2) Andrea Pirlo (Italy)
The Italian midfielder’s decision to play in the MLS with New York City FC counted against him when Antonio Conte was picking the Italian squad for the European Championships. Pirlo has been the lynchpin of the Italian midfield for over a decade until he was dropped for the Euros.
The 37-year old is gifted with vision and the technical ability to pass the ball that few footballers on the planet possess. Carlo Ancelotti once said about him, “Pirlo spots a pass in a split-second that lesser players could spend a whole lifetime waiting to see.”
His languid, almost lazy style of play is often misleading but there is no doubting his effectiveness on the pitch inspite of his age and reduced mobility. Pirlo’s performances in the 2012 Euros were vital in Italy reaching the finals four years ago. He also produced one of European Championships classic moments with his Panenka penalty over Joe Hart in the quarter-final penalty shootout against England.
While Pirlo may be getting on in years, his experience and leadership on the pitch would have been a great asset to Italy’s new look side for the European Championships.
