Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci have a pending account with Spain. They are the only two azzurri of Mancini who contested the humiliating finale of 2012 that saw The Red win 4-0.
The first, in addition, was also a starter in the 2008 match, that of the penalties that changed the history of Iberian football. Together they add up to 70 years and 217 games with the absolute, but not even this young and new Italy wanted to give up their leadership. With the 'Mancio' there is a different philosophy, you play higher and you attack hard, but behind is still a wall. In fact, it is more so than ever: against Austria he reached 1,168 minutes in a row without conceding goals, the best record in its history, surpassing that of Zoff (1,143 '), which was a world record.
Those of the old 'BBC del catenaccio', already orphans of Barzagli, they also make a difference with another style, but without losing their identity.
Chiellini, an atypical tough guy with an economics degree, still loves to stick with rivals. He does it with a smile, accepting and returning the strongest blows. Talking about his duels with Lukaku, who was nearly knocked off the grass on Friday, said they always end up with “bruises,” but it wasn't a complaint. To the Juventino it will have seemed very strange not see Ramos in the list of Spain. In his autobiography he spoke of the ex-Madridista as “the best defense in the world” and defined “a masterstroke” what happened in the 2018 Champions final with Salah.
Bonucci, on the other hand, likes to touch the ball. In 2019 he declared to AS that he prefers “the styles of Guardiola and Sarri”, but be careful: in the same interview, before a Atleti-Juve, he warned his friend Morata telling him that he would “give him a beating”, something he knows how to do in and out of the green. In 2012, they tried to rob him at gunpoint and he reacted by punching the thief in the face and chasing him through the streets of Turin…
The couple arrives at the appointment with Spain in one of their best moments. After his performance before BelgiumPraise rained down on him everywhere. Even a historical rival like Schweinsteiger He defined them as “the best center-backs in the world at the moment.” La Roja is warned.