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What a
finale to this competition !! But this begs the question, who to
choose? Phew, it's like being torn between two lovers.....
Things don't come easy for
Scotland, despite a 2-0 defeat to Georgia,
they can still qualify, only now it's the current World Cup
champions standing in their way.
We all know that suffering and
celebration go hand in hand as a Scotland supporter, no more so
than when they face Italy on November 17th, possibly their biggest game in a generation.
Frightening to think every year
since 1998 Scotland have failed to qualify for a major
football tournament, I mean there are kids starting secondary
school too young to remember.
This time round, thanks to an
electrifying campaign, Scotland can still do it. Unlike many
other teams left in contention (England included) their fate is
firmly in their own hands. Beat Italy and they're through,
sounds simple enough. And win they must for a draw (assuming
Italy beat the Faroes) will see the Azzurri go through.
So for both teams it's down to the
wire, this game is the hottest ticket in town
and I'm sure scores of us will be cashing in favours to be
there!
I am
actually more confident for Scotland this time round, as we all
know, they tend to perform better against the
bigger teams. In addition, history tells us that the Italians have never
recorded a win in Scotland.
Then again.... Italy's triumph at the World Cup final against
France last year is still fresh in the memory. Scotland, I fear,
will need to summon the
sprit of Hannibal (who crossed the Alps with his army and
elephants to conquer Rome), and the rest of the A Team to defeat
the Italians.
However, there is still a slim chance that both Scotland and
Italy
could go through if they draw, assuming France slip up against the
Ukraine (but that's a big if).
The Euro 2008 championships will
certainly be poorer for not having the Tartan Army, but surely
the World Champions should be there too?
So who will I support? By Eck,
that's some dilemma.
Update: A valiant effort from Scotland, though Italy were
deserved winners, the manner of the defeat, a cruel last
minute goal by Panucci, added to a feeling of resignation
for a rain-soaked Tartan Army as the dream of 2008 finally
dies.
Rugby World Cup 2007
And
so, another Italy-Scotland clash looms, it's becoming a bit of a derby
this, on this occasion the clash is on the Rugby pitch. Italy's record
against Scotland is not bad and both need to win to secure a quarter
final place possibly against the potentially beatable Argentina. As it
turns out Scotland pips Italy in the last few minutes of the game only
to get turned over by the Puma's, the surprise package from this World
Cup.
World Cup 2006
The Azzurri Diaries
Who would
have guessed that at the beginning of the World Cup 2006 we would
actually be celebrating an Italy win? Wow!
As Grosso's penalty decider goes in there are
frenzied scenes across the World as Italians wherever they are begin the
celebrations.
The following day in Rome jubilation and chaos
ensures as the bus carrying the team travels at a snails pace towards
the Circus Maximus where over a million people have been waiting for
hours to welcome them home.
Here's a game by game account culminating in
the wild finale of Berlin.
And so the games begin..........
________________________________
June 12th 2006
Group Game
Phew !!! Nervy start but
Iaquinta celebrations remeniscint of Tardelli
And so it all begins, the 2006 World
Cup Finals. Together with twenty or so close friends and family we watch
the first game. My sister puts on spuntini for half the street and the
prosecco's on ice.
It's a nervy victory for the Azzurri
against a lacklustre Ghana. Great to get points off the board however.
Perhaps the alleged recent bribe
scandals involving some of the Juventus
based Italy players have actually galvanised the entire team. Shades of
Paolo Rossi?
Did any else also notice a
striking similarity between Iaquinta's goal celebration and a certain
Tardelli's.
What
year was that, mmm. Could it be? Lets not get too carried away, but hey,
here's hoping...........
Bruce Arena, the US coach admits that
it was a little naive of forward Johnson to liken the forthcoming game
with Italy as a war. The 22 year old striker also said that the team
were motivated by the fact that the game was being watched by US troops.
Italian newspapers were appalled by these comments as the striker was
making a direct reference to Iraq where thousands of Italian soldiers
are also currently serving. As it turned out, with bloody noses, three
sending offs and
dodgy defending this game had more than its fair share of drama. Despite
De Rossi's apology to Fifa and McBride it seems that his callous elbow
challenge on the US player will mean he will suffer an extended ban.
