Andrea Pirlo

[Socrates 8868]

Pirlo 'pleased' to inspire Messi

Oct 13, 2012

Andrea Pirlo is “very pleased” that Lionel Messi confessed to being inspired by him in a free kick for Argentina.

The World Player of the Year placed his shot under the defensive wall during last night’s 3-0 win over Uruguay and admitted he had followed the inspiration of Pirlo’s effort against Siena.

“I was very pleased to hear that Messi noticed something like that,” smiled Pirlo from the Italy training camp.

“The fact it was Messi just made me even happier.”

[Socrates 8868]

Del Bosque tips Andrea Pirlo for Ballon d'Or

The Spain coach has tipped the Italian to pick up the award in January,

but added competition for the honour is heavy.

Oct 20, 2012

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has lauded Italy and Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo, and added that the playmaker could pip some of his side's stars to the Ballon d'Or this January.

The Azzurri fell to a 4-0 loss to Spain in the European Cup final this summer, but the 33-year-old remains widely-regarded as one of the best in his position after some stellar performances at the tournament.

Del Bosque has now voiced his admiration of the former AC Milan man, but added he hopes a compatriot picks up the award on which he places 'little' value.

"Pirlo, could win the Ballon d'Or. He is among the candidates," the 61-year old told reporters.

"He is a complete player, able to build the game and finish it."

"Even though I think very little about this award, I hope it goes to a Spaniard. Andres Iniesta? He's not the only one.

"The competition is strong, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Radamel Falcao..."

[Socrates 8868]

Del Bosque: 'Ballon d'Or to Pirlo'

Oct 20, 2012

Spain manager Vicente Del Bosque fought him twice this summer and believes “Andrea Pirlo could well win the Ballon d’Or.”

The veteran midfielder is among the candidates for the trophy after a remarkable campaign that saw Italy reach the Euro 2012 Final and Juventus end the season unbeaten in Serie A.

“Yes, Pirlo could well win the Ballon d’Or,” Del Bosque told La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

“He is a complete footballer, capable of creating the play and finishing it off. Admittedly, though, I hope the prize goes to a Spanish player.”

The World and European champion also commented on today’s hotly-anticipated Juventus-Napoli clash.

“These are the two teams who play the best football in Italy. If they give us a great match, then it’d be a wonderful calling card for Serie A.”

[Socrates 8868]

Prandelli praises Ballon d'Or three

Oct 29, 2012

Cesare Prandelli has responded to the news that three Italian national team players have been nominated for the 2013 FIFA Ballon d'Or.

Gianluigi Buffon, Mario Balotelli and Andrea Pirlo have been nominated in a 23-man list for the governing body's annual award, and the 55-year-old Coach has congratulated his squad members for recognition of their impressive 12 months.

“It is great news for the whole of Italian football,” he told reporters. “It is recognition that gives us great optimism for the future.

“It is brilliant to have three candidates for the Ballon d'Or.”

[Socrates 8868]

Pirlo two years unbeaten…

Oct 31, 2012

Juventus may be unbeaten in 48 League games, but Andrea Pirlo hasn’t tasted defeat in Serie A for even longer.

The last time that he lost a game in which he featured in was two years ago – October 30, 2010 – ironically in a 2-1 loss to Juventus while he was at Milan.

In the 53 League games he has played since, the Italian international has won 36 and drawn 17 matches in the Italian top flight.

[Socrates 8868]

Platini tips Pirlo for Ballon d'Or

Nov 1, 2012

UEFA President Michel Platini is confident Juventus and Italy hero Andrea Pirlo “can win the Ballon d’Or.”

The veteran midfielder is one of three Italians on the short-list along with Gianluigi Buffon and Mario Balotelli.

“Pirlo is playing very well and I think he can win the Ballon d’Or, but there are also many other strong candidates for that award,” Platini told Radio 2 in Italy.

The UEFA President was also asked about the recent controversy over refereeing decisions and the potential introduction of technology.

“If we introduced that then we would have to decide every single offside, every single free kick, and every corner using technology – because the referee can get it wrong at any moment.”

[Socrates 8868]

Verratti: Pirlo and I for Italy

Nov 14, 2012

Paris Saint-Germain’s Marco Verratti says that he and Andrea Pirlo could co-exist in the same Italian national side.

Verratti will start instead of the Juventus playmaker in this evening’s glamour friendly against France at Parma.

However, the former Pescara revelation is confident that Cesare Prandelli could field both simultaneously.

“Pirlo will soon return to the starting line-up, but I am convinced that we can co-exist,” commented the 20-year-old.

“I can, after all, play as the attacking midfielder behind two strikers because that is a role I have covered in the past.”

Verratti was transformed into a Pirlo-style deep playmaker by Zdenek Zeman at Pescara last season. He joined PSG for €12m in the summer.

[Socrates 8868]

Andrea Pirlo admires English football

Nov 19, 2012

Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo has revealed that he is a big fan of the Premier League.

The 33-year-old, who nearly joined Chelsea in 2009, has enjoyed a successful time with Juve following his move from AC Milan last summer.

"I like English football a lot," the World Cup winner told the Daily Mail. "There are plenty of very good teams. They are very aggressive so it's always entertaining to watch.

"It wouldn't be a problem for me fitting into that particular style because I've played with different players with different characteristics throughout my career."

Pirlo is expected to line up for Juventus on Tuesday when they entertain Chelsea in the Champions League.

[Socrates 8868]

Pirlo reveals he almost joined Chelsea over Juventus

The Italy playmaker, now 33, has claimed that he almost followed former

AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti to Stamford Bridge before joining the Old Lady in 2011.

