roberto Mancini is expected to call up as many of his heroes from the Euro 2020 tournament, which saw them defeat England in the Champions Trophy final at Wembley last July, as he can to his starting lineup.
Oh, no worries, the trophy is on the show: hardly taller than the World Cup and in shape almost as uniform as a champagne flute. The Finalissima Trophy had retained much of its similarity from when it was first awarded to France nearly 40 years ago. Although it is not considered to be much of a trophy, the Finalissima has motivated the players of Argentina sufficiently that coach Lionel Scaloni – he enjoyed a short stint himself in London, playing with West Ham in 2006 – has spoken up about the hopes his team has for winning a revived tournament. The now 37-year-old was a key figure, either captain or defender when Italy defeated hosts England in a penalty shootout in the tournament’s final, which was delayed by a coronavirus pandemic by about 12 months.