Italy
stepped up a gear against the much fancied Czechs and scored two goals
to secure their passage to the last sixteen. Inzaghi back in favour
netted the winner by rounding Cech of Chelsea, just as well for his sake
as substitute Barone was crying out for a pass open on his right.
Materazzi the ex-Everton midfielder opened the scoring with a powerful
header. Gattuso comes into his own in midfield. Totti missed a
barrowload of chances and will be sweating to see if he retains his
place in the next round. Mathematically their opponents could be either
Brazil, Croatia or Australia.
Aussie guile and determination failed
to breakdown Cannavaro and his solid defence on what may be Australia's
best ever chance to progress to the Quarter Finals.
Schwarzer
was on sparkling form (blocking a Luca Toni shot on the turn) and when
Italy down to 10 men as Matterazzi got controversially sent off for a late tackle early in the second
half.
Ironic though that one of the players
of the tournament so far, Lucas Neill blocks Fabio Grosso's run in the
box in the 90th minute and concedes a penalty.
Totti scores the goal, and despite his
ludicrous goal celebration, we're through to the quarter final. And how
dare I doubt the man who with the last shot of the ball takes us that
step closer.
For this game we're at Claudio's, all
fifteen of us up on the roof of the Green Shutters in Largs and I'm sure
they can hear us in Millport. A rather jovial drunk below joins in the
celebrations.
Fancied
outsiders the Ukraine came good at the right time after a dismal opening
game losing 4-0 against Spain, they progress to the quarters with a
penalty shoot out win against Switzerland in the last round.
Experts believed that this was the
last real chance for an upset in the competition and there's no better
to orchestrate that than Shevchenko who could bid a final farewell to
Italy in the cruellest manner.
However this proved not to be and
Buffon was not even called into action until well into the second half.
This was to become Italy's highest scoring game of the competition.
Toni is off the mark netting a double
with Zambrotta getting the opener. Italy extend their unbeaten run to 23
and haven't been beaten in open play in a competition since 1986.
An undercurrent of high tension is
created beforehand by the German media who claim that Italy are a nation
of lazy parasites. On the eve of the match however it took Gattuso
relishing his role as chief spokesperson for the Azzurri to suggest that
perhaps the wife of the editor of Der Spiegel (the main instigator) had
been spending too much time with an Italian. Gattuso's parents had
actually worked in Germany and he who had lived there himself for a
short while.
However most of the German people are
in full party mood and Klinsmans outfit are slim favourites to win this
match despite the fact that the history books go against them.
The referee diligently officiates an
open and hard fought match with nothing separating the two teams.
This is what a classic World Cup game
is all about - high pace and end to end - jinking runs and goal bound
opportunities by the forwards are thwarted by tough tackling from the
defenders and key saves by both keepers. At nil all after 90 minutes we
go to extra time.
Italy
come out of the blocks flying, hitting the woodwork twice in the first 5
minutes. I barely have enough time to sip my wine and sit back down.
We are watching the game courtesy of
my uncle Robby and aunt Grazia out in their garden with 25 friends and
family and a couple of hundred midgies for company.
It's going to penalties I can feel it.
Luckily for me my sixth sense was
never any good, and there it happens, a wonderful pass by Pirlo finds
Grosso and he's clean through, curling the ball past a helpless Lehmann.
I jump and scream and haven't even regained my composure when Alex
latches onto a Gilardino pass and wins the game with the final kick.
It's too much, we hug and dance and our voices (I'm told later) can be
heard three streets away but who cares we're through to the World Cup
Final. All that's left is for myself, my cousins Aldo and Claudio and
best friend David to hunt out our passports. Berlin here we come.......
The old ticker can't take much more of
this, pass me the vino......
Pirlo, Materazzi, De Rossi (back after his
ban) and Del Piero all converted their penalties for Italy and despite
Wiltord, Abidal and Sagnol finding the net for France, Trezeguet’s miss
from France's second penalty let in Grosso to win the Trophy for
Azzurri. Ironic since it was Trezeguet's late strike that lost Italy the
European Championship in 2000.
As the clouds clear the skies above Berlin
take on the colour of the Italian jersey.
Read about our account of being in the city
for the final in the adjoining column 'Memories of
Berlin'.
