Side selection at the European Championship semi-finals
Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini explains the scene between him and Spain’s Jordi Alba
“Mentiroso, Mentiroso”: Giorgio Chiellini (m.) and Jordi Alba at the side selection for the penalty shootout
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When the side was to be selected for the penalty shootout, Alba was literally raised by Chiellini. The Italian now reveals why.
Giorgio Chiellini, captain of the Italian national team, has explained in an interview with the Italian Football Federation the scene between him and Spain’s match leader Jordi Alba at the European Championship semi-finals.
During the side selection before the penalty shootout between the Squadra Azzurra and the Furia Roja, Chiellini suddenly seemed very amused and pulled up the much more serious-looking Alba with loud shouts and teasing. Among other things, he even patted the Barca player’s cheek and lifted him into the air.
European Championship semi-finals: Alba was jokingly called a “liar” by Chiellini
The Juve centre-back now dismissed the following speculations as exaggerated: “Much more was told than actually happened. We had to choose the side on which the penalties should be scored and the referee said: ‘Red for one side, blue for the other.'”
Alba then thought that he had won the side election, according to Chiellini, “but I amused him by pointing out that this was not the case.”Audible to the audience, the Italian had shouted “Mentiroso, Mentiroso”, in German: “Liar, liar”.
After an intense 120 minutes, a 1-1 draw was on the scoreboard between Italy and Spain. The following penalty shoot-out was won by the Squadra Azzurra and will face England in the final on Sunday.
