Verratti Marco
Marco Verratti is an Italian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for the Italy national team. A creative, hard-working, and technically gifted playmaker, Verratti began his career with Italian club Pescara in 2008, where he soon rose to prominence as one of the best young midfielders in Europe, helping the team to win the 2011–12 Serie B title, and winning the 2012 Bravo Award. His playing style drew comparisons with Andrea Pirlo, due to his passing ability, vision, and control, as well as his similar transition from the role of trequartista to that of a regista. In July 2012, he transferred to French side Paris Saint-Germain, where he won four consecutive Ligue 1 titles from 2012 to 2016, among other domestic and individual trophies. At international level, Verratti represented the Italy under-21 football team at the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, winning a runners-up medal, and being named to the all-star squad for the tournament. At senior level, he made his Italy debut in 2012, and represented his country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
ITALY NATIONAL TEAM
Fifa World Cup “RUSSIA 2018” Qualifying Game
Liechtenstein vs Italy
Match Worn Shirt
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Verratti made his “debut” with Italy Team while, still uncapped was included into Cesare Prandelli’s preliminary 32-man Italy squad for UEFA Euro 2012, being one of only two Serie B players (the other being Torino’s Angelo Ogbonna) to be part of it. He was subsequently cut from the squad on 28 May 2012. He then made his real debut with the Italian senior team in a 2–1 friendly loss against England held in Bern.He subsequently made his first competitive appearance in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, appearing as a second-half substitute for Emanuele Giaccherini in a 2–2 draw against Bulgaria on 7 September. On 6 February 2013, Verratti scored his first international goal in a friendly against the Netherlands in Amsterdam, a 91st-minute equalizer that made the final score 1–1. He took part with the Italy U-21 side at the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship, where the Azzurrini finished as runner-up to Spain. His performances saw him included in UEFA’s all-star squad for the tournament. On 1 June 2014, Verratti was selected in Italy’s 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup but he missed Euro 2016 after a long lasting injury from a sports hernia which would require surgery on 16 May, sidelining him for two months. Upon recovering from his injury, Verratti returned to the team under Italy’s new manager Gian Piero Ventura.
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A quick, creative, agile, and technically gifted central midfield playmaker, with notable dribbling skills, quick reactions, and close ball control, Verratti is known for his confidence on the ball and ability to retain possession in tight spaces when under pressure, due to his low centre of gravity and resulting balance. His excellent vision and range of passing enable him to create chances for teammates with accurate long passes, or control the tempo of his team’s play in midfield through precise, short exchanges. Although naturally right-footed, he is capable of playing with either foot. Due to his attributes and playing style, Verratti has been compared to Italy legend Andrea Pirlo, in particular after making the same transition from trequartista to regista that the 2006 FIFA World Cup winner had also made earlier on in his career, although he has also been deployed in a new, more advanced role alongside Pirlo on occasion, as a false-attacking midfielder, in particular under Cesare Prandelli’s tenure with the Italy national team. Initially regarded as one of the most talented young players of his generation, Verratti quickly developed into one of the best and most complete playmaking midfielders in the world. In addition to his playmaking skills, he is also a hard-working, dynamic, and well-rounded midfielder, who is known for his aggression, defensive skills, and ball-winning abilities, despite his small physique and diminutive stature, which also enables him to be deployed in a holding role. Despite his ability, he has also drawn criticism from some in the sport over his disciplinary record, as well as his tendency to commit an excessive number of fouls, argue with officials, and pick up unnecessary bookings. Moreover, he has also often struggled with injuries throughout his career.
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This shirt was issued for Marco Verratti for the “Euro 2020” quarter-final game between Italy and Belgium which took place in Munich, “Allianz Arena”, on July 2nd 2021. Italy set up the semi-final match with Spain after edging an exhilarating tie the game with Belgium. All three goals in the Azzurri’s 2-1 came in the first half, with brilliant strikes from Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne opening up a two-goal lead. However, the deficit was halved just moments later after Romelu Lukaku converted from the penalty spot following a clumsy foul from Giovanni Di Lorenzo on teenager Jeremy Doku, who was a standout performer among some of the Belgium’s more established stars. Lukaku had two great opportunities to equalize in the second half, but some last-gasp Italian defending prevented the Inter Milan forward from getting a clean look at goal. Italy played with its back to the wall for much of the game, but Belgium’s lack of cutting edge up front meant that its veteran central defensive pairing of Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci was rarely troubled. In June 2021, Marco Verratti was included in Italy’s squad for UEFA Euro 2020 by manager Roberto Mancini. After initially missing Italy’s first two group matches due to an injury to his right knee that he had sustained in training with Paris Saint-Germain on 8 May, he made his first appearance of the tournament in Italy’s final group match against Wales on 20 June, setting-up Matteo Pessina’s goal from a free-kick in the team’s 1–0 victory in Rome; the result allowed them to top their group. On 2 July, he assisted Italy’s opening goal of the match, scored by Nicolò Barella, in a 2–1 win over Belgium in the quarter-finals of the competition. On 11 July, in the final against England at Wembley Stadium, Verratti was involved in the equalising goal after his header was parried onto the post by keeper Jordan Pickford, allowing Leonardo Bonucci to score from the rebound; following a 1–1 draw after extra-time, Italy prevailed 3–2 in the penalty shootout, to win the tournament for the first time since 1968.[48] With a 93% passing accuracy and three assists throughout the tournament (having completed 401 out of 425 passes attempted), Verratti was named the top performer of Euro 2020 in the FedEx Performance Zone.
