Chiellini commits to Juve cause

Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini has extended his contract with Juventus for a further two years, committing himself to the Bianconeri until 2013.
 
EURO displays
The 23-year-old centre-back joined Juve from AS Livorno Calcio in 2005 and played 30 Serie A games last season as the club earned a place in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round. "This is a starting point for me," Chiellini said. "We are probably not among the favourites [for the title] yet but we will definitely try to win the Scudetto." Chiellini's displays were one of the positives of Italy's UEFA EURO 2008™ campaign after he came into the starting lineup following the Azzurri's opening 3-0 defeat by the Netherlands. The team conceded just one goal – against Romania in a 1-1 draw – while he was playing before bowing out on penalties at the quarter-final stage after a goalless draw with Spain, a game in which Chiellini won his 13th cap.