World Cup qualifying defeat at the hands of North Macedonia after being awarded the Laureus World Team of the Year Award. Chiellini said that he and his colleagues felt "destroyed and crushed" after Aleksandar Trajkovski's last gasp winner put the reigning Euro 2020 champions out at the semi-final stage of knockout qualifiers.
Having beaten England in the final of that tournament on penalties at Wembley, it wasn't long before their international standing would come crashing down - but that didn't stop Italy being handed a prestigious team award by a panel of more than 1,000 members of sports media.
Roberto Mancini said on receiving the Laureus Statuette: "Thank you for this outstanding Award. I believe it should be shared with the whole team, with the Nazionale, with all the managers, all the players for all our good work in the 2021 season with the victory in the European Championship."Also considering the importance of this prize, truly something to be shared with all the young people of the world." HAVE YOUR SAY!
Were Italy deserving of the award? Tell us in the comments section belowAnd President of the Italian Football Federation Gabriele Gravina said: "Thanks for having chosen our Federation and our National Team for this Award; a significant Award, especially considering the deep feelings that are subsumed in the purpose of this Award."Thank you from the bottom of my heart."With Chiellini adding: "I want to say thank you to the Laureus Academy Members.
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