Nov 19, 2012

Andrea Pirlo has revealed that he almost signed for Chelsea during Carlo Ancelotti's reign at Stamford Bridge.

The Juventus star will line up against the Blues on Tuesday evening, but admitted he was in deep negotiations with club officials, before AC Milan - his club at the time - pulled the plug on a deal.

The 33-year-old told the Daily Mail: "Actually, Milan wouldn’t let me go. I have a very strong connection with Ancelotti, so I was in touch with him when he went to Chelsea and I’m still in touch with him now he’s at Paris Saint-Germain.

"I had already started negotiating with the people at Chelsea but then finally Milan didn’t let me go. That’s why I stayed.

"Certainly it would have been a different experience that I’d have liked, especially when I was 30 years old. So why not? But unfortunately it didn’t happen."

The midfielder has enjoyed somewhat of a renaissance since joining the Bianconeri, contributing to Juventus' unbeaten title success last season, before shining for Italy at Euro 2012.

Pirlo also admitted he is still looking to challenge himself, and refused to rule out a future move to the Premier League.

"Maybe, who knows? I don’t know what might happen. You never know. I still have two years left with Juventus, this season and next," he added.

"I like English football a lot. There are plenty of very good teams. They are very aggressive so it’s always entertaining to watch.

"It wouldn’t be a problem for me fitting into that particular style because I’ve played with different players with different characteristics throughout my career."

[Socrates 8868]

Pirlo: 'Belief by beating Chelsea'

Nov 21, 2012

Andrea Pirlo says “beating the reigning European Champions” Chelsea gives Juventus even more confidence ahead of Milan.

Last night’s 3-0 victory was a statement of intent to the Champions League as well as increasing their chances of qualification.

“That was a great evening and we needed a victory like that to take a step towards qualification, even if we know that the last game with Shakhtar will be decisive,” Pirlo told the official Juventus website.

“Beating the reigning European Champions gave us further belief in our own strength. We have always believed, but now we do even more.”

On Sunday Juve face a crucial Serie A clash too, as they go head-to-head with Pirlo’s former club.

“Facing Milan is special for me, but I just want Juve to win and continue playing like this. So far we have done well and Milan have had a few problems, but we only want to look at our own progress.”

[Socrates 8868]

Pirlo hoping to finish in Ballon d'Or top 10

The Juventus midfielder, who is among the outsiders for the prestigious yearly award,

hailed his side's victory over Chelsea and looked ahead to Sunday's tussle with AC Milan.

Nov 23, 2012

Italy international and Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo has revealed his desire to be finish in the top 10 of the Ballon d'Or this season.

The midfield maestro is considered an outside chance for football's most prestigious individual award following his superb displays at Euro 2012, which helped the Azzurri finish as runners-up to Spain.

The World Cup winner, who also played a key role in the Bianconeri's title winning campaign last season, has admitted that Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi remain the obvious choices but that he will just be happy to be close behind them in the rankings.

"For many years Messi and Ronaldo will be the two best. After them there is Xavi, Andres Iniesta and others. I hope to be in the top ten," Pirlo told reporters.

Following Juventus' emphatic 3-0 victory over European champions Chelsea in the Champions League, Pirlo is now looking forward to his team's clash with his former side, AC Milan, this Sunday in the Serie A.

"We needed a win like the one against Chelsea," he added. It gives us confidence having beaten the European champions. Our inner strength helped. We are a solid group and we work hard.

"The Milan match is a special game for Juventus. I hope to win it, though Milan are a strong team. When great teams meet there is never is a problem with concentration."

[Socrates 8868]

Pirlo: I joined Juventus because Allegri

preferred Ambrosini or Van Bommel in midfield

The Bianconeri star has revealed that he left the San Siro not because he was only offered

a one-year extension, but because his former coach no longer saw him as first choice.

Nov 25, 2012

Andrea Pirlo has said he left AC Milan for Juventus because coach Massimiliano Allegri favoured to play either Massimo Ambrosini or Mark van Bommel ahead of the Italy international in his position.

Pirlo spent 10 years with the Rossoneri before moving to Turin at the beginning of last season, and his decision was vindicated as he played a vital role in helping Juventus win the Serie A title without losing a game.

But the 33-year-old has insisted that he wanted to extend his stay at the San Siro outfit but felt he had to leave as Allegri wanted to play others in his preferred role.

"When I spoke with Milan about my contract, they proposed the renewal for one year," the 2006 World Cup winner was quoted saying by La giornalaccio rosa dello Sport.

"I asked for a three-year deal because I was younger than the other experienced players. But the real reason for my transfer was another: Allegri wanted to place Ambrosini or Van Bommel in front of the defence and I'd have to change role.

"Then, I said 'no thanks' and I chose Juve, who offered me the right conditions. I want to say that it was not a financial decision.

"Milan decided that others were serving more. I quickly realised this during the interview. In my role Allegri preferred other players."

[Socrates 8868]

Cannavaro votes for Pirlo & Iniesta

Nov 28, 2012

Fabio Cannavaro has backed Juventus’ Andrea Pirlo or Andres Iniesta of Barcelona to win the 2012 FIFA Ballon d’Or.

The two players are among the 23-man shortlist for the honour whose winner will be announced on January 7.

“Pirlo is a player with extraordinary qualities,” the 2006 victor told France Football. “Not only did he win the Scudetto with Juventus, but he also took Italy to the Final of the European Championship.

“Meanwhile, Iniesta continues to confirm his qualities,” the ex-Italian international captain continued.

“He really is incredible. He is a fundamental player for his club and for Spain.”

