International standard

A hat-trick in his last international game. A last-gasp equaliser in the previous match. Gilardino knows how to make the difference at international level.

He led his nation to victory in 2004’s European under-21s tournament, becoming that team’s all-time top scorer.

Then in the dying seconds of the 2006 semi-final in Germany, Gilardino played the pass to set up his team’s second goal and a place in the final of world football's greatest competition.

Now it’s time to defend that title. Will Gilardino be the striker to fear in South Africa?

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