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…At Least We Don’t Have to Face Brazil(Yet)

August 13th, 2008 | By: Julian | 13 Comments »

By all accounts, the game against Cameroon didn’t go well. I didn’t see it firsthand (I love the Azzurri but there’s no way I can get up at 5 AM and actually be brain-active enough to pay attention). But apparently, it sucked.

From what I gather, the match went something like this: penalty save, red card, not really caring, no forward action, /fin. Sentences like “Italy had no creativity and the Azzurrini were finding it hard to cope against the physical prowess of the African side” don’t exactly fill me with confidence, either. C’mon- we were playing against 10 men and we couldn’t score? I said in the last post that anything less than a commanding win wouldn’t cut it, and this especially doesn’t. It sounds like we lacked all motivation. Casiraghi said we played bad because it was hot and we were tired, but sorry, that really isn’t enough.

On the other hand we can take a few positives out of this:
1. First and foremost, a draw was enough to ensure that we avoid Brazil for now. Yes, I know that if we play like this against Belgium there’s no guarantee that we’ll advance. But I’d prefer to avoid the big guns till as late as possible. Maybe we can even get our gears back in motion against Belgium.
2. Viviano is a class goalie. We might finally have someone who can fill in for Buffon once he steps down (And he can stay goalie as long as he likes. But once he is finally done, “Gigi” Viviano can probably fill in).
3. Even on a bad day, when by all accounts we looked like we had no real desire to win… we still didn’t concede a goal. Yeah, we didn’t score any, and yeah we were playing 10 guys, but 3 clean sheets in a row is pretty impressive. Especially once you add in the PK save.

Anyway, we now face Belgium on the 16th and face the winner of Nigeria-Ivory Coast if we pass that.. In other Olympic news, the US basically failed soccer and is now out after losing to Nigeria, while Argentina and Brazil picked up a full 9 points in their group stages.

Tags: Azzurrini, casiraghi, Italy, Olympics, Viviano

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Comments

By JP | August 13th, 2008 at 2:29 pm

Bad pitch, excessive humidity, tired players = making sure you don’t make mistakes. That was what Italy did today. Of course, it’s never good when the neutral crowd begins to jeer, but not all of their displeasure was directed at Italy. If anything, Cameroon was more responsible for killing the match.

So all in all, this is actually good. Italy and Casiraghi can use this match to learn things and be motivated to get back on track in the qtrs. We wouldn’t want to do a Dutch Euro 08 and peak in the group stages but have nothing left to give in the knock outs.

By EP | August 13th, 2008 at 3:17 pm

Honestly… this was the worst football match I’ve seen in a long time… I don’t know how I even stayed awake at that hour considering it was BORING…

With that being said… both teams really did play for a draw, so there isn’t much else that can be expected.

Forza Azzurri!

Posted from United States

By LorenzoRosanero | August 13th, 2008 at 3:41 pm

I dont care about Brasil, to be honest. Italy doesn’t have to be afraid of ANYONE. Current WC holders PLUS a youth team in the Azzurrini that shows that the Azzurri will not drop off in the near future. I am confident that the Azzurrini would and will step up to the competition they face.

Like I said before, I’m not worried in the least by the showing from the kids today. They didn’t need a full 3 points. Sure, it would’ve been nice, but they were content with a draw. Seeing as how they got it without any injuries (except for the Nocerino scare, as both a fan of Italy AND Palermo, i almost freaked out and started screaming too early in the morning), I’d say this match is still a positive.

Bring on the quarterfinals, but even better yet, bring on the BEST teams and we will take them down.

FORZA AZZURRINI, FORZA ITALIA!

Posted from United States

By ricci | August 13th, 2008 at 7:53 pm

Italy will eat Brazil alive on the counter.

Posted from United States

By Angharad | August 13th, 2008 at 8:03 pm

It was awful. AWFUL. We can only hope this is not a trend.

Posted from United States

By Marco Pantanella | August 13th, 2008 at 8:12 pm

Not only do we avoid Brazil, we’re also on the opposite bracket of Argentina. Overall very good operation there…

Posted from France

By il divin codino | August 13th, 2008 at 8:19 pm

Nothing to be worry about…Now the azzurrini will crush the belgium side.

By Jeff | August 13th, 2008 at 10:47 pm

if the game was really that boring then we must’ve been holding back. we should now have enough rest to tear belgium apart. you don’t see many athletes pushing themselves when its not necessary

By Julian | August 13th, 2008 at 11:14 pm

Well let me make myself clear- I don’t think we have to fear anybody. We definitely have the talent to go all the way to the gold, not matter who we face. Be it Brazil or a team composed of MLS players.

Butttt… that being said, it can’t hurt to have an easier road to the final. In all likelihood, as long as we keep winning, we’ll have to play Brazil or Argentina eventually. So why not put it off for as long as possible?

By Porchetta | August 14th, 2008 at 5:32 am

I must say that thoh the teams like Brazil and Argentina are the favourites ( they also have flly utilised the 3 overage quota), our young bys will be all fired up. Lippi yesterday clearly indicated that he would be choosing performers from the Azzurini and one person who is already in the senior squad according t Lippi is Dossena. Others like Rossi, Giovinco( he will be make it ) and others will be hugely motivated. Iam giving our boys the chance to make it past Brazil and thrash Argentina and shutt the mouth of Lavezzi who has openly urged the Napoli fans to support Argentina and deride Italia in case they meet..

Posted from Spain

By Bobo | August 14th, 2008 at 12:25 pm

Well, Porchetta, Napoli fans supporting Argentina isn’t exactly something new. I’m not sure whether we will make it to the finals, but stuffing Argentina would truly be the HIGHLIGHT of my summer. The defense on this team really worries me, though. I can’t see them shutting out Messi, Aguero, and co.

By Bobo | August 14th, 2008 at 12:27 pm

P.S. Out of curiosity… I’ve read some comments of yours (Porchetta’s) that are very critical of Spain. So, if I may ask, why are you there instead of Italy?

Many of us live abroad, but I doubt that very many feel as much venom for the countries we’ve settled in as you seem to do.

By Porchetta | August 15th, 2008 at 5:30 am

Bobo, first of all, i share ur feeling about Argentina, i would be wonderful if our young guns finish Argentina, agreed that Messi, Aguero and co are vey flee footed and fast, agreed that our defence is a bit inexperienced for handling these great players but remember that we have our own weapons in Giovinco( who was hailed by many experts as the next great thing after they watched his plays in the group stages), we have Rossi who i think is very very decisive and has big match pedigree. We have Aquafresca who can trouble the ordinary Argentine defence, but hey, first of all, let us qualify to the final which is very very possible!!
Secondly, i am at present working/living in spain where i have a joint busness venture wih my bro-in-law, i have lived in Australia for nearly 7 years, i was in Chicago for two years, i hate spain and spanish simply because they are ealous of us Italians and they make disparaging comments about our great country be it in matters relating to sports or politics or whatever!!

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