The 23-man shortlist in full: Sergio Agüero (Argentina), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Mario Balotelli (Italy), Karim Benzema (France), Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Sergio Busquets (Spain), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire), Radamel Falcao (Colombia), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden), Andrés Iniesta (Spain), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Manuel Neuer (Germany), Neymar (Brazil), Mesut Özil (Germany), Gerard Piqué (Spain), Andrea Pirlo (Italy), Sergio Ramos (Spain), Wayne Rooney (England), Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire), Robin Van Persie (Netherlands), Xavi (Spain).

[Socrates 8868]

Italians miss out on Ballon d'Or

Nov 29, 2012

Andrea Pirlo, Gianluigi Buffon and Mario Balotelli have missed out on the final shortlist for the FIFA Ballon d'Or award.

The Italian trio were initially nominated for the prestigious award, given to the world's best player, but the triumvirate have been cut from the final three as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Andres Iniesta make it through to the final round of voting.

Pirlo had been considered an outside bet for the award following his outstanding performances for Juventus in their unbeaten Scudetto win as well as his guiding Italy to the final of Euro 2012.

The announcement was made at a Press conference in Sao Paulo this afternoon, as the La Liga players were deemed the superior candidates in the original 23-man list.

Messi has won the Golden Ball for the past three seasons and is the clear favourite for this year's edition.

The winner will be announced on January 7 in Zurich, with the recipient being decided by each national team captain, Coach and leading journalist.

[Socrates 8868]

Pirlo: Juventus have missed Conte

The experienced midfielder has nothing but praise for the successful coach, while also

offering words of encouragement to young Italy centre-mid Marco Verratti who is at PSG.

Nov 30, 2012

Andrea Pirlo feels that the absence of head coach Antonio Conte has hurt Juventus in the opening months of the 2012-13 campaign.

The 43-year-old was handed a 10-month ban at the start of the season for his failure to report instances of match-fixing during his spell in charge of Siena, which was later reduced to four months, and Pirlo is glad that Conte is on the verge of a return.

"We miss Conte a lot on the bench, especially at half-time. He always has a word for everybody, and can turn a match around with his tactical changes," Pirlo was quoted as saying by Tuttosport.

"Fortunately, his ban is almost over. It's only one more week. He really is an exceptional coach. He's always well prepared and is capable of transmitting his philosophy to the team."

The influential midfielder then had his say on Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti, labelling the youngster as his natural heir.

He added: "Verratti is quite similar to me. He's a great player. We must give him time to develop and let him make mistakes in order to improve. I see him as my heir."

[Socrates 8868]

Pirlo on Ballon d’Or, future and his beard

Nov 30, 2012

Juventus playmaker Andrea Pirlo has spoken to Tuttosport about a variety of subjects – including the Golden Ball, his contract situation, his heir and his beard.

Pirlo was a contender to win the 2012 Ballon d’Or after his stunning year for club and country, but he didn’t make the final three-man shortlist.

“It’s right that they give the Golden Ball to players who score 80 goals a season, like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, or Iniesta. I’ll just settle for a placing.”

Pirlo joined the Old Lady in the summer of 2011 after his contract at Milan expired, but how long will he remain in Turin?

“I’m in no rush to negotiate a renewal,” he said. “I’ll just dedicate myself to what I enjoy – training and playing.

“Let’s see how things are when my contract has expired. I still have a year and a half left on my agreement.”

Pirlo got his Bianconeri career off to a winning start as they instantly won the Scudetto, but the cloud of suspicion which hangs over his club annoys him.

“I admit that it is difficult to deal with the controversies.

“After Calciopoli, everyone thinks that there is something else behind our successes. In reality, we know that our victories are down to sacrifice and application. But it hurts to hear certain discussions.

“The Juve jersey? I’d prefer a third star on the shirt rather than the 30 sul campo sentence.”

Pirlo had his struggles at the start of this campaign, but the man who is always paid close attention insists he’s now in great shape.

“I needed to train hard at the start of the season, but now I am ready to face game after game,” he continued.

“The opposition? I’ve been man-marked for 10 years and I’m not even a Trequartista…”

Juve’s season has also been complicated by the touchline ban handed to boss Antonio Conte, even if he’ll be back on December 9.

“We miss Conte a lot, especially at half-time. He has the right words for everyone, he can change the outcome of a game with his tactical adjustments.”

Pirlo was also asked for his opinion on Italy and Paris Saint-Germain youngster Marco Verratti, as well as young Juve teammate Paul Pogba.

“Verratti has similar characteristics to me and he’s really good, but give him time to grow and make mistakes in peace. I consider him to be the continuation of myself.

“Pogba is hard, physically strong and good at getting into scoring situations. He reminds me of Patrick Vieira, but he is still young and he knows that he must improve.”

The 33-year-old was also asked what his beard was all about. “It wasn’t bothering me in the summer so I let it grow. Now I don’t waste time shaving…”

[Socrates 8868]

Pirlo not even in Golden top five

Nov 30, 2012

Juventus and Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo reportedly didn’t even poll in the top five of the 2012 Ballon d’Or.

Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Cristiano Ronaldo were yesterday nominated for the award at the end of a year where Pirlo inspired his club to Scudetto success and Italy to the Final of Euro 2012.

Pirlo was widely considered as an outside bet to make the final reckoning, but it appears he didn’t really threaten the top three.

The Mundo Deportivo is today reporting that Barcelona’s Xavi Hernandez finished fourth in the voting and Radamel Falcao of Atletico fifth.

National Coaches and captains, as well as leading journalists from each country, are allowed to vote.

