True Blue Azzurri

June 13th, 2006 | by: Josh |

Yesterday, we saw the true colors of our beloved azzurri. This was a different side from the one that failed to show in the pre-WC friendlies. This was a cohesive, energetic– yet calm-on-the-ball–, well-selected group. Lippi deserves some credit after all. More importantly, Pirlo was masterful, and Cannavaro was at his usual best on both sides of the ball.

One of the things that separates the truly great teams from the wanna-be’s is the ability to not only clear the ball out of danger, but to clear it with purpose. Yesterday, it seemed like each time we cleared the ball out of our defensive third (most of which by the iceman Pirlo), it was done with deft vision and accuracy. To be fair to our offensive players, they fought/came back to win the ball when necessary– but the passes were completely engineered by our distrbutors. It was beautiful to watch.

It was also a far cry from what we’ve seen by some of the “high-expectation-but-poor-execution” sides in the tournament so far — i.e., a panick-stricken “CLEAR IT OUT!!!!” approach, which invariably leads to loss of possession and in too many cases further scoring chances by the opposition. We witnessed the latter approach with Serbia & Montenegro and the U.S. Neither of the two fared too well.

To be certain, we played a satisfying game, slightly more than satisfactory, IMO. That said, however, to quote our visionary contributor Paul:

“BUT I think they packed it in too early. …they decided to sit back and just counter. I wished they continued to push forward more. But most of the possession Ghana had was not very dangerous with most of their shots coming from distance.”

Indeed, we saw some ghosts from azzurri past, which should scare the living daylights out of each of us who truly support this team. Jay, too, was spot-on when he noted that in minutes 46-60:

“Italy was starting to sag back. It seems that frequently they either get a little arrogant and relax or decide they need to kill it off too early, and sure enough this is what happened.”

Couldn’t agree more, but luckily, no LUCKILY!!!, they struck gold with the counter-attack. We need to exorcise these demons immediately (hopefully the camp isn’t completely blissful with the solid win) as we can ill-afford to sit back with a 1-0 lead again.

Nonetheless, a solid and oh so soothing performance by gli azzurri.

Tags: Azzurri, Italy, Pirlo

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 74 comments.

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By Michael K. Shenton | June 18th, 2006 at 10:09 pm

Yo. As an Italian – fan, I think that: we need to: close players down a lot more and start with: our strikers, closing down : the opposition’s, defenders!!
We need to be: ‘1st to every ball possible’.
I only – support Italia, because:- I look Italian. What does: ‘Azzuri’ mean????

Posted from United Kingdom

By Enzo Careri | June 19th, 2006 at 2:10 am

Very disappointing performance by Italy. They are such a frustrating team to support! I hope they re-group and perform better against the Czechs – but being Italy, anything can happen.

Michael – Azzuri means The Blues or more accurately The Sky-Blues.

Posted from Australia

By Antonio | June 19th, 2006 at 2:02 pm

Italy were a disgrace against the USA, but in saying that, we were not prepared for the game. The Italians did not anything about the American players and decided to watch a couple of videos in the last week leading up to the game. I’m happy USA played dirty because that game will wake the Italians up and make them realise that playing for top clubs in Italy does not mean shit. Gattuso & Zambrotta are the only ones who plays with heart and passion, all the rest can f**k off!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Antonio | June 19th, 2006 at 2:53 pm

Plus, forget about the heat, forget about being tired, forget about possible payments being made, forget about dodgy decisions from the referee (although there were some), there is absolutely no excuse whatsoever when it was 10 against 9 with a remaining 43 MINUTES! If we played against Brazil, Argentina, England or whoever, we would’ve packed our suitcases straight after the game. Let’s just hope this could be a blessing for us because to win this World Cup Italy will have to go all out. Now it is war!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Carlito | June 19th, 2006 at 5:43 pm

Antonio, Iaquinta is a doubt with a fractured finger of all things sustained in training, it’s just getting worse, what has happened to the Italians that used to be tough? What’s going on?!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Antonio | June 19th, 2006 at 5:48 pm