The
World Cup Final 2006
MEMORIES OF BERLIN
Tegel
Airport July 10th 2006
I am sitting in departures here in Berlin gathering my thoughts on what
must be one the most fantastic nights of my life. Last night right here
the 2006 World Cup Final took place and Italy beat France on penalties,
finally breaking their spot kick hoodoo.
Its not the lack of sleep, croaky voice or flag still draped round my
neck that reminds me of what a night we had, all around me there's the
evidence. The airport is chaotic and its only 5am!! Every taxi in the
queue like all the cars in the streets have German flags proudly waving
from their windows. Italians are still singing waiting to check in, as
are a handful of French and many from as diverse places as Korea to
Guatemala are homeward bound having come to join the party.
I have to say that from the moment I touched down the German people have
been exceptionally welcoming and friendly and throughout the day we
raised a stein or three with a few of them. They took this team and
Klinsi the manager to their hearts, so much so that yesterday over
500,000 locals cheered on their team as they paraded on the Fan Mile
near the Brandenburg gate.
I travelled over with Claudio, Aldo and David (you can work out which
one is the honorary member of the travelling Tallie Tartan Army), and we
made our way to the historic Olympic Stadium where 1 billion people were
reputed to be tuning in for the final. Our kilts and Italian tops drew
some confused looks from both camps, that was until we bumped into four
similarly clad Scots but wearing French tops. Whilst we didn't agree on
who we were supporting that night we did come to the conclusion that
kilts should definitely not be worn in the 30C heat.
We approached the imposing stadium complete with its 1930's Olympic
Tower and began our quest for tickets. We had passes for the big screen
next door as our fallback option but were keen to get our hands on the
golden tickets. When we began to be quoted prices at 2000 Euro plus we
soon realised that the big screen was our only option. I heard later
that people were easily paying that and more. With corporate tickets
amounting to over 40% of the allocation the ordinary fan loses out yet
again.
Bratwursts, beer and the big screen it was then at the Waldbuhne, a
natural ampitheatre located in the woods a stones throw from the shadow
of the Olympic Stadium Tower.
Our pre match build up consisted of beat the goalie and cheesy europop,
not quite Shakira but equally as entertaining nonetheless.
The first pictures come through, the stadium looks fantastic and I laugh
when I see a banner exclaiming that Cannavaro should be the next Italian
'Minister for Defence'. The Italians appeared to outnumber the French
inside the stadium which was the case here and throughout the rest of
the city
It didn't take long for the momentum to build up and the game kicked off
with 10,000 spectators all roaring with anticipation. The game was
almost immediately controversial with Materrazzi handing the French a
soft penalty which Zidane cheekily converted with the help of the
underside of the bar. The French fans now made their presence known and
went wild. I thought it was going to be heartbreak yet again, that was
until Materazzi scored a towering header to level the score. We pounced
onto the stage to celebrate with hundreds of others (I've always wanted
to stage dive so that one's ticked off the list!)
France came out of the stops in the second half and gave Italy a few
scares, none more so than Zidanes header in extra time, textbook, which
was magnificently put over by Buffon.
Then in a moment of madness and one which silenced the crowd here on
both sides, the Zidane and Materazzi show took a disturbing twist.
Zidane headbutted Materazzi in the chest sending him flying to the
ground. There are many stories as to what was said and we may or may not
find out in time, yet there and then it marked a blemish on one of the
greatest players I have ever had the priviledge of seeing. And on one
who created one of the greatest goals I had ever witnessed, at Hampden
Park in the
Champions League Final in 2002.
There was no great joy at Zidane being sent off as you would expect from
opposition supporters, just amazement.
The game was heading for penalties and we held our breath once more.
I
couldn't watch. Not this, not again. It took Claudio and Aldo to talk me
into it (more like a combined armlock) and there we stood and watched
the outcome of our adventure, one which started over a month ago at my
house in Largs with 20 or so close friends and relatives.
I don't remember much to be honest before Grosso (my man of the
tournament) scored the decider, but what followed was pure delirium,
raw emotion and tears. We screamed and jumped like we could take off.
Choruses of Siamo Il Campione Del Mondo ring out and I think I even saw
the Italian Manager Lippi (a.k.a. Paul Newman) crack a smile.