Meanwhile, two Italian tacticians are believed to have just missed out on the podium for the Coach of the Year award.

Roberto Di Matteo – sacked by Chelsea after leading the club to the FA Cup and Champions League last season – and Azzurri boss Cesare Prandelli are believed to have polled fourth and fifth respectively.

La Roja boss Vicente Del Bosque, former Barcelona man Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid tactician Jose Mourinho are on the three-man shortlist for that honour.

[Socrates 8868]

Conte: I would give the Ballon d'Or to Pirlo

The Bianconeri boss insists the Italy playmaker deserves to win the prestigious prize,

despite the record-breaking exploits of leading candidate Lionel Messi.

Dec 17, 2012

Juventus coach Antonio Conte believes Andrea Pirlo should be given the Ballon d'Or this year.

The 33-year-old put in an inspired performance in his side's 3-0 win over Atalanta on Sunday, scoring a stunning free-kick in the process, and his boss is under no illusions as to who should be crowned the best player in the world.

"Even if Messi had scored thousands of goals, I would give the Ballon d'Or to Pirlo," Conte told reporters after the match.

"Then, I would have the pleasure of being the coach of a Golden Ball winner. Maybe in the future I will."

Pirlo was at the heart of his side's ruthless performance at the weekend, with the victory moving them seven points clear at the top of Serie A after Inter's defeat to Lazio.

The former AC Milan midfielder was named on the 23-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or prize earlier this year, but missed out on a place in the top three nominations to Andres Iniesta, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

[Socrates 8868]

Andrea Pirlo: Report Card for Juventus' Bearded Genius

Dec 26, 2012

Juventus fans did not know what to make of the signing of Andrea Pirlo two summers ago. An injury plagued season had caused many to regard him as a dimming star. Behind the scenes, Antonio Conte was puzzling as well. Long a proponent of the unorthodox 4-2-4 approach, Pirlo's strengths as a regista did not translate into the tactics that he had just used to send Siena to the top of Serie B.

Rather than try to shoehorn Pirlo into his preferred formation, Conte showed his true quality as a manager and rebuilt his system to fit the talents of his new midfield general. The results were phenomenal: working out of either a 4-3-3 or a 3-5-2, Pirlo revived his career with a fantastic season and led Juve to an undefeated season and the scudetto. He topped it off with a masterful performance at Euro 2012 that took the underdog Italians to the final and put his name forward as a top candidate for the ballon d'or.

This year, the bianconeri faithful were optimistic but cautious. Yes, Juve had had a fantastic season in 2011-12, but it was done without the rigors of the Champions League. Pirlo would be 34 by season's end. Would the Champions League take its toll on l'architetto?

The Italian made a huge statement in the Serie A opener against Parma. He took 94 touches, and completed 87 percent of his passes. He even kicked in two tackles—always a weakness for him—and topped the night off with a free kick goal that just made it past the goal line in the 58th minute.

But the moment of truth for Pirlo's season this year would be the games after Champions League matches. These have brought mixed results. In Juve's first match after UCL play, against Fiorentina, Pirlo looked visibly off. He was hauled off the field after 68 minutes, Juve played out an uninspiring goalless draw, and alarm bells started ringing all over Turin.

The second time he was trotted out after a Champions League tie, however, was a different story. Pirlo had been effectively bottled up by Shakhtar's Henrikh Mkhitaryan in midweek, and looked eager to break out. He throttled Siena, scoring a goal on a low, hard free kick, was denied a second by the woodwork and was named the man of the match.

In the next four matches that followed Champions League play, Pirlo had no fewer than 95 touches in any match and completed no less than 81 percent of his passes. He completed a total of 12 key passes in those four matches, 34 accurate long balls (including 14 alone in the October 12 match against Catania), and notched an assist in the 6-1 demolition of Pescara that followed Juve's 4-0 Champions League win over Nordsjaelland.

Overall so far this season, Pirlo has scored four goals in Serie A(one more than he did all of last year), notched three assists each in Serie A and the Champions League. In both competitions he is averaging 3.7 key passes, 8.6 long balls, and three accurate crosses per match, completing 86.3 percent of his passes.

So Pirlo's overall grade through the winter break? Hiccups against Fiorentina and the first matches against Chelsea and Shakhtar notwithstanding, Pirlo has been fantastic. His form going into the winter break has never been better, including a magical match in Atalanta two weeks ago when he completed 96 percent of his passes, had 150 touches, scored a wonderful free kick goal and was accurate on a ridiculous 27 or 28 long balls. This mastery garnered a hard-to-come-by 10 rating from whoscored.com, and showed the overall level of his play on the year.

The continued rumors of Pirlo's imminent demise are again unfounded. Pirlo has earned a solid A+ rating over the first part of the season, and looks only to be getting stronger as the new years looms, with (hopefully) a new target to find on Juve's forward line, the Champions League knockout phases coming, and the start of the ritorna bringing with it the prospect of revenge on Inter and AC Milan for the losses suffered during the andata.

One thing is certain—if a team wants to beat Juventus, Andrea Pirlo is still the man that must be stopped in order to have any sort of chance.

[Socrates 8868]

Why Andrea Pirlo Was My Favorite Player of 2012

Dec 29, 2012

"I thought God exists because it's truly embarrassing how good he is," said Gianluigi Buffon of his Juventus teammate Andrea Pirlo in 2011. (FIFA)

Pirlo arrived at Juve on a free transfer. He was 31 and a decade at AC Milan had ended with a Serie A title, but with Pirlo cast as a fading force and his place in their starting lineup no longer assured. Milan's faith extended to just a one-year deal and with that, Pirlo, fired by a sense of betrayal, plotted his exit.

