Exclusive Pirlo: childhood idols and behind the scenes of World Cup Final penalty shootout | OneFootball

Italy legend Andrea Pirlo discusses his childhood idols in an exclusive interview with Football Italia and explains why he put his penalty kick down the middle in the 2006 World Cup Final against France.

Juventus are taking charge in North America with the ‘We are Juventus’ fans tour, bringing community outreach and club legends throughout the continent to support its trans-Atlantic fans and academies. First in Miami with Patrice Evra, followed by Alex Del Piero visiting Houston, and now Andrea Pirlo joined the ranks with a visit to New York City.

Italian legend Andrea Pirlo opens up about his career as a footballer in an exclusive interview with Football Italia’s Wayne Girard, discussing his childhood idols and the Azzurri’s 2006 World Cup win in a Final against France.

“My idol as a child was Roberto Baggio, and I was lucky enough to play with him, first at Inter and then again at Brescia, fulfilling a dream,” the ex-midfielder says.

“But I also really admired other No.10s like Diego Maradona, Michel Platini, and Roberto Mancini, that whole generation.”

Pirlo rose in the Brescia Academy and played for Serie A giants Inter, Milan and Juventus, winning two Champions League titles with the Rossoneri and six Scudetti, four with Juventus and two with Milan, but what was his main target as a young footballer?

“I wanted to become a footballer. I never had anything else in my mind, so I never thought about doing anything else,” he admits.

“In my mind, I was convinced I could make it as a footballer.”

Pirlo’s Milan lost the 2005 Champions League Final against Liverpool, but the midfielder won the World Cup with Italy in the following year and then got his revenge against the Reds in 2007.

“Those were wonderful years. We lost the final against Liverpool in 2005, then after winning the World Cup and the chaos of Calciopoli, it was a difficult period for many Italian clubs,” he recalls.

Exclusive Pirlo: childhood idols and behind the scenes of World Cup penalty shootout

“After the World Cup, there was a lot of uncertainty because no one knew where some of these teams would end up playing. Milan were reintegrated into the Champions League, but we had to start from the qualifiers, so we had to start from scratch and regroup because we were determined to play in that Champions League. We had earned it on the pitch, and we came together as a group to have a great season despite many difficulties. In the end, we managed to win the final against Liverpool, getting our revenge for 2005.”

Pirlo took the first penalty kick in the shootout of the 2006 World Cup Final against France in Berlin. What did he think before facing Fabien Barthez?

BERLIN – JULY 9: Andrea Pirlo of Italy moves away from Patrick Vieira of France and team mate Thierry Henry (R) during the FIFA World Cup Germany 2006 Final match between Italy and France at the Olympic Stadium on July 9, 2006 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

“I was thinking about how to score,” he says, smiling.

“When Lippi told me I would take the first penalty, I thought about where to place it. Even in my run-up, I was already considering shooting it down the middle because, as the first penalty taker, I thought the goalkeeper would dive to one side or the other.

“Being the first is not easy because you don’t get to see how the goalkeeper moves. The third, fourth, or fifth takers have a different perspective. As the first, there’s a bit more pressure because anything can happen. But I went for the middle, and it worked. No anxiety, but when I scored, it was a huge relief.”

The former midfielder spent the last years of his career at New York City and recently returned to The Big Apple for an event where Lega Serie A announced a new record for audience engagement in the USA.

“I spent two and a half years in New York and had an amazing time, both in the city and with the team,” Pirlo concludes.

“My two children were born here, so I feel a deep connection to this city.”