Rome (AFP)

He muzzled Romelu Lukaku in the experiment and made the show against Jordi Alba.

At the Euro, veteran Giorgio Chiellini is having a blast with Italy for what could be his last big tournament, which he dreams of finishing by brandishing the cup on Sunday at Wembley (9:00 p.m.).

"Finally the good one? We'll talk about it again if we get to Wembley ..." Before the very first game against Turkey, a month ago, Chiellini was already smiling like that.

A journalist asked him if this competition would finally be the "right one" to win an international title, at almost 37 years old.

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The "Tower of Pisa" (city where he was born in August 1984) has accumulated national titles: nine times Italian champion and winner of five Italian Cups with Juventus, he was even champion in 2nd and 3rd division.

But when it comes to international competitions, his record is almost empty, with only one European champion title in less than 19 years .... In the Champions League (2017) with Juve as in the Euro (2012) with the Nazionale, he lost the two finals he played.

Still too young, he had not been selected for the 2006 World Cup won by Italy.

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This may be his last great occasion with the Azzurro jersey, as his physique seems more and more fragile.

The last four of the League of Nations in October at home seems a trophy of lesser importance, and the World-2022 is still far away.

But if he feels any pressure, it doesn't show.

- Energy to sell -

Since the start of the competition, the captain with 111 selections has displayed unfailing tranquility alongside Leonardo Bonucci, his teammate and friend with 108 capes, the last survivor with him of the 2012 final lost against Spain (0-4 ).

But above all, the "sinister of the defense" has energy and good humor to spare since the first game, clenching his fists during winning tackles on opposing forwards.

Chiellini arrived at the Euro with an "immense desire to recover", after the fiasco of the failed qualification for the World Cup in 2018: "We will never be able to forget it, but we managed to transform the disappointment into enthusiasm" , he said.

Faced with the Turks (3-0), this desire for revenge was obvious: he played almost in the midfield, pushing his team to evolve very high.

Against the Swiss (3-0), he even believed to score his 9th goal with the Nazionale but the VAR refused it for a hand, before he had to leave his family, overtaken by a muscle injury.

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Against Belgium, for his return, he muzzled Lukaku "old-fashioned", with strict marking, and gifted Kevin De Bruyne with a sparkling smile after having countered without trembling one of his overpowered shots.

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- "Fireman" rather than arsonist -

And against the Spanish captain Jordi Alba, before the victorious penalty shootout in the semi-final, it even turned to the show: in front of the cameras, we saw Chiellini chambering his counterpart by giving him a little nudge and then hugging him suddenly.

The Spaniard, much more tense, seemed taken aback by this Italian mounted on springs.

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Chiellini disputes this Euro with the relief and lightness of someone who thought the party would take place without him.

Injured most of the previous season, he would probably not have been able to compete in the Euro last year and took advantage of the postponement of one year, pandemic obliges, to get back on his feet.

A serenity which he shares with his partners: "My role is more that of a firefighter, to play down what there could be tension. There is no need to increase the pressure, the adrenaline will come all the way. alone, "he said before shifts.

And it is not his future in a club that seems to disturb him.

If he should extend the adventure to Juventus, the club where he has played since 2005, he is currently officially without a club since June 30, like his teammate Gianluigi Donnarumma or FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi.

"These are the dynamics of a strange year. But we are quiet, and I think Messi even more than me."

© 2021 AFP