Where Milan saw a bit-part player, Juventus coach Antonio Conte saw a man to build a team around. Pirlo was handed the conductor's baton in their midfield for the start of the 2011-12 season and would lead the Old Lady of Turin through an unbeaten league campaign and to the Serie A title.

The tone was set 17 minutes into Pirlo's league debut against Parma in September 2011 at the new Juventus Stadium. Collecting a pass from Stephan Lichtsteiner, Pirlo instinctively flicked a delightful return ball into the box and Lichsteiner put Juve on their way to a 4-1 win.

It was a sign of things to come. Pirlo would go on to deliver 13 assists in 36 Serie A appearances, operating as Juve's resplendent regista. He was the most influential midfielder in Italy and a footballer reborn under Conte.

His mastery was mesmerising. Opposition midfielders pressed and harried, but Pirlo could not be denied the space he thrived in. When they did get close he dipped a shoulder and left them behind. And when he saw a pass he played it with such deft weight his teammate received it in stride.

Euro 2012 arrived with Italian football embroiled in its latest match-fixing scandal, but Pirlo's majestic performances at the hub of Cesare Prandelli's Azzurri midfield would soon put that story to the back of our minds.

For their first test in the group stage, Italy would face the might of Spain and a midfield boasting the talents of Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Xabi Alonso. But it was Pirlo who stole the show, ghosting past Busquets to play in Antonio Di Natale for their opener and controlling the rhythm of the game.

Spain knew what they were up against. Xavi had talked of Pirlo being Italy's "genius with the ball" before the two teams came together, but there was nothing the world champions could do to stop him in Gdansk, Poland, that afternoon. The game finished 1-1, but it was Italy who edged the midfield battle.

Pirlo's influence grew stronger still against Croatia. He was at his imperious best during the first half and capped his masterclass with a curled free-kick into the top corner to put Italy ahead. Pirlo finished with man-of-the-match honors, but Croatia fought back for a 1-1 draw.

It was the Republic of Ireland next and Pirlo was once again to the fore. His corner led to Antonio Cassano's opener and Italy's 2-0 win saw them safely through to the quarterfinals, where they would face England.

What followed was one of the most one-sided 0-0 draws you're ever likely to see. Despite England having had three Euro 2012 group games and an entire Serie A to draw on, Roy Hodgson's team found themselves completely dictated to by Pirlo. They could find no answer to his influence and might very well have been beaten out of sight on his command.

They clung on. But as if Pirlo's superiority hadn't been obvious enough during those 120 minutes, he proceeded to put a paneka past Joe Hart in the penalty shootout to leave the England goalkeeper sprawling on the ground as the ball floated elegantly down the middle of the goal.

Italy advanced and faced Germany in the semifinals, where the battle of contrasting styles would unfold in midfield. Writing for the Indepedent, Miguel Delaney described it as, "the abrasiveness of Bastian Schweinsteiger against the velvet control of Andrea Pirlo."

Pirlo's velvet touch once again won out. Italy took the match 2-1 thanks to two Mario Balotelli goals and had negotiated their way to the final.

The fitting end Pirlo deserved was denied by a rampant Spain, who came out firing and took down Italy 4-0. It was Andres Iniesta who was crowned UEFA player of the tournament, but Euro 2012 will be remembered as the tournament that very nearly belonged to Pirlo.

The 33-year-old had won over a new audience with his elegant brand of play-making and gone about his romantic quest with a dignity that footballers everywhere should aspire to.

We end 2012 with a now bearded Pirlo's Juve eights points clear at the top of Serie A and with the vision of his latest free-kick masterpiece—against Atalanta—to remind us of his enduring, seemingly effortless brilliance.

He won't win the Ballon d'Or, but Pirlo won many, many hearts in 2012—mine included.

[Socrates 8868]

In Praise of Pirlo, My Ballon D’or Winner!

Dec 30, 2012

You may have heard that the Ballon d’Or — the award for the best football player in the world for this calendar year — will be awarded on January 7. You may have seen the leaked pictures of the trophy with Lionel Messi’s name on it. And you may deduce from that evidence that Andrea Pirlo cannot win it.

For Juventini, this sad verdict probably falls somewhere between “unfortunate” and “unfair,” depending on mood, degree of bias (let’s call it “passion”) or more rational criteria.

So Andrea can’t win it; in that case, he should be among the three finalists, a (barely) just reward for serving with flair and distinction as the beating heart and brain of a team that went unbeaten in its path to the championship of a very competitive league, as well as leading a country with little-to-no expectations to the finals of the European Championships. Alas, FIFA and affiliated journalists have failed to include him therein.

That, my friends, is outrageous.

True, this was a year in which Lionel Messi scored a barely conceivable 91 goals, Cristiano Ronaldo led Real Madrid to a La Liga championship, and Andres Iniesta was a talismanic figure in Spain’s historic second-straight Euro Cup and third-straight major international victory, all while carrying out his crucial role in the thriving commune/platonic ideal that is Barcelona.

But if Messi is indeed the winner, his selection bucks the recent trend of awarding a player whose team or country won a major trophy during the year (Barcelona did win the Copa del Rey, but seriously, come on). World football media, with the tacit approval of FIFA itself, usually errs on the side of big victories. Not this year.

Because this calendar year, in terms of the mysterious combination of collective success and a player’s influence thereupon, Andrea Pirlo was the best soccer player on Earth.

The following is a simple appreciation, devoid of intensive tactical analysis or too many facts and figures. It is foolhardy at best to engage in a stat war with the three finalists (especially Messi). For all its many arguments, it’s mainly a reminder of what I saw this year, and what I wish to take from 365 days worth of brilliance.

