Goalkeeper is half English, half Italian!
- Giosue Bellagambi on benefits of watching Euros as a player
- Goalkeeper attended Italy training camp in June 2019
- Gio admits he’s staying neutral!
Huddersfield Town B Team ‘keeper Giosue Bellagambi admits he’ll be sitting on the fence whilst watching this evening’s UEFA Euro 2020 final!
The 19-year-old has family ties to both Italy and England and was called up to Italy’s Under-19 training camp in July 2019. Despite growing up in South London, he can’t deny the experience of travelling to Rome for the three-day camp.
“It was after my first season here.
“Going to Rome and training with all these different players was incredible.
“We’re talking about training with the best Italian players my age, some of them play for teams like AC Milan, Juventus, Inter Milan - one of them is involved in their Euros First Team right now!
“I find it crazy that I was training with one of them just two years ago, it was a fantastic experience that I won’t forget!”
Like the majority of us, Bellagambi has been avidly following the European Championships this summer, and admits they have him dreaming big ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.
“The Euros have been very enjoyable this year!
“It’s been 18 months since we last had fans watch us, so even just seeing all the fans at the stadiums on the TV, you can feel the atmosphere. It inspires you to improve and reach that level to play in those competitions.
“I watch the goalkeepers and I can learn from them, not just their saves, but I can see their persona, the way they show themselves on the pitch – you can see that they are the best ‘keepers in their country.
“Football is a complicated game in terms of being mentally challenging, there’s a lot of setbacks, but you see ‘keepers at the top going through these setbacks and overcoming them. It just shows how high the level is and how much work you must do to achieve that.
“That kind of thing helps me out massively as a player, it shows the level I need to be at and helps me dream big to want to achieve that level. To go and represent the national team is a dream of mine that hopefully one day I will achieve.”
Gio’s allegiances to both England and Italy will make for some fun viewing in the Bellagambi household on Sunday evening when the two countries meet in the Final of Euro 2020 at Wembley.
“I’ve probably been following Italy a little bit more as my family is predominately Italian, but watching both Italy and England throughout the tournament has been enjoyable.
“Sunday is going to be very strange for me, there will be a lot of Italian shirts in the house, but I guess we’ll just have to see what happens!
“Whichever team wins I’ll be happy, I’m staying neutral!”
