Posts Tagged ‘World Cup 2010’

Azzurri 2010: What to Look Forward To…

Friday, June 26th, 2009

Azzurri 2010: What to Look Forward To…

Five days have passed since Italy’s whopping 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brazil, a match which put an an end to Lippi’s South African countryside scouting (one year before the big tournament) and sent the Azzurri home among general shrugs of indifference, frowned eyebrows, and sincere worries in the ranks of Italian supporters.

.

Confederations Cup… Confederations schmuck

Something should be established right from the get-go in this article, and that is one has to take the FIFA Confederations Cup for its true value: a tournament of prestige, played to fill the gap between Euro and World Cup Summers and to make a certain FIFA mogul (whose name starts with S and ends with …epp Blatter) happy. Happy at proclaiming his love for the beautiful game, the continued globalization of football, the athletic clashing of cultures, and blah blah blah. All that is great for sports unity, but in terms of true football competition no one (certainly not the big teams) takes this tournament seriously. Certainly not to the extent of a Euro tournament, a Copa America, or the master of them all: the FIFA World Cup.

(more…)

Italy 1-1 Ireland: Bad Reffing and Robbie Keane Hamper Azzurri’s Plans (World Cup 2010 Qualifiers)

Thursday, April 2nd, 2009

Italy's Giampaolo Pazzini leaves the pitch after receiving a red card as Ireland's coach Giovanni Trapattoni looks during their 2010 World Cup qualifying soccer match at the San San Nicola stadium in Bari April 1, 2009. (REUTERS)

Admit it people. At the first sight of Giampaolo Pazzini’s 3rd minute red card, most of you immediately connected your minds to World Cup 2006. That bloody (litterally) game vs. USA, where Brian McBride was the unfortunate recipient of Daniele De Rossi’s elbow fury. After that incident DDR apologized for his behaviour, immensely regretting that moment of craziness which nearly terminated his World Cup adventure right then and there.

In this case however, Pazzini has absolutely nothing to apologize for. He went for a high ball, extended his arm to balance himself, and accidentally hit John O’Shea in the temple -a very sensitive area with high capillary concentration. Translated: lots of blood flow in that region, the same blood which induced German referee Wolfgang Stark to take out the red card of his pocket and unjustifiably upset 87 minutes of World Cup qualifying football. In the words of Marcello Lippi: “We’re always complaining about referees in Serie A, but look at the foreign ones. We were down to 10 men for 90 minutes because of an interpretation of violence that we can all judge with our own eyes.

After such an early incident, it almost makes the match retelling trivial by comparison. Italy could have easily panicked, folded under the pressure, given in psychologically. They did not. They held their heads high, fought back, and even scored the first goal through Vincenzo Iaquinta. A victory was the right compensation for Pazzini’s injustice. Buffon & the Italian fort held on. Until the 88th minute, when Ireland‘s Robbie Keane decided to spoil the party.

(more…)

Italy Call-Ups for Montenegro / Ireland (World Cup 2010 Qualifiers)

Thursday, March 26th, 2009

FIFA World Cup 2010 Qualifiers - Italy vs. Montenegro/Ireland

The Italian call-ups for their upcoming World Cup 2010 Qualifying matches vs. Montenegro (March 28) and Montenegro (April 4) have been revealed. Italy coach Marcello Lippi submitted the list of 23 players to FIFA earlier this week, a list which as usual contains notable absentees and a few surprises.

(more…)

Italy 2-1 Montenegro: Aquilani Double Gives Marcello Lippi 30-Game Unbeaten Streak (World Cup 2010 Qualifiers)

Thursday, October 16th, 2008

Lippi isn’t the kind of guy concerned with critique or running after world records, and I’m sure most of us here would agree getting three points out of a match (such as Italy did today against Montenegro) is the most important thing. Yet, it must come as great satisfaction when someone tells you you’ve officially achieved 30 consecutive matches unbeaten at the Azzurri helm, which puts you right up there with a legend like Vittorio Pozzo (for those unfamiliar with pre-World War II history, he was the World Cup winning coach in 1934 and 1938).

As for today’s match, it was without question a Giallorossi’s affair. Starting with the shirt Montenegro was wearing (red & yellow), the home stadium (Lecce, which traditionally wears those colours), and above all Alberto Aquilani: the Roma midfielder had not played this well since the match vs. Real Madrid back in March, and highlighted his performance by two goals (including his first ever for the Azzurri). Sprinkle a little bit of Mirko Vucinic in between (yet another Roma player), and the picture is complete.

(more…)

Italy vs. Montenegro Preview (World Cup 2010 Qualifiers)

Wednesday, October 15th, 2008

Perched at the top of Group 8 World Cup Qualifiers (7 points in 3 matches), Italy is looking towards Wednesday’s match vs. Montenegro as a good way to wrap up the year 2008. With no more WC qualifying matches till March, you can be certain Marcello Lippi’s boys will step onto Stadio Via del Mare (Lecce) eager to end the year on a win, especially after Saturday’s 0-0 draw against Bulgaria.

Can Vucinic & friends prevent them from doing so?

(more…)