Maldini: ‘Not easy for Daniel to carry this surname’ | OneFootball

Paolo Maldini is in the stands as his son Daniel could make history tonight, becoming the third generation of Maldini to play for Italy. ‘It’s not easy carrying this surname.’

The Nations League match with Belgium kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.

We could see history made this evening, as Daniel Maldini is on the bench and could become the third generation of the family to earn a senior cap for the Nazionale, 22 years after his father.

Grandfather Cesare was a player, but also assistant manager to Enzo Bearzot at the 1982 World Cup, then became coach himself from January 1997 to July 1998.

Cesare died in April 2016 at the age of 84.

Maldini dynasty continues with Daniel

“Daniel has always worked hard and he earned this opportunity,” Paolo Maldini told Sky Sport Italia.

“He without doubt has quality beyond the norm in his shot, the way he sees the game, and he has improved in terms of his physical strength.”

While eldest son Christian had a brief youth academy career at Milan and then retired, Daniel has impressed following the loan and then transfer to Monza.

“It is not easy carrying this surname, he must be strong in handling that.”