Italy - inspirational realization of dream


I have been an Azzurri fan since the days I did not understand the offside rule. The favorites always managed to push their way through to the semis and at times even to the grand finale but never managed to emerge out with the golden figurine within their grip. Deja vu was a French term they said but the Italian performances in the world cup was suggesting otherwise. Every time there was the same pattern.


Italian football team has always been considered as the team with one of the best defense brigade with the likes of Maldini, Nesta and Cannavaro. But hey... why take the compliment so seriously? They had only one game plan. Score at the early period of the match and then defend the small lead to the end of the match. The strategy worked for them on many cases but also let them down when it mattered the most. After holding the oppositions back for the most of the time, they would suddenly leak a goal then the game would move into penalty shoot outs. I don't think I need to tell what happened next. Italy has the worst penalty shoot out record ever.


Another permanent problem they faced was the misfire of their star player, especially strikers. Italian team always had stars in their team like Vierri, Totti, Del Pierro and Toni but they never managed to sparkle in the world cup arena. Schillaci was a great Italian striker who was awarded with the Golden Boot in 1990 but he did not have a star stature before that world cup finals.




FIFA World Cup Germany, 2006 - Italy enters the Mecca de football with disturbing controversies at backdrop. With a wonderful 4-0 victory over the Germans in the practice match, Italians lit a hope in the hearts of their fans. There was something different with the way they were playing. They did not seem to be satisfied with a single goal lead. They were looking for more. All the credit to coach Marcello Lippi. Once again their stars did not kindle their victory but their mid fielders and wings were doing the trick. Players like Matarazzi, Zambrotta, Perota, Grosso, Gattuso, Pirlo all made their own mark at the world stage. During the whole series, ten of the Italian players had scored goals - more than any other team. But the man behind the Italian triumph was their venerable captain and world class defender Cannavaro. His perfectly timed tackles and important clearances hindered their oppositions. And finally the Goalie... Commentators were constantly repeating that Buffon was the most expensive Goalkeeper in the world but hesitated just a bit to say that he was the best. After his superb performance in this world cup, there is no doubt that he is the best of the best.



Congratulations to Italy and all the Italian fans.

Our favorites finally did it.

source:
http://www.weblognepal.com/