GIORGIO CHIELLINI has paid tribute to England’s squad depth ahead of their Euros showdown.
The Italy defender claims the Three Lions bench is so strong they could have reached the final themselves.
Chiellini and partner Leonardo Bonucci, 34, are like rocks in the Italy defence but he says Gareth Southgate’s substitute options are so deep it makes him laugh.
After starting the game up against Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Saka, Chiellini is also wary about the impact of Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford.
⚽ ENGLAND vs ITALY EURO 2020 FINAL BETTING SPECIAL ⚽
The 36-year-old said: “It almost makes me laugh, you know, because I think England’s bench could have probably made it to the final on their own — there’s some extraordinary players.
“We’re going to try and limit their characteristics.”
Brilliant duo Chiellini and Bonucci have the guile to shut anyone out but there are worries back in Italy they could be exposed by the pace of Sterling & Co.
The Juventus star admits he would be blown away in a foot race by the Manchester City man, 26, but believes there are other ways to ensure Italy snuff out any attack.
I think England’s bench could have probably made it to the final on their own — there’s some extraordinary players.
Giorgio Chiellini
He said: “Kane and Sterling aren’t that young themselves, they’re no spring chickens.
“But Foden, Saka, Sancho, that’s slightly different. But everyone has their own attributes.
“If I try and match them in a foot race, me against Sterling I don’t think I’d ever beat him to the punch.
“But in situations where there’s a ball to be won and it’s a slightly more physical, or if there’s a long ball from a goalkeeper I might be more likely to win the header, so I need to try and limit their attributes.
“The England strikers all have their own qualities and they’re top players. But thankfully it’s not an individual game it’s a team game.
“It is not important whether Chiellini and Bonucci come up against Kane and Sterling, ultimately it’s whether Italy can beat England.”
Chiellini admits he is on borrowed time in terms of his international career, and still has not decided whether tonight’s final will be the last in an Azzurri shirt.
He says that is why he is playing with a smile on his face — and what led him to hug Spain captain Jordi Alba before their penalty victory.
He added: “I really am savouring every last drop of my career. I’ve always got a smile on my face.
“I always try and have the utmost respect for my opponents, so I am trying to have a bit of a laugh.
“That’s something I’ve always done and I’ve done that in these games even more than I did in previous years.
“It wasn’t mind games by any means with Alba. That’s how I am in good times and bad.
“My team-mates love me and there might be times when opponents like me less. But after all these years I think there is mutual respect between me and my opponents.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