I remember collapsing on my knees in a heap, drained but relieved, with
the Italian flag covering my head, a moment to myself amidst the chaos
just to comprehend the enormity of what we had just witnessed.
Finals are always tense affairs often not pretty to watch and penalties
are a cruel way to lose. I even believe it somewhat dilutes it for the
victor, but the history books will show that Italy are World Champions,
no one in Europe has won it more times.
France will get another chance - the young talents of Ribery and Sagnol
were outstanding and the legacy of the Old France, Zidane the talisman
will inspire the next generation and so Adieu Les Blues.
For us however the party begins and the scars of the 1994 defeat on
penalties by Brazil begin to heal.
And what a party town Berlin is. Car horns are blasting, megaphones
blaring, Italian flags are being waved with a possessed vigour as much
as I expect they are by Italians in Italy and other countries. (I've
since heard of ecstatic scenes in Montreal (see photo left), George
Square in Glasgow was described by The Herald as Little Italy (see
for yourself by clicking this
link) and of
course the Italian Club in Greenock was packed (pictured right)!!!)
We head back into the town centre and crazed Italian fans are even
throwing themselves off low level bridges into the river much to the
amusement of the crowd below at the riverside bars and cafes.
None of us can believe it, the 2006
World Cup Champions.
And this from a team who were given little hope at the beginning of the
tournament. Many of the Italian players do not even know where their
future lies in the wake of the match fixing probe.
Despite not having had any proper sleep in two days and losing my voice,
I'll be going from the Olympic Stadium last night to Inverclyde Sports
Centre tonight to play seven a sides. My girlfriend says I'm mad and
maybe she's right but I've assured her its only temporary and surfaces
every four years or so.
What an incredible 24 hours that was and what an adventure, Grazie
Azzurri.
Extras
Some of you might enjoy the French No. 1 Coupe de Boule
which features the Zidane headbutting incident. You can
watch the video
here.
Broadband users
click
here for a clip of the celebrations in George Square
following the victory.
Scotland on Sunday article on the battle
of the blues as Italy meet France in the
World Cup Final 2006.
BBC News - Scots-Italians to follow World Cup dream
A recent
Sunday Mail article mentions singer Dante Gizzi
performing on French soil the day of the final.
Sons are world champions - two of Dumbarton players
Chris Gentile and Chris Boyle qualify to play for the new
world champions.
Iaquinta was spotted recently after the
World Cup in Calabria by a friend of a friend - see picture
on the right
World Cup woes and the games of
the past.
From the ecstasy to
woe, to those who recall the win of 1982 and that miss in USA 1994, read
on
Mondiale Magic, World Cup Woe, Agony and
Ecstasy.
Italian restaurants the world
over were packed on that fateful summer night in 1982 - people
were glued to the TV screens as Paolo Rossi's sublime skills led
Italy to their Third World Cup win, which for many was their
first in living memory.
As Dino Zoff lifted the World Cup
at the age of 41, grown men cried, kids ran amok in excitement,
whilst wives and mothers orchestrated the food and singing.
This has seldom been matched
since, rather, the ecstasy has been eclipsed by agonising
moments in recent times. Who could forget Roberto Baggio's
penalty miss in the 1994 final and Trezeguet's killer strike for
France in Euro 2000.
Since we're on the
subject of Baggio, il codino divino, visited our
shores when Italy met
Scotland at Hampden in a World Cup Qualifier and ended
up extending his stay at the Southern General in Glasgow
after breaking a rib following an altercation with
Scottish defender McLaren.
If you are Scots-Italian,
here's a dilemma you may be used to - when the two meet
in a football match - who would you support ? I know
many of you would support the Azzurri as they are
consistently the stronger team.
There's the old tale of
when Maradona's Argentina played Italy in the
Semi -Final of the World Cup in 1990. Italy as hosts had
played all their games prior to this one in Rome but for
this crucial match they had to travel to Naples where of
course Diego Maradona was a living legend. The
Neapolitans were torn but one banner had the following
words emblazoned on it:
'Diego nei Cori,
Italia nel Cuore' 'Diego in our chants, Italy in
our hearts'.
In many ways this sums up
how I feel with Scotland and Italy.
