ITALY, Chiellini: "Ready to face Spain"

© foto di Daniele Buffa/Image Sport

Italy will be able to count on the experience of Giorgio Chiellini in their upcoming Euro 2012 campaign, after the Bianconeri defender confirmed his return to full fitness.

The 27-year-old, who made his Azzurri debut back in November 2004 against Finland, has shaken off the injury which forced him to miss out on Juve’s Coppa Italia final clash with Napoli.

Speaking from a press conference at the team base in Krakow, Chiellini is clearly relishing the prospect of featuring in the hotly-anticipated Group C opener against Spain.

“Thankfully the injury was a lot less serious than first feared,” he said. “Now we’re here in Poland and there’s a change of atmosphere. We’re up for the task and the welcome we were afforded yesterday was very important. The ten million fans brought across great energy. “

“It’s a pity Andrea [Barzagli] misses out but we’ll be ready if required to play a back three – De Rossi has shown he’s capable of doing so. Prandelli has experience and wants to consider the various alternatives. We’ve all tried out different styles of play with our respective club sides. Now all we need to do is find the right balance and a shared idea of play.”

Yet Giorgio knows Italy will have to be fully focused in order to match Vicente del Bosque’s defending European champions.

“There’s no way to stop their individuality, the important thing is to help each other out in every part of the pitch. We’ll have to limit their quality, taking account of their strengths but also their weaknesses.

“We’ll be up against a team which has dominated over the last four years, but we want to face this game with the right motivation.”

The defender spoke to the media shortly after paying an emotional visit to the concentration camps in Auschwitz.

“It was a genuinely touching feeling and it’s difficult to find words for it,” concluded Giorgio. “These are things I studied when I was at school, but seeing it with your own eyes is another thing entirely, especially the tales of the survivors. This experience will stay in our hearts forever.”