A Right Thrashing

March 1st, 2006 | by: Jay | View Comments

Maybe it was the new kits. Maybe it was because Germany is really just not up to the task defensively. Maybe the ‘trident’ attack force is going to scare the wits out of opposing coaches. Maybe the Azzurri just took advantages of their chances when they were given. Whatever you want to say, Italy just flat pounded Germany. I don’t know if the tifosi can get too excited about one result, but I think if were a supporter of Germany, I’d be a quite shaken.

Buffon wasn’t tested until nearly half-way through the opening session, and at the other end of the pitch it seemed as if every through-ball was finding its way through (fittingly enough). Its refreshing to see an Italian squad so confident going forward, not shutting down when they get up a goal or two and salting away the match. Rightfully, they could have had five or six goals tonight if Lehmann had not continued to fight for Germany. Lippi said yesterday “we have to play a match with lots of technical content because if we win closing ourselves in our area it will mean that we have not made any progress.” No worries there, at least not now. They crossed well, they finished well, they were aggressive and luck fell their way.

On the other side, Klinsmann said “”Italy gave us a lesson. When they scored two goals in the first (seven) minutes we didn’t know how to respond” and that’s a pretty good assessment. It might have something to do with the youth in his squad, and that’s going to be tough to fix in the next 100 days before the World Cup starts. Meanwhile, Italy will be wishing the event started now.

And thanks, Euler, for the ‘vet’ excuse. I’ll have to use that one sometime. hah.