I assume there is much
discussion on this subject at Scottish Italian Football
Association meetings (though am not sure if this
organisation is still in existence- can anyone clarify
this for me?).
World Cup 2006 Qualifiers
And so the script is set,
Italy vs. Scotland, home and away, the qualifiers for the
2006 Football World Cup in Germany.
3rd September 2005 Scotland 1 Italy 1 (Hampden Park)
Walter Smiths battlers have
given the Azzurri a run for their money, relief for the
Italians coming in Fabio Grosso's 76th minute goal. Kenny
Miller making amends for missing the sitter in Milan. A
mouth watering encounter on what was surely one of the
warmest nights of the year.
26 March 2005 Italy 2 Scotland 0 (San Siro, Milan)
Played at the San Siro,
Italy win 2-0 with a double from Pirlo. The AC player
appearing on his home turf scored both goals from set play.
Scotland under the tutelage of new boss Walter Smith restore
some pride with a valiant performance, but it could all have
been different had Kenny Miller not missed a one on one with
Italian keeper Buffon to level the scoring.
A
number of you, especially those who have links with
the Barga area may have heard of Jonny Moscardini.
Jonny was born in Falkirk in 1897 and died in
Prestwick in 1985 where his parents ran a fish and
chip shop. He fought for Britain in WWI where he was
injured in combat and sent home to recuperate. He
turned his attentions to football and built up his
stamina and skill levels back in Italy where he
represented Lucchese, arch-rivals Pisa and Genoa
during the early 1920's. Not before long he was
called up for the national team, the Azzurri,
achieving an incredible 7 goals in just 9
appearances. Today the football stadium in Barga,
home of
A.S. Barga
is named after him. Indeed on the 1st of June 2000
the
Jonny Moscardini Football Club
was initiated by a descendant, Paul Moscardini.
The
photograph on the right is taken during the mid
1960's and features a team from Nardini's in Largs
consisting mostly of Italian workers. Many of these
workers later settled in Scotland. Click the picture
to enlarge it and you will see Jonny Moscardini
kneeling on the front row, bottom left of the
photograph.
Then there was the 1970's - famed not
just for the hairdo's and flares but this was when
the first glamour footballers began to appear - who
could forget Lou Macari for Manchester United or
Peter Marinello of Arsenal (who between games even
managed to guest present Top of the Pops ! )
In more recent times Joe Tortolano of
Hibs, Domenic Matteo (ex-Liverpool and Leeds) and
Killie's own prodigal son Paul di Giacomo have
played at the highest level.
Not forgetting of course Rose Reilly
(who I hear you ask?), well, the most
celebrated female footballer of her generation Rose
represented both the Italian and Scottish national
sides.
Who to Support?
OK, what about when the two line
up in the rugby six nations, with Scotland the stronger, who
would you now support?
Leading Rugby referee Johnny
Bacigalupo (born in Edinburgh but with parents from Genoa and
Monte Cassino) when asked this question during a recent
encounter in the Italian capital replied....
"The way I look at it, I can't
lose. No, I am not going to Rome - after all, which set of fans
would I join, which goalposts would I stand behind? I'll just
watch it on the box with a glass of Chianti and some oatcakes."
Enrico Annoni (Rico to
his fans) was one of the first big name Italians to
venture to Scotland moving from AS Roma in early 1997
to Celtic.
Lorenzo Amoruso the big
ex-Fiorentina defender became captain of Rangers for a
while, though he was often in the media for the wrong
reasons despite his obvious talent on the pitch.
With the brotherly
combination of Ivano and Dario Bonetti in charge at Dens
Park, we have seen the influx of Italians to
Dundee. So much
so that the press have already dubbed them the
Tayzzurri !
Players such as
Alessandro Romano, Marco de Marchi, Patrizio Billio and
Marcello Marrocco have all
plied their trade in the City of Discovery in recent
years.
Why even Nevio Scala the
much respected ex-Parma and Dortmund coach had at one
point been rumoured to have been talking to the SFA for
the then vacant Scotland managers job.
However
probably the most remarkable story is that of Gennaro (Rino)
Gattuso, plucked from obscurity at Perugia and offered
his first professional contract under the Bosman ruling
at Rangers aged just seventeen. Whilst he did not
exactly set the SPL alight his grit and determination
alerted Salernitana who subsequently bought him. The
following year Rino was sold to his childhood team, AC
Milan.