Rebirth

Most comeback stories are just that — stories. A neat way to reduce a player’s experience to a single word. In Pirlo’s case, his return as champion of Serie A, leader of a resurgent Italy and official reentry into the conversation of best players in the world is more than a comeback; it’s a rebirth. The fact that he achieved all this at 33 — after a dispiriting season at Milan in which he was passed over in favor of a more athletic midfield, thought to be all but washed up, and given away for free — makes it all the more impressive. Still, this success, like Pirlo himself, is not likely to call attention to itself. And we follow a sport defined by peacocks.

Messi and Ronaldo influence matches in the most direct, quantifiable way: They score goals, in wholesale quantities. Many times, even their assists feel like goals. Somehow, Pirlo’s 86.9% pass completion just doesn’t sound sexy, which also goes some way in explaining why Iniesta is not a favorite, being the most similar of the three to Pirlo.

Moreover, Messi and Ronaldo score prolifically with the media, being two of the biggest providers of the journalist’s daily bread. With a 24-hour news cycle and up to a week between matches, their sound bites, injury reports, training sessions and off-the-field antics fill columns. There’s not much interest in a man who speaks mainly through his game.

Messi is obviously a genius, and Ronaldo must be very talented indeed to play so well, distracted as he is by his enduring, devoted love affair with himself. Iniesta is perhaps unfairly hampered by the subtlety of his greatness (again, see Pirlo), not to mention sharing the spotlight with Messi and so many other stars at both club and international level.

But Pirlo’s genius, more than that of any of the three finalists, is not readily quantifiable in terms of personal success. It needs to be seen, which is why we Juventini are in the best position to argue for his inclusion, and unfortunately the least likely to be believed.

We saw the world-leading 2,778 passes that opened up an opponent’s defense, some of which should be hanging in the Louvre, others that may have led to a goal only two or three plays later. We registered the elegance, the sense of occasion in a dribble, a feint, a through-ball. We felt the internal tempo he set each match and thus sensed Juve’s dominance well before the score finally ratified it.

And we saw the work he does in all phases of the game, everywhere on the pitch, unlike the three finalists. Pirlo alone exists between the boundaries of offense and defense, and for Juve is responsible for both, as are all of his teammates. Under Antonio Conte, Pirlo drastically improved in terms of both stamina and defensive performance. He defied not only his critics, but also the stereotype of the lazy fantasista/regista whose flashes of inspiration make up for his indolence on the pitch. He pressed, won the ball back, led breaks and finished them, as needed.

Remember, he’s playing deep, just above the back line; his increased defensive responsibilities, especially on counterattacks, allowed Marchisio and Vidal to play further up; to press and to risk making those runs that were so frequently decisive. And when they made runs, who protected Pirlo, a player dogged throughout his career by criticism that he is vulnerable when exposed, a liability on defense? No-one. And he did just fine.

The old notion that Pirlo needs a Gattuso to protect him has proved to be not only false, but laughably so. Pirlo is his own Gattuso now.

Call it less of a comeback or rebirth than a full (if late) bloom.

Team Success

Messi’s Barcelona won the Copa del Rey, a competition of tertiary importance for their club, while ending the La Liga season nine points behind Ronaldo’s Real Madrid and making the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Iniesta, in addition to his role with Barcelona, also won the European Championships with Spain.

Ronaldo won La Liga and made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League. In the semi-final of the Euros, his insistence on taking the final penalty saw him lamely watch from midfield as Portugal lost to Spain with only four kicks necessary.

Pirlo won Serie A without losing and made it to the final of the European Championships.

When laid out this way, it seems plausible that Pirlo’s chances for the Ballon d’Or were mortally wounded by Juventus’ absence from the Champions League. That Pirlo was passed over for the shortlist perhaps says more about Juve’s current status as European giants in hiding, as well as their diminished prestige for the international media. But once again — beyond the 49-game unbeaten streak and Scudetto — the success of Pirlo’s teams this year cannot be quantified.

As fans of Juventus or the Nazionale, we were in the best position to qualify Pirlo’s success with both squads this year. We shared the relatively low expectations for Juve at the beginning of last season and were cautious even at the winter break, when the Scudetto became a distinct possibility. As Azzurri fans, we knew intimately the shame of the disastrous World Cup in South Africa and its subsequent effect on Italy’s international standing, as well as the anxiety and feared hopelessness of fielding several young players with little or no experience.

Whereas Real Madrid, Barcelona or the Spanish national team were expected to win in style, and their results ultimately measured against those expectations, Juventus and Italy, forever conjoined, were simply hoping to win, or in the worst case, to give a good account of themselves. That they exceeded those tasks by revolutionizing Italy’s tactical and stylistic image to help begin a new cycle for the balance of power in world football speaks volumes — but, unfortunately, only for those actually listening.

Juventus and Italy were remade in Pirlo’s image: subtly pervasive, tactically intelligent and quietly devastating. None of these traits makes for a good headline when it’s time to vote.

Catalyst and Focal Point

Here’s a relevant rhetorical question for you: Which one of Messi’s 91 goals this year actually won a major championship or team trophy?

And while Ronaldo’s scoring and playmaking snatched the La Liga title from Messi’s Barcelona, did he not play in a two-horse league with zero competitive (re: economic) parity? And did he not also play with world-class teammates referred to with straight faces the world over as Galacticos (admittedly much less galactic than in previous years)? Messi, of course, had his share of interstellar teammates as well, namely Xavi and Iniesta. And Iniesta, for that matter, played in Messi’s shadow at Barcelona, and although he was named Player of the Tournament at Euro 2012, will you remember Spain’s victory as a collective effort, as their publicity emphasizes, or as Iniesta’s achievement?

