Willem van Hanegem is particularly pleased with the game of Italy and in particular with Giorgio Chiellini. The Curve calls the 36-year-old defender “the annoying player you want on your team.” “He will turn 37 next month, I don’t think he even has a club at the moment (his contract with Juventus has expired and has not been officially extended yet, ed.), but he restricted top striker Romelu Lukaku,” writes Van Hanegem in his column. in the General Newspaper.
Van Hanegem notes that Italy played against Belgium (which was defeated 1-2) with four defenders and three attackers, as we are ‘used in the Netherlands’. “With wingers like Lorenzo Insigne and Federico Chiesa, who are really very dangerous. Ciro Immobile is a bit out of place. He is at his best in an attacking line with two strikers, that could be a reason,” says Van Hanegem. “If Italy wins, we will get rid of people who say that former strikers are not trainers who win trophies.”
National coach Roberto Mancini works for the Italian national team together with Alberigo Evani, Attilio Lombardo and Gianluca Vialli, with whom he played at Sampdoria. “We also know that a technical staff can do well with all friends. They all know each other from Sampdoria, they are best buddies and they perform”, says Van Hanegem. “A lot of this success comes from defender Giorgio Chiellini. That’s the annoying player you have to have on the team.”
Van Hanegem thought it was terrible that Leonardo Spinazzola tore his Achilles tendon, because he believed the fullback was a candidate to become the best player of the European Championship. “And I also think that his distinct style set something in motion. Spinazzola is right-footed, but stands on the left. He constantly comes on and can not only go outside, but also easily inside”, concludes the former international. At the same time, Van Hanegem was surprised at the fact that people in Belgium were dealing with criticism from the Netherlands.
“The Belgians were very concerned about the criticism from the Netherlands. Because they were still in the tournament and we weren’t. But that didn’t last long. I don’t understand that whining about a bit of criticism,” says Van Hanegem. He also points to the fuss that Rafael van der Vaart’s criticism of Spain’s game resulted in. “Half the Spanish team even tripped over each other to complain about Rafael van der Vaart, when he rightly said that Spain played very badly. I like to watch Pedri and Dani Olmo.”
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