Quagliarella: 'Always keep that memory'

By Football Italia staff

Fabio Quagliarella thanked his Italy teammates for allowing him to take the historic penalties. “The standing ovation is a memory I will always take with me.”

The Sampdoria striker converted a pair of spot-kicks in the 6-0 victory over Liechtenstein, making him the oldest ever goalscorer for the Nazionale, aged 36 years and 54 days.

“It’s a wonderful evening with two goals. I thank my teammates, as they urged me to get a third in the second half. They all wanted to help me score and it was marvellous,” Quagliarella told Rai Sport.

“I also wanted to thank the fans, as that standing ovation is a memory I will always take with me. I hadn’t played in the Nazionale a long time, so being back here and helping is a great feeling.”

When the first penalty was awarded, Quagliarella was not meant to be the man on the spot.

“I thank both Jorginho and Leonardo Bonucci, as they both urged me to take it, even though they were the designated penalty takers. I thought after the first, when they awarded a second, surely one of them would step up, but they told me it was my night and to enjoy it.

“I am 36 years old, but I don’t feel it. I am happy, physically in good shape, I train well and Sampdoria keep me on my toes. I thank Roberto Mancini, who watched me throughout the season and gave me this opportunity.

“We are Italy, this is the kind of game we need to be playing. We’re top of the group and it’s a young squad that can only grow.”

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