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These shin pads were worn by Marco Verratti during the Euro 2020. They are carbon made and they were specifically made for him in a smaller size than regular shin pads and they were made by an Italian craftsman in order to perfectly fit his ankle’s shape. These kind of shin pads are made for professional players only and never sold in regular shops.
ITALY NATIONAL TEAM
Fifa World Cup “QATAR 2022” Qualifiers
March 24th 2022
Italy vs Macedonia
Unwashed Match Worn Shirt and Captain Arm Band
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This shirt was worn by Marco Verratti during the first half of the Fifa World Cup “QATAR 2022” qualifiers between Italy and Macedonia which took place in Palermo, “Stadio Comunale Renzo Barbera”, on March 24th 2022. The captain arm band was instead worn in the second half. In this game Italy missed out on the World Cup finals again after losing 1-0 at home to Macedonia in their playoff semi-final as Aleksandar Trajkovski’s last-gasp strike earned the visitors a famous win. Italy also did not qualify for the World Cup four years before, missing out for the first time since 1958, but the European champions dominated from the off in Palermo. The hosts became more desperate in their search for a winner after the break, however, as chances continued to come and go before, in stoppage time, Trajkovski arrowed in a stunning winner to spark wild North Macedonian celebrations. Roberto Mancini’s Italy side had 32 efforts at goal in the match but somehow fell short, with Macedonia going on to play Portugal in the playoff final on Tuesday for a place in Qatar. “It is a huge disappointment,” the Italy midfielder Jorginho said. “It hurts, it hurts so much. We have always created and dominated matches but we have not been able to finish teams off. It is not to blame anyone in particular but it is the reality. “I don’t know why we haven’t been able to do this, I am also involved in this, and it hurts me to think about it.” Without the veteran pairing Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini through injury, Italy’s makeshift defence was barely troubled in the first half, as all the action took place down the other end. Domenico Berardi had the best of the openings, having been presented with the ball after the North Macedonia goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski misplaced a pass, but his shot was tame, with Dimitrievski getting back to make the save. Ciro Immobile also wasted a glorious first-half chance for Italy when blazing over the bar from a good position. Berardi was again guilty of profligacy after the break, shooting over when he should have hit the target, and with their only meaningful attack of the match North Macedonia seized their chance. Italy did not look to be in too much danger, but Trajkovski, who plays in Saudi Arabia for Al-Fayha, wrote his name into North Macedonian football folklore with a shot that crept inside the post to stun the home fans.
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This shirt was worn. by Marco Verratti during the “Euro 2024” Qualifiers between Italy and England which took place in Napoli, “Stadio Diego Armando Maradona”, on March 23rd 2023. England defeated Italy 2-1 in the first game of the group. This shirt was the first ever Adidas shirt used by the team after they swap team’s supplier from Puma to Adidas. The Adidas Italy 2023 home jersey has the traditional colors of the country – blue & white with details in the Tricolor of the flag plus gold detailing on the collar. The Adidas Italy 2023 home shirt comes with a very subtle marble print on the front and the sleeves. The back of the Italy 2023 jersey is plain blue. Another bespoke element of the Italy 2023 home jersey can be found in the form of the side stripes that meet at the back of the shirt. They have the green-white-red colors of the Italian flag. The shirt used in this game is also a special one-off shirt that pays tribute to Gianluca Vialli. The former striker and coach passed away in January 2022, and this was Italy’s first game since his death. The Italy shirt vs England featured the message “, (“Luca, forever an Azzurro”) inside the collar, as a tribute to the 59-time capped Vialli. The Italian team’s coach, Roberto Mancini, spoke about Vialli’s impact on the team on the eve of the match. “We were very fortunate to have him, me as a team-mate and to work alongside him,” said Mancini. “People like him will always be close to us, he is immortal and will stay close to us.”
“He’s one of the best midfielders in the world, and plays a little bit in the same way as I tried to do with Barcelona and the national team. He likes having the ball. He also has perfect mastery over long and short passing, he can play the final ball, and he doesn’t lose the ball that easily. He’s really a very high-class player” Xavi Hernandez
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On 18 July 2012, Verratti signed a five-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1. On 2 September 2012, Verratti made his competitive debut for PSG in an away Ligue 1 match against Lille. Twelve days later, he assisted Javier Pastore’s opening goal in his first competitive appearance at the Parc des Princes, a 2–0 Ligue 1 defeat of Toulouse. On 18 September 2012, he made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 4–1 Group A defeat of Dynamo Kyiv. He ended his first season in the French capital by winning the 2012–13 Ligue 1 title. On 20 August 2013, Verratti signed a one-year extension to his contract with PSG, keeping him at the club until 2018. Verratti’s second season with PSG was even more successful than the first as the team retained its Ligue 1 title and won the Coupe de la Ligue and the 2013 Trophée des Champions. Verratti was named as the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year and included in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year for 2013–14. On 30 September 2014, Verratti scored his first competitive goal for PSG, a header in a 3–2 home win over Barcelona in the group stage of the Champions League. On 18 January 2015, Verratti scored his first goal in Ligue 1, in a 4–2 home win over Evian.
