For 90 minutes, the exclusive feed proves that Pirlo ran less than any player on the pitch but touched the ball more than any midfielder. His average position was the center circle. His heat map looked like a bullseye. Every time Spain tried to man-mark him, Pirlo would drift into the left-back position, dragging Sergio Busquets entirely out of Spain’s defensive structure.
Disclaimer: This article is a piece of speculative football culture writing. No actual exclusive interview exists between Andrea Pirlo and La Roja Directa at the time of publication. la roja directa pirlo exclusive