Spinazzola stood for the new, refreshing offensive spirit of the Italians. This makes the severe Achilles tendon injury all the more bitter.
If Leonardo Spinazzola had lived around 2,000 years ago, the name tragic hero could have been tailored to his well-trained body. After all, the 28-year-old was one of the discoveries made by the Italians at this European Championship, after all, he is a proud Roman in his job.
And now? A torn Achilles tendon, sustained in the sprint, stopped Spinazzola's run of success in the closing stages of the 2-1 quarter-final victory of his Italians against Belgium. While the colleagues were playing their way to seventh heaven, Spinazzola landed on the ground of a sad reality. Seriously wounded in the Achilles' heel (to use Greek mythology). The images of tears when he had to get on the stretcher and leave the field on it went around the world of football.
Offensive spirit
The AS Roma player has rewritten the concept of the typical Italian defender like few before him, rarely has you seen a regular defensive player with such an urge to shape the offensive. Seldom has it been so dangerous around the opponent's penalty area when Spinazzola started his assaults. As a symbol for an unusually refreshing Squadra Azzurra, which was once scourged by the Catenaccio. The defense bar that was once brought to Milan by the Argentine trainer legend Helenio Herrera and which somehow did not want to disappear from the country for decades, which shaped the tactics. Somehow telling that this is now finally history, since Roberto Mancini, a former top striker, has held the coaching scepter in his hands.
Leonardo Spinazzola broke his Achilles tendon, @SkySport just reported. He'll be out for many months. One of the best players of the Euros so far. 🇮🇹 #Spinazzola pic.twitter.com/kWQ6VPfetm
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 2, 2021
With all the joy and anticipation for the semi-final duel with Spain on Tuesday, the 56-year-old is also a little sad, he feels sorry for the fastest European Championship defender. “It struck me very much to see him in tears. He didn't deserve it. He was one of our best players. ”And goalscorer Lorenzo Insigne also regrets Spinazzola's injury:“ It's a heavy loss for us. That is a shame and sad. He was so important. “
Some time ago it would have been unthinkable that so much would be written and talked about Spinazzola. When the defender came to Juventus in 2010 at the age of 17, it took a long time to break through. Seven loans followed (Empoli, Lanciano, Siena, Atalanta, Vicenza, Perugia and again Atalanta) before Bergamo signed the man on in 2018. The last big step followed in 2019 when AS Roma acquired it for around 30 million euros. Spinazzola really flourishes there, he was one of the best players in the most recent Serie A second half of the season, although in the end it was only enough for a Conference League place.
“Back soon”
The injury of Spinazzola is therefore also taken with regret in the Eternal City, after all, a month-long break also affects the plans of the new coach José Mourinho, who was recently introduced there.
Spinazzola turns a good face into a sad game. “I can only tell you that I'll be back soon! I'm sure of that! ”Wrote the 28-year-old on Instagram on Saturday.