Carlito, just got your message brother, I really don’t know what is going on. All we have to is to qualify for the next round and I guarantee we will get better from there. Lippi knows what he is doing, he is clever believe me. But the players have to play for him, for themselves, for the fans and for the whole army of Italians around the world. I hope we do it, believe me I hope we do.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Carm | June 20th, 2006 at 5:50 pm

It will be tough on Thursday but I hope Italy can come strong and win. If you want some more extra news on the Azzurri, please see us at http://www.daily-calcio.com.
TKS!
Carm

Posted from Canada

By Antonio | June 21st, 2006 at 12:30 pm

I hope so to Carm, by the way, God forbid, if we end up going through by finishing second, do you think it would be better to meet Brazil now or later? I would like anyone’s opinion please.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Tony | June 21st, 2006 at 1:09 pm

Antonio, the Italian team said they wanted to avoid Brazil in the next round. Those who can, do. It does not matter who Italy plays next. However if they do play Brazil, that means that we were not able to beat the Czechs. So for that reason I say we better not play Brazil. I cannot understand why Lippi said that it might have been better to put Inzaghi in the second half instead of Del Piero. I agreee that Inzaghi shoould have played, but not at the expense of Del Piero. I wish Vieri was playing. He is getting older but I am sure he would make his presence felt.

By Antonio | June 21st, 2006 at 1:44 pm

I’m sorry Tony, but i have to disagree with you about Vieri, he did not play for the game, he only played for money like a lot of players do these days and he was arrogant. He won’t do anything at Monaco, so good riddance to him. About Inzaghi, he is the fox in the box, we could use him. Del Piero? He definately has to play, but can he play alongside Totti? I believe he can, stick him in his favorite position on the left and I guarantee he will do excellent because he really wants this World Cup. Let’s just have faith in our boys, but they have to have faith in themselves and play like champions instead of getting on their high horse thinking they are gods. We are Italy, let’s play like Italians and take an example from Marco Tardelli’s full hearted passionate celebrating in 1982.

Posted from United Kingdom

By squad | June 21st, 2006 at 3:08 pm

for sure del piero should play
he is in great form .

By devansh | June 21st, 2006 at 3:29 pm

Totti: No more excuses Francesco Totti insists the Azzurri have no more alibis if they fail to beat the Czechs, while Alex Del Piero, Pippo Inzaghi and Rino Gattuso push for starting spots

By Giancarlo | June 21st, 2006 at 4:22 pm

Devansh, there should have been no excuse when it was 10 – 9 agaainst USA. Now we are taking a big risk tomorrow, everything should have been settled last Saturday, instead we messed up. Antonio is right when he says that Italy are lacking heart and passion apart from Gattuso & Zambrotta who are without a doubt Italy’s best players. Let’s have hope though, you just never know, this may be our year. Let’s roll!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Antonio | June 23rd, 2006 at 12:44 pm

Italy are through to the knock out stages and have avoided Brazil. What a result, I know Czech Republic went down to 10 men but we played better than we did with USA. We need to improve a little bit more, especially on our fitness. Totti seems lost at the moment, he hasn’t impressed me one bit, I know he is not 100% fit, well if that’s the case, bring Del Piero on because it’s not fair that a player of his qulity should be on the bench. I hope that our lack of pace and formation tactics does not backfire on us. Australia is next, it won’t be easy.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Antonio | June 23rd, 2006 at 2:46 pm

Just to let you guys know, De Rossi has been given a 4 match ban. Unless Italy get to the World Cup final, he will be banned for the rest of the tournament.

Posted from United Kingdom

By Dino | June 23rd, 2006 at 10:57 pm

Good teams can win even when they don’t play well. From now on though,the Azzurri will have to pick it up a notch. I hope they can do it.

Posted from Canada

By Tony | June 23rd, 2006 at 10:57 pm

Antonio, I feel the same way about Totti, although he did have one good shot. There was one time when he should have passed the ball instead of taking that weak shot that did not have much on it. I think we will win the next game. We’ve got Gigi. Buffon has not let any oppponents score on him. I’d like to see Del Piero play in the second half.

