Federico Chiesa hoped Euro 2024 would be a platform to relaunch his career. In a TV interview on the eve of the tournament, the Italy forward spoke wistfully of how a knee injury sustained within six months of helping his country win the previous edition had knocked him off course. “After Euro 2020 I had a chance to position myself among the top footballers in the world,” he said. “Instead I tore my cruciate ligament and had a long period of rehabilitation. My objective is to get back among the very best.”
It did not happen this summer. Chiesa played well in Italy’s opener, a 2-1 win over Albania, but struggled along with the rest of his teammates as the Azzurri were dominated by Spain. Benched for the final group game against Croatia, he failed to make a mark after returning to the starting XI for the last-16 loss to Switzerland.
