For the first third time, the European champion and the South American champion will play out an official winner. In London, Italy experienced another evening to forget after missing the World Cup. Instead, Argentina dominated Giorgio Chiellini's last appearance and therefore celebrates.
Next defeat for the European soccer champions: Italy lost the "Finalissima" against Argentina almost ten weeks after the bitter World Cup. Captain Giorgio Chiellini missed a successful farewell from the national team in his 117th and last international match. The Azzurri lost 3-0 (2-0) to South American champions Argentina at Wembley Stadium in London.
The goals for the Albiceleste in front of 87,112 spectators came from Inter Milan's Lautaro Martinez (28'), Angel di Maria (45', 2), who was last under contract with French series champions Paris St Germain, and Paolo Dybala from Juventus Turin in added time . Chiellini was substituted at the break of an increasingly tough game against Manuel Lazzari.
After a 29-year break, Europe and South America played out an intercontinental title holder for the first time. The Italians won the European Championship last year by beating England 3-2 on penalties, also at Wembley. The Argentines around superstar Lionel Messi had won the Copa America by beating Brazil 1-0.
The "Finalissima" was the new edition of the Artemio Franchi Cup, officially it was about the "CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions". The comparison between the continental champions from Europe and South America had previously been held twice. In 1985, Michel Platini's France defeated Uruguay 2-0 in Paris, and in 1993 Diego Maradona's Argentina defeated Denmark 5-4 on penalties.
The Italians around the 37-year-old favorite Chiellini were clearly inferior. Argentina largely dominated the action, much to the delight of the numerous Argentinian fans. Messi in particular could have provided a higher result but was denied by his Parisian club-mate Gianluigi Donnarumma in the Italian goal.
The delightful encounter with Messi's Argentina was Chiellini's 117th cap, almost two decades after his debut. "As a child I could never have thought or even hoped to get that far," the defender had previously said. Born in Pisa, Chiellini came to record champions Juventus Turin via AS Livorno and AC Florence in 2005, where he shaped an era in 17 years with nine championship titles and five cup wins.
Chiellini, who will turn 38 in August, announced his departure from the Squadra Azzurra, for which he made his debut in 2004, after failing to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. The tough central defender is also leaving Juventus after 17 years, his new employer could be Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer.
