June 27 – 4.04pm
Fanna: “We hope for Hellas for the 40th anniversary of the scudetto. Italy, watch out for Switzerland”
Absolute protagonist of the Verona championship in 1985, fresh from his 66th birthday, Piero Fanna spoke to our microphones.
Next year will be the 40th anniversary of Verona’s Scudetto win in 1985. How have you maintained relationships with your teammates?
“After that feat we regularly feel like brothers. We recently took a holiday in Salento with five of us and our families, it was a nice reunion after so many years. I recently saw Elkjær, who surprised me in the restaurant for my birthday. When you reach a goal like this, only over time do you truly realize what has been done, as Volpati said. Beyond the game that binds us, we become friends, from players to managers. We hope that Verona, speaking of current affairs, will put together a good team in order to experience the year of the 40th anniversary of the Scudetto in the best possible way.”
Does Fanna still follow football assiduously or, once his career ended, did he dedicate himself to something else?
“I gave everything I had as a player, as a commentator and as a spectator and therefore I stepped away. I struggle to follow this increasingly faster football, and I only go to the stadium if my nephew asks me to. I can’t follow him regularly anymore, but I still watch the important matches. I like fast players, with personality and who take on their responsibilities.”
What do you think of Spalletti’s Italy?
“It’s clear: we suffered in the first round as is our destiny in major international competitions. The group stage is the most important phase, especially from a psychological point of view, since Italy is forced to advance to the next round due to high expectations. The pressure is high, but even though we made it through the group stage with great difficulty, we have great human and technical qualities to make a good impression.”
Thinking back to what has been said, one might say that his favorite player from this national team is Federico Chiesa.
“Exact. My favorite player is Chiesa because he resembles the young Fanna when he targets his opponents, he has speed and in recent years he has also improved in front of goal. This type of player can, if put in the right conditions, make a difference.”
From which player, however, did you expect more?
“Forwards are always the most criticized players. For example, Scamacca scores goals at Atalanta and is a great player. He can improve in playing with the team but he doesn’t lack his qualities.”
Is there any team that has impressed you in these first outings?
“Switzerland seems to me to be a well-organised team, with important players, with speed and technique. We have to be careful, it could be the surprise of the tournament.”
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