Andrea Pirlo (56 Viewers)

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AFL_ITALIA

AFL_ITALIA

MAGISTERIAL
#9,285
Jun 17, 2011
31,813
#9,285
:sigh:

Pirlo: This World Cup should be my last action for Italy

Jun 11, 2014 8:32:00 PM

The midfielder made his international debut 12 years ago but admits he is unlikely to be available for the national team after the tournament in Brazil

Andrea Pirlo has admitted he plans to retire from international duty after this World Cup unless he is desperately needed by Italy.

The midfielder has been a member of the national team since 2002 and lifted the 2006 World Cup as well as reaching the Euro 2012 final with the Azzurri.

After 12 years of service, the 35-year-old is ready to bring an end to his international career unless Cesare Prandelli is struggling for options if he is not available for selection.

"I'm still thinking of retiring after this World Cup, as I have reached a certain age and it is only right to leave the pitch to the generation coming through," the Juventus star told reporters.

"It would be pointless to continue. If I am needed, then there’s no problem in coming back. If I come on international duty and don’t play, then I’d get angry. It is perhaps better I stay home."

Pirlo was then asked about Mario Balotelli and he believes the striker's goal drought will come to an end soon.

The Juventus star said: "Strikers score goals, so when they don’t come then perhaps he gets a little upset, but he just needs to focus on playing for the team and then a goal will arrive as a consequence of that.

"It is the dream of every player to be at a World Cup in Brazil, the nation of football. It’s not something that happens often, so we have the chance to make this a World Cup to be remembered for all our lives."

Italy are without a win in seven matches as they prepare to face Costa Rica, England and Uruguay in the group stage.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/10/ital...up-should-be-my-last-action-for-italy?ICID=SP
 
Bartolo

Bartolo

Junior Member
#9,286
May 18, 2014
329
#9,286
why the face? Pirlo definitely should retire after this World Cup. We need to inject the nazionale with these youth prospects: verratti, florenzi, poli, insigne, berardi, disciglio, immobile, etc
 
Ocelot

Ocelot

Midnight Marauder
#9,290
Jul 13, 2013
18,943
#9,290
From whoscored:

A headline in La Stampa this week passed comment on the English attitude towards him. “Obsession,” it read. “For them, he is the Maestro.”

Pirlo’s profile has never been higher than in the last two years. As with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, the English papers have come to him late only acknowledging his talent after he passed and Panenka-ed the country to death in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012. Even in the information age, it seems, an island is still an island. Without that performance and the fawning it caused it is unlikely his subsequent biography I Think Therefore I Play would ever have been published in English.
Click to expand...
So true...

http://www.whoscored.com/Articles/a...-Focus-The-Challenge-of-Stopping-Andrea-Pirlo
 
CrimsonianKing

CrimsonianKing

Count Mbangula
#9,294
Jan 16, 2013
27,326
#9,294
Pirlo shouldn't play as a deep playmaker for us anymore. He's got what it takes to play behind the strikers. He's getting older shouldn't be running all over the place, use him to dictate the tempo but up front.

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I've always wondered how he would do if he was to play more of a Trequartista role and damn, i'm not disappointed.
 
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