When you think of these players, do you immediately swoon over how they make their teammates better? Or are you too busy marveling at their highlight reels?

But now look at Pirlo: The catalyst and focal point of an unbeaten, championship-winning Juventus with limited funds and diminished prestige, the man who led a young, ragtag group of Italian internationals to the Final of the European Championships. And though Italy would ultimately lose, it’s impossible to deny that Spain’s collective talent and years of experience playing together made them superior from the outset.

Thanks in large part to Pirlo, both Juventus and Italy did much more with much less.

Domestically, Pirlo was the one objectively irreplaceable player on a club that went unbeaten in its run to the championship of a very competitive league. Many players were crucial, but if you took away Pirlo, even with Conte as coach — no Scudetto. Then, as now, he ran the entire offense, and we all saw the deleterious effects of the rare instances in which he was rested or suspended.

Also, in reference to my previous comment on Galacticos: Messi and Ronaldo play with almost uniformly world-class talent, bought by two very rich teams with seemingly infinite resources. At the beginning of this season, Pirlo didn’t have any Galaticos on his side, but match after match, he elevated the performances of his teammates to galactic levels; some of his teammates even seem to have reached permanent world-class status.

Look at Arturo Vidal: surely a great player to begin with, but one who is now mature and dominant beyond his years, highly coveted by the giants of world football.

Look at Stephan Lichtsteiner, whose almost telepathic understanding with Pirlo has made all the difference in his emergence as a player of international reputation. Acknowledging his tireless running and tactical understanding, it was Pirlo who literally put Lichtsteiner in the thick of things. He’s a star when Pirlo’s directing.

And for heaven’s sake, look at Claudio Marchisio! He’s gone from a frequently great but frustratingly inconsistent player to one of the best midfielders in the game. In the past, he’s either been an engine or a game-changer, rarely both at once. Pirlo’s influence on him has made him not only reliable, but transcendent. He’s even starting to be known solely by his last name—outside of Italy! We all knew he had it in him, but who brought it out of him?

As far as the National Team is concerned, Pirlo was once again the center of attention, and despite the alteration in tactics, he led a potentially very underwhelming team to perform much better than their modest collective talent warranted. Whether it was his play in general (calmly orchestrating the offense) or a specific instance (that penalty kick), he was crucial to inspiring Italy to go much further than almost everyone predicted.

Perhaps more importantly, Pirlo’s mastery and leadership, despite the constant two-pronged threat of tabloid insanity from Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano, did more to improve Italian soccer’s image than anyone has at any time since the fallout from Calciopoli. The tactical emphasis on possession and ball movement, both of which focused on Pirlo, upended the tired catenaccio stereotype and made Italian soccer actually entertaining for the neutral, casual viewer.

That in itself warrants some kind of international award.

What Success Means

The Ballon d’Or is historically a measurement of success, both individual and collective.

Pirlo was indispensable to the wild success of both club and country, while Messi collected individual awards but won nothing with Barcelona or Argentina, and Ronaldo won a championship with a team rich in resources and players — world economy be damned. And despite his greatness, I think it can be argued that Iniesta was simply not as crucial to Barcelona as Pirlo was to Juventus.

Awarding Messi or Ronaldo — and more importantly, omitting Pirlo — is as close to a definitive statement as possible from world football. It offers a very specific collective opinion as to the very purpose of a soccer match, what success means, and thus what makes a player most valuable. Casual fans of soccer in general skew toward an individual, statistical and inevitably commercial bend. The players, coaches and journalists voting on the Ballon d’Or, their memories reinforced respectively by intense contests swayed by single moments, tactical nightmares in man-marking, or the blessings of a year’s worth of good copy, will ultimately support that predilection. In the end, this is an award designed to promote a sport.

I personally thought the purpose of a soccer match was to win, or (allowing for draws) to at least get the better of your opponent. It’s a struggle for dominance, whether qualitatively or quantitatively. This year, Pirlo had more success than Messi and was equally or more responsible for his team’s success against more difficult competition than was Ronaldo or Iniesta. Of course, it doesn’t always show up in the official record.

Antonio Conte stated that “even if Messi had scored thousands of goals, I would give the Ballon d’Or to Pirlo.”

Conte is biased, and so am I, but nevertheless it’s hard to shake the feeling that he’s right. It’s also hard to shake the feeling that it doesn’t matter anyway. Pirlo will be Pirlo regardless, and his achievements will always be more impressive in our memories than they would have been in the record books.

And given how he’s conducted his career (and his teams), it’s easy to believe that he’s fine with that.

by Vittorio Pazzini.

http://youtu.be/fLodZXnYaMA

[Socrates 8868]

Where is Pirlo? Barcelona and Real Madrid bias proves

that FIFPro World XI has no credibility

How can the Fifa-backed award possibly be taken seriously after the shocking exclusion

of the Juventus and Italy star, and the admittance of underachievers such as Dani Alves?

Jan 8, 2013

COMMENT

By Carlo Garganese

Footballers are often ridiculed for having more money than sense, and it is little wonder when they are responsible for monstrosities like the 2012 FIFPro World XI.

The best team of the last calendar year, as voted for by approximately 45,000 professional footballers around the globe, produced an all-La Liga line-up consisting of just one player – Atletico Madrid's Radamel Falcao – who is not contracted to either Barcelona or Real Madrid.

If the Fifa Ballon d'Or is traditionally regarded as the most prestigious individual prize in football, then the FIFPro XI considers itself the most distinguished team construct.

