Azzurri 2010 
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Ladies and Gentlemen, here we are again, I can barely believe its been 4 years since Italy's dynamic triumph in the most testing of environments. The Azzurri come back as World Champions but can they retain their crown in South Africa? The hosts are as football obsessed as they come, yes there are the doubters and yes I am sure there will be some trouble but I am convinced that the people, their noise, colour, smiles and passion will be remembered far beyond Africa for a long time.
It is truly amazing to think that less than a generation ago this was a country on the fringes of the global community, outcast from competing because of apartheid and took one man's vision of hope to free and unite the people of this land. Nelson Mandela and his party saw the power of sport in achieving this, I believe that the Rugby World Cup of 1995 set the precedent and this years World Cup will be the culmination. The townships, such as Soweto, the continents largest, are rife with crime and poverty still, yet on its dusty alleys children are playing football and in its ramshackle bars the talk is football. That's why across professions, age groups, religion and colour, football is the great equaliser, truly the beautiful game. Earlier I put the question to you, can Italy win the World Cup? Surely if they achieved a world equalling 5 wins and become the first European team to win outside Europe then finally they would be classed alongside the greats? Curiously at this World Cup, the talk is of Spain coming good, the brilliance of Brazil, the might of Argentina's strike force and dare I say it even England may be in with a shout. Italy does not feature. Why is that? Continued in opposite column >
For an up to date analysis of each Italy game follow us as we update our South Africa 2010 blog You can also follow La Gazzetta dello Sport in English. Sunday June 13th As England are left to rue their chances, and having learnt their goalkeeping prowess from the Scotland of the 1970's (Ahh, Karma is a wonderful thing), our focus turns to the Italian preparations for tomorrow's encounter with Paraguay. No mugs the South Americans, the Azzurri must show them the respect that perhaps the Three Lions failed to show the US. As Lippi's team slowly re-invents itself (now Gattuso has announced his retirement from international football following the World Cup), this is the stage to set the backbone for the future. Hoping they get a result against the relentless Paraguayans, the other contenders to get through, should set them up nicely to qualify. Monday June 14th Italy vs Paraguay The English media have commented time and time again that Italy is an ageing team and fantasy football does not feature in the Azzurri vocabulary. On the first point, Italy actually have a younger team than either England or Brazil. On the second, well that's no real surprise. As many would have predicted, Italy's traditional slow start saw them kick off their campaign with a 1-1 draw with the plucky Paraguayans on a cold, wet and miserable night. The papers billed it as Escape from Alcaraz, (the scorer giving the South Americans the lead) but De Rossi equalised sparing the Azzurri's blushes in what could be an ideal compromise for the two teams as they face Slovakia and New Zealand in the hope to pick up more points and both progress.
The first goal arrived from a cross that left Cannavaro and much of the Italian defence to watch the Wigan bound striker Alcaraz head the ball in the net with Buffon uncharacteristically rooted to the spot. The equalizing goal came from another mistake, this time from Paraguayan keeper Villar who launched himself into his best Superman impression (above) and failed to make contact with the ball. It glided over and fell to the feet of the Roma player. Italy's opponents are no mugs having beat Brazil and Argentina in their qualifying round, and now it is expected that they go through. Here's hoping that with Pirlo back, Buffon's on the mend, and perhaps a run for the quality players of Montolivo and Quagliarella things should look healthier for the next encounter with New Zealand on Sunday 20th June. It seems there is nothing to worry about. Not just yet. Saturday June 19th Finally the World Cup appears to have come to life, North Korea battled bravely against Brazil (who can forget the tears at the national anthem of Jong Tae Se), Serbia shocked the Germans (and what a celebration by Jovanovic who leapt the barrier and disappeared into the guts of the stadium), Argentina continue to annihilate the opposition and even Cameroon against Denmark was a classic. Well, that is for al except England. Yet again they failed to deliver in what proved to be a drab, dull, dour draw where Algeria had more of the chances. With Wayne Rooney's uncalled outburst to the camera's indicating dissent in the ranks, as The Sun put it it's Less Fabio, More Crapello. Italy's next match is tomorrow and it is hoped they can take all three points against the All Whites, having had nearly a week to prepare for this game, but this will prove easier than done following New Zealand's last gasp equaliser against Slovakia. After the Paraguay game Lippi said "The important thing is this was not a decisive game. What is important is that people now realise we are here and have got our act together." It looks like the Cagliari goalkeeper Marchetti will be in for Buffon, the newest debutant is said to be relaxed but mentally ready for the charge and has been dreaming since he was 14 of this role. He has also put his faith in a Higher power and had the words of the 'Hail Mary' tatooed on his arm.
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More of this Well for a start you’ll hardly see any brilliance from them, fantasy footballers they are not, yes they are famously defensive, seem eternally embroiled in scandals, and perpetually plagued by their own media. Yet it is precisely this, with their backs against the wall as underdog that they operate best. Look at what happened in 2006, against all the odds (including the combined brilliance and madness of Zidane) they came back as Champions. Some say they were lucky and I don’t disagree, but this was a team with spirit, steely determination, and belief. One thing’s for sure, with Italy drama comes as standard.
Less of this The pundits agreed that the majority of the winning squad from 2006 would be going to South Africa, they would be experienced yes, but also the oldest. Well, they were to be outfoxed and proved wrong as Italian manager Lippi culled the original team to just 8 players. Cannavaro will be grinning from ear with the news that he’s keeping the captain’s armband (just like in his latest Nike advert). Present will be stalwart goalkeeper Buffon and grafter Gattuso, Glasgow’s adopted son (well one half of it anyway) and look out for Quagliarella - his spectacular goals have lit up Serie A this season and Di Natale as the leagues capocanoniere (top goalscorer ) will impress. Alas Totti, Nesta, Del Piero and Grosso are some of the names who won’t be making the trip. Lippi explains that this is a team for the future and must learn to play in the present, and for this reason I believe they are not quite ready yet and I think they’ll be knocked out at the semi-final stage. And so, with well over 80,000 people with Italian roots living in Scotland, myself included, could we not opt to cheer on the Azzurri instead? As for me, the flags and banners will be up shortly, the wine is ordered, the big screen TV’s arriving soon and I’ve cleared my calendar until mid July, I’m like a kid at Christmas. For many of you, Scotland is your long term love, but for these Finals anyway, who knows, could Italy not become your bit on the side? Sunday 20th June Italy vs New Zealand Ranked as one of the biggest shocks of this or any other World Cup, Italy were held to a draw by the Kiwi's. Shrouded in controversy, the Italians were 1-0 down inside the first 10 minutes and you could be forgiven to think that they were England in disguise! They picked up the tempo and had most of the play equalising from an albeit soft penalty by Iaquinta. New Zealand played the game of their lives and Italy though having 9 shots on goal were out of sorts and lacked the imagination of Pirlo. Still this was a must win game and at this level unforgiveable not to get the three points. Italy are drinking in the last chance saloon, and need to beat Slovakia to qualify and could even top the group though certainly don't deserve it. Thursday 24th June So, the humiliation is complete: poor, disinterested and lazy, Italy are out of the World Cup at the group stage. Despite all the opportunities being there, just a draw would have been enough, yet they failed to take advantage and that was unforgivable. Slovakia were hungrier, Italy had to rely on a crocked Pirlo to resuscitate the remnants of their campaign but it proved too little, too late.Their keeper was certainly no Buffon and was too busy sorting his hair than his defence. They should hang their head in shame based on that performance and it would be no surprise if they were pelted with tomatoes on arrival back in Italy. |
