Fratelli d’Italia

P.S. congrats in advance to your second star, Italia! (due to new FIFA regulations now only victories after 1950 count)

Posted from  United States

go italy

Posted from  United States

Paul Breitner, Germany’s most influential newspaper commentator, formerly player for Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, World Champion 1974:

“Italy will win, even if my heart wishes Zidane would have one least glorious success to end a great career.”

Günther Netzer, Germany’s most influential TV commentator, formerly player for Mönchengladbach and Real Madrid, European Champion 1972:

“France is not strong enough for this Italian team – Italy will win.”

Posted from  United States

Cesare Ruperto, your comment is very inteeligent…yes, your QI must be very loooooow, shut up !!!!

Posted from  Italy

I have been up from 8am this morning and I cannot get this game off my mind. We are still 4 and a half hours from kick off and I am nervous as hell.

Went training and still cannot shake the thought of the final even when doing the circuit. Getting changed and I proudly take out my Azzurri shirt, many an envious eye are upon me now. (Please note I live in England, so imagine how many haters about). One guy asks me how do we’ll do, I tell him in my honest opinion I do not know. I just hope we do it. He then reminds me how well we have been playing and getting better with each game which gives me confidence but my nerves are still about and all I can say in my head is Speriamo… Speriamo !!!!

Has been a while since we have had a big game like this. There was Euro 2000 but the World Cup is a different story. I remember 94, I was only 13 at the time and my mum and dad had to carry me home. As soon as Baggio’s spot-kick went over I crumbled in a heap and just couldn’t stop crying.

I will be crying tonight, I just hope it’s with tears of joy and not tears of pain. I am Italian and very proud of and I know there is a more important things in life than football but when these tournaments are on I just lose it and get very caught up in the moment. In a way I’m proud of that, can’t be good for the Blood Pressure or Heart Rate but Va Fangul to that !!!

I have got my shirt on, the flag is out as well (hasn’t been touched in 4 years) and I have the face paint ready. There are loads of us getting together to watch it on a big screen. The place is buzzing.

I have been so proud of Lippi and the boys as I can’t ever remember going as hysterical as I did for the Aus and Germany games. All we need is one big performance, you will make thousands of us happy.

I sincerely hope it is going to be one long night of celebration. I am getting sick to death of this so called Swansong for Zidane. His time was 2 goals in the 98 final.

To all my Italian fans, stand up and sing that national anthem with pride and hand on heart. Get behind the boys, they could be heroes.

FORZA ITALIA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cesare Ruperto, congrats on achieving an A+ in ignorance.

Posted from  Canada

Spot-on Roberto, I think you speak for many of us.

Barbar, please stop claiming to be an Italy supporter when you obviously aren’t. You’ve been using it as a red herring to make passive aggressive commments about gli azzurri.

Go spot your mother on her military press would you?

Posted from  United States

Hey Cesare Ruperto a.k.a. Sushi Boy,

If you want to talk about match-fixing (and the invisible 12th man), let’s go back to 2002. The Asian teams which enjoyed so much success during that world cup have done NOTHING this time around. Have you noticed? How much did the South Koreans pay for victory against Italy in ‘02? The bookies in Asia must have had a field day with that one. Were you one of the little twats who cashed in?

It’s time to take my Azzurri shirt out too, Roberto.

Andiamo tifosi! Tutti insieme: FORZA AZZURRI!

I don’t care what the anti-Italian crowd says today. Our guys are out to win it, and I pray to God that they will.

I also hope that no matter if we win or lose, it happens during regular play and not during penalty kicks. I don’t know if I can deal with that kind of a situation again. I don’t think anybody wants to lose – or win – that way.

Ragazzi, I will be in NYC in Times Square watching this one at the ESPN Zone with the other Azzurri supporters. They were so loud during the opening game vs. Ghana, it sounded like a stadium! I haven’t seen a match there since, but I want to finish this World Cup like we started it – with a strong performance and of course – a WIN.

Forza Azzurri!
God, be with us.

See you after the match, everybody.

Posted from  United States

This is the last post I am going to make here before the match. But one thing:

Please don’t dive italians. Please stay on your feet. You have the talent and so, you must play fair. If you dive, you can go to hell!!!

T.

Posted from  Canada

The crown jewel in national team soccer — the World Cup — will be contested by two old European rivals, France and Italy.

I have no idea how either coach will choose to manage his assets tonight, but based on what I think their likely formulas for victory could be, here’s how I see it.

The critical Italian press has managed to muffle itself somewhat since the Azzurri’s messy draw with the U.S.A. Perhaps they have come to realize what some of us knew from the beginning: Marcello Lippi is a good coach!

Lippi will have 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-3-1-2, 4-4-1-1 formations at his disposal, but my guess is he will shelve the 1-1 up front for France and play Toni and Gilardino ahead of Totti tonight. And although De Rossi is back to see if he has reformed himself after a four-game stint on the bench for thuggish behavior against those same Americans, I am not sure Lippi will tinker much with the guys who brought him to the dance. De Rossi may play, but behind Totti I expect to see midfielders Camoranesi, Pirlo and Gattuso at the outset.

Without going any further, I think this will play right into France’s hands if Domenech “lets his dogs loose,” to coin one of the coach’s phrases made in group play during this Cup, meaning Ribery, Henry (whether he is at the apex or not) and Zidane must attack at will and trust Vieira to manage things on both sides of the center stripe and, along with Makelele, to add STEEL support to the back four, led by central defenders Thuram and Gallas, with fiery Willy Sagnol on one wing. Of course, Vieira, Gallas and, if necessary, even Thuram must make their striking presence felt on corner and free kicks as well.