However, any credibility that the Fifa-backed award has acquired since its creation in 2005 has now all but disappeared.

The most bizarre inclusion was that of Dani Alves at right-back. At the start of last season, the Brazilian was arguably the best full-back in world football. But 2012 was his worst year since arriving in Spain, as he endured problems with Pep Guardiola and then spent time on the bench under Tito Vilanova.

There were numerous superior right-backs in Europe, including Borussia Dortmund's Lukasz Piszczek, Juventus' Stephan Lichtsteiner and Shakhtar Donetsk's Darijo Srna, to name just a few, all of whom – unlike Dani Alves – won a league title in 2012. The footballers who picked Alves clearly chose him on reputation, and watched little to no German, Italian or Ukrainian football. Most will have barely heard of Piszczek, let alone be capable of spelling his name on a ballot paper.

His Barcelona team-mate Gerard Pique also fell out with Guardiola, but his greatest personal achievements of 2012 came off the pitch with Shakira. He certainly had plenty of time to spend with his beautiful Colombian girlfriend as he missed almost half of the 2011-12 Liga season and struggled for form when his footballing partner Carles Puyol was sidelined with injury.

In Pique's favour is the fact that, in addition to winning Euro 2012, this is possibly the worst era for defenders in almost 50 years. But, the likes of Thiago Silva and Mats Hummels were surely more worthy candidates to be considered alongside Sergio Ramos.

Marcelo's addition at left-back is no disgrace, once again due to the dearth of top quality full-backs in the game, but a player who was twice dropped for crucial Real Madrid clashes at the end of last term (the Liga decider in April at Barcelona, and the Champions League semi-final first-leg versus Bayern Munich) should not be preferred to Ashley Cole, who was heroic throughout Chelsea's road to glory. That the Champions League winners, however fortunate they were to lift the trophy, have no representation in the FIFPro XI is somewhat absurd.

The ultimate insult, though, was the exclusion of Andrea Pirlo. The Italian magician will go down in history as one of the best centre midfielders of all time, and 2012 was his annus mirablis as he led Juventus to Scudetto glory without losing a game, before winning three man-of-the-match awards on his way to taking Italy to Euro 2012 silver. In the current campaign he has been just as dominant.

The fact that 45,000 ballots couldn't tally up enough votes for Pirlo makes you lose faith in democracy, particularly as the former AC Milan star has been hailed in the world media on an almost daily basis since his Euro 2012 quarter-final masterclass against England.

Football today may have become monopolised by a small group of rich, elite clubs, but Barcelona and Real Madrid – neither of whom made the Champions League final in 2012 - are not the only two teams in world football.

Andres Iniesta's insertion in the midfield three is a no-brainer, but the additions of Xavi and Xabi Alonso ahead of Pirlo demonstrates an embarrassing bias towards the Clasico couple.

Even the selection of Atletico Madrid superstar Falcao, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, is debatable given the presence of equally brilliant candidates such as Robin van Persie, Didier Drogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but it is Pirlo's absence that has rightfully created all the headlines.

The Fifa Ballon d'Or itself has suffered its fair share of criticism in recent times, from the snubbing of Wesley Sneijder in 2010, to the bizarre inclusion this time around of Pep Guardiola in the top three of the coaching category.

But its credibility is still just about intact. This is sadly not the case any longer with the FIFPro XI.

[Socrates 8868]

Pirlo: 'Lampard, come to Juve!'

Jan 9, 2013

Andrea Pirlo has invited Chelsea hero Frank Lampard to Juventus. “If he wanted to try at playing in Italy, I would welcome him at Juventus for sure.”

The England midfielder is 34 and his contract at Stamford Bridge expires in June, so he has been linked with swoops by Lazio and Inter.

Pirlo, who is a year younger than Lampard, believes Turin would be an even more suitable destination.

“I can only make comment on what I see,” he told American television. “And from what I see, Lampard is still one of the best central midfield players in the world.

“If he wanted to try at playing in Italy, I would welcome him at Juventus for sure. In Italy, Frank would comfortably have another four years at the top level.”

[Socrates 8868]

Pirlo in UEFA Team of 2012

Jan 16, 2013

Juventus and Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo has been named in UEFA.com’s Team of the Year by the site’s users.

The midfielder, who led his club to the Scudetto last year and his country to the Final of 2012, was recognised by fans in a European based team which was predominantly made up of La Liga stars.

Former Milan centre-back Thiago Silva, sold to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, was also voted into the fantasy XI.

Team of the Year 2012: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid & Spain); Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid & Spain); Gerard Piqué (Barcelona & Spain); Thiago Silva (Milan/Paris Saint-Germain & Brazil); Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich & Germany); Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona & Spain), Xavi Hernández (Barcelona & Spain); Andrea Pirlo (Juventus & Italy); Mesut Özil (Real Madrid & Germany); Lionel Messi (Barcelona & Argentina); Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid & Portugal).

[Socrates 8868]

Pirlo: 'Secret to my success'

Jan 16, 2013

Andrea Pirlo was named in the UEFA Team of 2012 and revealed the secret to his success. “You need to know a bit of everything.”

The Juventus veteran was the only Italian and Serie A representative in the Top XI voted for by readers of UEFA’s official website.

“Well, you need to know a bit of everything,” he said when asked about the secret to his success.

“You need to know how to defend, how to attack, how to direct the game, win the ball and score goals – a bit of everything.

“I just try to give my best in training to be fit for the matches. The older you get it becomes more and more important to train well and focus on every single detail, just to stay in your best form as long as possible.”