If Italy got to the finals at Wembley three years ago, it was thanks in part to that ice-cold penalty from Jorginho. On Thursday in Gelsenkirchen, like in 2021 at Wembley, it will be Spain on Italy’s path: a game that doesn’t see a place in the final at stake but does offer an important three points, potentially decisive, for the top spot in Group B at EURO 2024. Jorginho is one of the most experienced players who have gone to Germany with 55 caps, behind only Donnarumma on 63. Something to be shared with his teammates and something that we needed on Saturday evening in Dortmund after the awful start with Bajrami’s goal for Albania after 23 seconds.

Jorginho spoke to Vivo Azzurro TV (in Italian), the OTT platform from the FIGC available on the App Store, Google Play and at www.vivoazzurrotv.it: “It was a positive debut against Albania. We played well, keeping the share of possession and being patient. It wasn’t simple: when you go a goal down after just a few seconds, we did well to stay calm and do what we had prepared to do”.

From Albania to Spain: “I have good memories about Spain (he smiles). It was a difficult game but it finished with a very special moment for me that I will always remember. We will try to best prepare for the game in the next three days, to win this one as well”. The Arsenal midfielder sets out what we might need: “High intensity. Both sides will want the ball, we need to base our game on our skills and not on their weaknesses”. Just as Spalletti wants: “The Coach wants us to play football well, we get the ball moving”.

From Albania to Spain: “I have good memories about Spain (he smiles). It was a difficult game but it finished with a very special moment for me that I will always remember. We will try to best prepare for the game in the next three days, to win this one as well”. The Arsenal midfielder sets out what we might need: “High intensity. Both sides will want the ball, we need to base our game on our skills and not on their weaknesses”. Just as Spalletti wants: “The Coach wants us to play football well, we get the ball moving”.

Italy’s game is keeping the dream alive for fans in Italy and in Germany: “The love of our people is incredible. We ask our fans to carry on like this: it has a positive effect and helps us a lot, we want to do everything we can to best represent our country. We need to carry on down this path with the availability to help out the group. This way, we can go far”.

The full interview with Jorginho is on Vivo Azzurro TV (in Italian).