By Tony | June 25th, 2006 at 12:22 am

I predict Germany vs Italy and Netherlands vs Brazil in the semi finals. Forza Italia.

By James | June 27th, 2006 at 2:27 am

From a proud Aussie to all you jubilant Azzurri fans, I say congratulations and best wishes for the Cup. We fought hard and were unlucky, but it was a great and typical World Cup encounter, and our boys did us proud. We should not be disappointed with their efforts and what an honour to be beaten by such a great side so far into the competition anyway. It was beyond our wildest dreams. Australia has a close connection to Italy, with so many of our countrymen having come from there, or having Italian family heritage, so we will be hoping they go all the way. And that will add further honour to our first real World Cup campaign. There will be plenty more contests in the years ahead as the Socceroos grow into a formitable team. Good luck everyone!

Posted from Australia

By Antonio | June 28th, 2006 at 1:04 pm

A true sportsmanship from James, my hat goes off to you and to rest of the Australians around the world, God bless you all. We have a chance now to get to the semi-finals guys, but Ukraine will not be easy, we need maintain our heads and focus. We will be without Nesta and Materrazzi, so Barzagli has play very well and to help Cannavaro (more the other way). Gattuso, Zambrotta and Grosso have got yellow cards and will be taking a big risk by possibly missing the semi-finals and final (if we manage to go through that is). Let’s hope they will not get any, let’s get behind our boys and let’s all be positive because we do have a great chance to make it all the way, and what a moment that would be if it happened. Let’s hope it will, let’s hope it will. Forza Azzurri!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Antonio | July 3rd, 2006 at 3:07 pm

We are in the semi-finals, I love Italy so much, I am proud of my country. The most important thing the Azzurri have done is winning the crowd and their fans back. Let’s get behind them and be positive, FORZA AZZURRI, FORZA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Antonio | July 6th, 2006 at 11:52 am

We are in the World Cup Final, Forza Azzurri!!!!!!!!!Forza Italia!!!!!!!!!!!We have one more hurdle to jump, please let this be it, it has been too long. Ti amo Italia!!!!!!!!!!

Posted from United Kingdom

By Antonio | July 14th, 2006 at 7:29 am

CAMPIONI DEL MONDO! WORLD CHAMPIONS! Who would have belived it? We were warriors in that World Cup and we deserved it! I don’t remember 1982, but sure hell will remember this one. Lippi has gone though, do you think Donadoni will bring success to Italy, let’s hope so, please give your opinions on what think. SIAMO CAMPIONI DEL MONDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!FORZA ITALIA, FORZA AZZURRI!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted from United Kingdom

By lune sacree | July 14th, 2006 at 9:15 am

hello guys! your help is URGENTLY needed to defend our favourite team, Italy.

Well done Italy! You got what you deserved, the trophy for the WC 2006. Oh how you guys look great with the trpphy!!! Thank you guys for bringing the trophy back.

Actually i’m not a big fan of football. The only tournament i follow with passion is the World Cup and Italy is my favourtie team (I’m a Burmese and now living in Singapore) and I’ve backed Italy since 1990.

Maybe I’m wrong but I think Italy don’t “play like Italians” (like Antonio said)since World Cup 2000 and sometimes it was so stressful for me to watch Italy play that I almost got a heart attack.

I’ve been searching a website where I can write my opinions, my worries and my congratulations for my favourite team (especially before the match Italy vs Germany, I was so worried for my team that I couldn’t sleep well the previous night) but I didn’t find this blog earlier.

I found out this blog only today and even then, not your blog Josh (how lucky I was!!) but the other blog “Fifa may take back Zidane’s award”.

I would like all of you guys from this blog (Italy fans from around the world, aren’t we?)to read that blog and defend our team if you can, especially Antonio!

There are 3 or 4 sour losers who insult our favourite team and all the wrote about our team is nothing but CRAP!!!! And they call us CHEATALIANS!!! How dared they!!!!

But no matter how much they say bad about us (it shows that they are nothing but sour losers), we are THE BEST NATIONAL TEAM IN THE WORLD!!!

Forza Azzurri, please get also Euro 2006 for us!!!

Posted from Singapore