My reasoning for abandoning the conservative tack is that Gattuso is the only real holding midfielder, Pirlo and Camoranesi will be overworked, and the plundering “Bleus” could be knocking on Italy’s door all night if Domenech resists the urge to play for a 1-0 win. The French boss can continue to run the same 4-5-1 lineup he has for the past three matches, but if Domenech is too reticent to mount sustained attacks, his charges may end up very blue because 1-0 might not be enough. And no one wants a shootout in the finale either.

Regardless of what Domenech does, Toni must leave it all on the field for however long he is there (and Gilardino as well if there), with Iaquinta, Del Piero and Inzaghi held for the final 65-minute plus Italian assault if needed.

If it comes down to the dreaded shootout, Italy will have the big edge. Buffon has been the most effective keeper in this tournament and holds a huge advantage over past-his-prime Barthez on the other end of the pitch. Cannavaro, who has been superb in this Cup anchoring the Azzurri back line and eliminating the silly fouls that marked his career in years past, now is “reading” the game as well as anyone anywhere, knows the zonal responsibilities of his defense, and man-marks with the best of them.

If Domenech lets those dogs loose as described, they should prevail 2-1, even with Buffon in net because France has already put the “old legs” myth to bed in this Cup and adrenalin will be pumping tonight. If he remains conservative, it could end 1-0 either way, or even go to 0-0 and a shootout. If the latter does occur, unlike 1994, it will be Italy cheering throughout the Berlin night.

Dave hamildav@yahoo.com

Posted from  United States

forza italia you are the best just show the world you can make it

Posted from  Malta

Dude, you are WAY WAY OFF.

Lippi coached Zidane at Juve, he knows very well what he is capable of.

No way he goes with a 3 man midfield at first, and if he does the third will be perrotta (more defensive) than camo.

I predict he will go with what has worked best. 442.

Camo-Pirlo-Gattuso-Perotta
With Toni and Totti up front.

They will press for the goal early, but will definitely be mindful of zidane and viera.

Gattuso will be on Zidane all match.

If italy do not score in the first half, they will make changes.

Bring off camoranesi for Gilardino, and Toni for either Inzaghi or Iaquinta. Then, depending on how Perrotta is playing (and the time of the match, possibly put in DP)

If italy do score, than you can look for Toni to be subbed for Gila or Inzahgi or Iaquinta.

And perrotta for De Rossi.

Also look for camo to come off in the second half.

Italy should take this one boys, this is our best chance.

I’m really nervous tho, let this be the year!!!! Please god!

Posted from  Canada

I love Italy!!! & italian football!!!

Playing for penalties against ten men. What chickens.

Posted from  Australia

Amanda, Australia plyed well and is an up and coming team. But don`t get too full of yourself.Everyone was warning all through the tournament that Italy was petrified of going to penalty kicks with anyone. You can`t have it both ways!Why don`t you go chase a few “Crocs” down under, eh? VICTORY FOR ITALIA!

Posted from  United States

To all sore-losers.
Stop your whining.

This match was decided by penalty shoot-outs which meant that the results can go either way. In fact everyone knows that Italy has been terrible at penalty shoot-outs.

If France had won, i dont think u would complain, right? So shut up and take the defeat.

Posted from  Singapore

Yea Italy won!!!!!!!!!!!and dont start saying they cheating ,penalty goals were unfair but that WAT HAPPENS AFTER playing two 47 min games then an additniol 30 and nothing happen…. penalty goals were our opstion left and if u saID they suk at penalty goals well they prvoed to u there not and there the best not loosing 1 game !!!!!!

VIVA ITALIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted from  United States

Can anyone tell me when can I found some pics or videos of Alessandro Del Piero singing his lungs out to “We Are The Champions”, bare chested, of course, at the Circus Massimo celebration????
Thanks in advance (kenamora@aim.com)

Amanda from Australia:

why are you Aussies a bunch of cowardly cry-baby losers?

You have always been very, very poor losers, & can’t stand it when a country like Italy teaches you a lesson in Football….with 10 men.

Here’s a poem for you about the Italy-Oz match

“The REAL Diver”

Australia’s long over & out
no need to cry & shout

they couldn’t beat ten men
not even Hiddink from his den

a big mistake by Lucas Neill
he made the opponent reel

maybe we should tell him now
that it’s neither rugby nor a row

into Grosso’s feet he dived
a penalty it was, not contrived

he even threw up his elbow from the floor
to make it a foul even more

An undeniable penalty sure it was
Totti scored: a round of applause!

Italy outplayed Oz at a stretch
no wonder they won the match

the great diver wasn’t Italian
Materazzi’s red: it was an Australian!

Posted from  Malta

tung valla italia e ka meritu me mar kupen po edhe e ka mar italia champion 2006

Posted from  Serbia And Montenegro

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT SONG WAS PLAYING WHEN THE ITALIANS WERE RECEIVING THEIR MEDALS AND HOISTING UP THE TROPHY ON THE WINNERS STAND? IT SOUNDED LIKE SOME TYPE OF OPERA…VERY NICE!

Posted from  United States

viva italia!!! desde Panama… al fin logramos el cuarto titulo… forza Italia!

Posted from  Panama

here is a link for all of you who still think Grosso dived against australia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2PgG8j0gyQ&search=grosso%20australia

Posted from  Canada

ivormvug

hrxineek isncevxmad mqqgcwlni

Posted from  China