Today he is an Italian
regular and in a meeting with England recently scored
the winning goal - and in some style - a 30 yard bullet
which screamed past the helpless James in the English
goal.
Glasgow Rangers have for
many years used the Tuscan retreat of
Il Ciocco, just
outside Barga for their summer training. Indeed this was
where Mo Johnston was whisked off to in order to avoid
media attention following his shock signing from under
the noses of their Old Firm counterparts.
Follow
Glasgow Ragazzi
- one of the premier Volleyball teams in the country.
The name was chosen by its players in 1984 and the team
boasts one of the most impressive records in the UK - in
fact the men's first team achieved a domestic record 100
home victories and have represented the country in the
European Cup.
Su Ragazzi Ladies are
also very successful having been promoted three times in
successive years.
Glasgow Ragazzi's present
Captain Iain Grubb also Captains Scotland and Great
Britain at International level.
based Italy players have actually galvanised the entire team. Shades of
Paolo Rossi?
What
year was that, mmm. Could it be? Lets not get too carried away, but hey,
here's hoping...........
Italy
stepped up a gear against the much fancied Czechs and scored two goals
to secure their passage to the last sixteen. Inzaghi back in favour
netted the winner by rounding Cech of Chelsea, just as well for his sake
as substitute Barone was crying out for a pass open on his right.
Materazzi the ex-Everton midfielder opened the scoring with a powerful
header. Gattuso comes into his own in midfield. Totti missed a
barrowload of chances and will be sweating to see if he retains his
place in the next round. Mathematically their opponents could be either
Brazil, Croatia or Australia. 
Schwarzer
was on sparkling form (blocking a Luca Toni shot on the turn) and when
Italy down to 10 men as Matterazzi got controversially sent off for a late tackle early in the second
half.
Fancied
outsiders the Ukraine came good at the right time after a dismal opening
game losing 4-0 against Spain, they progress to the quarters with a
penalty shoot out win against Switzerland in the last round. 
Italy
come out of the blocks flying, hitting the woodwork twice in the first 5
minutes. I barely have enough time to sip my wine and sit back down.
We approached the imposing stadium complete with its 1930's Olympic
Tower and began our quest for tickets. We had passes for the big screen
next door as our fallback option but were keen to get our hands on the
golden tickets. When we began to be quoted prices at 2000 Euro plus we
soon realised that the big screen was our only option. I heard later
that people were easily paying that and more. With corporate tickets
amounting to over 40% of the allocation the ordinary fan loses out yet
again.
Then in a moment of madness and one which silenced the crowd here on
both sides, the Zidane and Materazzi show took a disturbing twist.
Zidane headbutted Materazzi in the chest sending him flying to the
ground. There are many stories as to what was said and we may or may not
find out in time, yet there and then it marked a blemish on one of the
greatest players I have ever had the priviledge of seeing. And on one
who created one of the greatest goals I had ever witnessed, at Hampden
Park in the
Champions League Final in 2002.
Finals are always tense affairs often not pretty to watch and penalties
are a cruel way to lose. I even believe it somewhat dilutes it for the
victor, but the history books will show that Italy are World Champions,
no one in Europe has won it more times.
And what a party town Berlin is. Car horns are blasting, megaphones
blaring, Italian flags are being waved with a possessed vigour as much
as I expect they are by Italians in Italy and other countries. (I've
since heard of ecstatic scenes in Montreal (see photo left), George
Square in Glasgow was described by The Herald as Little Italy (see
for yourself by clicking this
None of us can believe it, the 2006
World Cup Champions.
picture
to enlarge it and you will see Jonny Moscardini
kneeling on the front row, bottom left of the
photograph. 
However
probably the most remarkable story is that of Gennaro (Rino)
Gattuso, plucked from obscurity at Perugia and offered
his first professional contract under the Bosman ruling
at Rangers aged just seventeen. Whilst he did not
exactly set the SPL alight his grit and determination
alerted Salernitana who subsequently bought him. The
following year Rino was sold to his childhood team, AC
Milan. 
Volleyball