Saturday, July 08, 2006

Italian Style of Play in World Cup Wins English Hearts

The ANNOTICO Report

English (FancyThat) Journalist  Sarah Crompton says "Anyone who thinks football is only a game should immediately be forced to watch Italy's World Cup semi-final victory over Germany. For there, drawn in every fluid pass, every brave attack, every second of resolute defence was ample proof of  strength and poetry of The Azzurri . They played as if they had something to prove; they ran with the kind of passion and commitment which was not just about winning but was intended to lay before the eyes of the world all the beauty and glory of the Italian game.

From the start of his team's campaign, they assured their followers that they were going to play their hearts out  for that  fourth Trophy.

If they win, in this kind of style, those of us bound to Italy's fortunes by marriage, family and affection will see it as a victory for more than just the team. It will be a triumph for the beautiful game itself.

 

WHY I AM SUPPORTING ITALY

London Telegraph
Sarah Crompton
July 8,2006

Anyone who thinks football is only a game should immediately be forced to watch Italy's World Cup semi-final victory over Germany.

For there, drawn in every fluid pass, every brave attack, every second of resolute defence was ample proof of Bill Shankly's maxim that football isn't a matter of life and death - it's more important than that. The Azzurri played as if they had something to prove; they ran with the kind of passion and commitment which was not just about winning but was intended to lay before the eyes of the world all the beauty and glory of the Italian game.

They needed to play like that because they arrived in Germany mired in the match-fixing scandal that has unfolded daily,  and formed the backdrop to the suicide attempt of Gianluca Pessotto, more than matching their on-pitch exploits in the attention of the country's sports mad fans.

 As Del Piero scored his glorious clincher on Tuesday, it suddenly did not seem fanciful to see it as a goal for all that is good in Italian football and life.

This was exactly how the canny Italian coach Marcello Lippi promised it would be.

From the start of his team's campaign, he assured their followers that they were going to play their hearts out in their attempt to bring the trophy back for the fourth time.

If they win, in this kind of style, those of us bound to Italy's fortunes by marriage, family and affection will see it as a victory for more than just the team. It will be a triumph for the beautiful game itself.

 

 

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