Andrea Pirlo has told Football Italia that he is convinced Italy will be victorious at this summer's European Championship.
The 28-year-old, who was part of the Azzurri's World Cup winning squad in 2006, believes this current crop of players can enter into calcio folklore.
“Italy will win, everyone in the squad truly believes it,” he insisted. “No one has ever won a World Cup and then a European Championship in the history of Italian football.”
La Nazionale have only been crowned the continent's best side once, back in 1968, and the man capped 45 times for his country knows just what it will take to bring the trophy back to Italy.
“It is vital to have a squad of the highest quality,” explained Pirlo. “Only then will we be able to stay fresh and change things without ever letting our standards dip. Only we can do it.”
The former Inter and Brescia player also responded to speculation regarding the future of Italy Coach Roberto Donadoni, whose contract expires at the end of the tournament.
“In my opinion it is better this way as we don't know how to win if we are calm,” said Pirlo. “Marcello Lippi led us to World Cup glory amid a thousand difficulties.”
To read the exclusive interview with Andrea Pirlo in full, just pick up the May issue of Calcio Italia magazine.
