June 2010
12 posts
Grazie senatori, now for the next generation
From Football Italia
Now that the dust has settled on Italy’s disastrous World Cup campaign, it is time to look to the future. Cesare Prandelli has a lot of work to do to rebuild confidence and young players need to be given their chance. It is time for a new generation to step up and return the Azzurri to their place as a major footballing power. But while it is right to look forward, it is only...
Farewell, my Azzurri
Somebody should have told Marcello Lippi – unless you are Frank Sinatra, a comeback rarely works. The Coach’s desire to complete “unfinished business” ended up tainting the great things he achieved in Germany. It also held back the progress of the Italian national team by at least a couple of years. Apologists will point to the failure to spot an obviously offside New Zealand goal and a...
The Talented Mr Maradona?
From Bleacher Report
It was Jose Mourinho who said the importance of a football manager was minimal. At the time it sounded like a typical piece of false modesty from the Special One. But what if he actually turned out to be right?
Argentina boss Diego Maradona is doing his best to destroy a lot of our beliefs about the coaching role. We like to think of the modern manager as an astute...
Stay cool, if you can...
From Football Italia
It can be hard to keep your nerve when results go bad. To get through a crisis, it takes a cool head and crystal clear vision. Italy can only hope Marcello Lippi’s glasses will be polished to pristine condition over the next few days. A draw with lowly New Zealand and their resolute but primitive defence can only be considered a disaster. Conceding an offside goal might be...
Five key elements to improve Club Italia
From Bleacher Report
Not many teams open their World Cup defence in style. Argentina were stunned by Cameroon at Italia ’90 and France suffered defeat by Senegal in ‘02. The glory of triumph seems a long way off and your opponents, naturally, seek to raise their game.
In that context, Italy’s opening match in South Africa was no disaster. They could easily have slipped to defeat but at...
Don't forget - Siamo Campioni del Mondo
From Football Italia
I like to imagine them all sitting around nervously after their final evening meal before the match. The last espresso cup has been settled on its saucer and the chatter has faded. Everyone’s mind has turned to the challenge ahead. Then, out of the silence, one of the players – Rino Gattuso most likely – starts to hum a tune to himself. Slowly but surely it gains volume until...
“Everyone would be happy to wear the Viola jersey because it’s such a great...”
– Gaetano D’Agostino
Riccardo Montolivo's moment to shine?
From Football Italia
Marcello Lippi could not have been clearer after the draw with Switzerland – every single player in this Italy squad will get his chance. Nobody is guaranteed a starter’s spot and no one should be considered a reserve. It must have been music to the ears of one midfielder.
With Andrea Pirlo and Mauro Camoranesi injured and the other options long on energy but short on...
Sinisa's scarf replaces Cesare's puffer jacket
Every July or August seems to throw up a song of the summer in Italy. It is usually an infuriatingly catchy piece of Euro-pop that drifts from a jukebox across the still water of the swimming pool on a long, hot afternoon. Hear it once, hum it forever.
I am old enough to remember one particularly infuriating ditty entitled “Vamos a la Playa.” It must have sprung forth some time in the...
“Didn’t make it, but have no regrets…worked hard and showed what I...”
– Giuseppe Rossi via Twitter
The Azzurri not so ancient after all
From Bleacher Report
They were supposed to be the oldest kids on the block. Marcello Lippi was set to rely on the same faces who won him the World Cup four years ago. The pundits were agreed, this would be one of the most veteran sides at the 2010 World Cup.
On Tuesday night, they were all proven wrong.
The Italy boss has dumped the majority of the squad which won the tournament in...
