How did you get into soccer?

I only started really playing last year when I started hanging out with one kid in particular. My one friend liked soccer but we never played or talked about it. When we started hanging out with my other friend we played and do play every time we hang out. It’s thanks to him that I became interested in soccer and the Azurri.

Posted from  United States

I was never really into sports in my late teens and early twenties, but always liked the World Cup – to me, it was the only sporting event worth watching). I became obsessed with soccer before and during the World Cup of 2006.

Every game day was full of excitement for me. And to see Italy win was something I will never forget.

Since that world cup, I’ve been playing recreational soccer and have been following my club team (A.C Milan).

I can’t imagine life without soccer now

My father is from Argentina and my grandparents are from Italy. I have always been a soccer fan, cheering on Argentina with my dad, and I thought I never cared much about Italy.
That is, until the 2002 World Cup. When Italy lost to Croatia in the first round, I thought I would be indifferent (being an Argentina fan) but I quickly came to the realization that it bothered me deeply. I guess I could not escape my Italian roots, and ever since then, I’ve always closely followed the Azzuri, right after my beloved Argentina

“I thought the sport was pretty boring at first.”
No shit. You were watching Inter

Posted from  Denmark

heh, my cousin and I have followed Italy since WC 98. This was due to the fact that my grandmother was full blooded Italian.

how I got into the sport was by the same means. My cousin played when he was younger(only 3 years older than me), so naturally I was interested in it too, as I was his shadow. Whenever we were at my grandmas over the summer when we were younger, we always seemed to play at some point. I never played for my school until I was in High School. This was because it was not “the Cool Thing” to do. I played my junior year, to get in shape for track. I’ve been hooked ever since. My senior year after warm-ups for track, my french teacher/jump coach (who is a Roma fan, was born in Rome and has been to the derby) we both jumped the fence around our track, sprinted back into the school and down to the weight room. Then we did ABs all practice in front of the TV watching Barca v Arsenal in the CL final.

Then just thinking about watching every game of WC 06 makes me smile. I watched every Italy game with my cousin mentioned above. We went absolutely ape shit for the Semi and Final games. Two of the best times I can remember

I mostly only watched basketball all my life.
In Euro 2000, however, the tournament was on TV so I started watching.
I liked the way Italy played, and being part Italian myself, decided to support them.
I fell in love with (no homo) Francesco Totti, the grace he had with the ball, his vision, his passing, how he created goal-scoring opportunities out of what seemed like nothing. I decided to follow Italy and Roma since then.

It was the only sport I wasn’t terrible at. (Well… this and archery.)
That’s not to say that I’m *good* at soccer, but I’m just decent enough to not make a complete jackass out of myself.

But yeah… I started watching international soccer when I was pretty young, and really got into it in 1994… which I still haven’t gotten over.

Posted from  United States

I can still remember Italy in Italia 90. My dad taped every single game, and it seemed that we were destined to win the world cup that year. I was 7 years old at the time. It was probably my first world cup memory. I don’t really remember much about Calcio before that year except for sunday mornings and Serie A’s italian commentators echoing through the house at 9 am.

Ironically enough, being a kid, I had thought argentina’s jersey looked nice and had drawn a picture of them winning the world cup. I had no idea that I had ever done anything of the such, until my dad pointed it out to me prior to the 2006 world cup. Oddly enough I found the picture a couple of weeks following the news that such a picture was in existence. The picture was a little fuzzy, however the point was clear, Argentina has won Italia 90. The cup was drawn, and my name was etched on the bottom right hand corner. Ever the protagonist my mother had held onto the picture for all these years. 1 day before Germany kicked off the World Cup in Germany, I destroyed the picture, we all know how the 2006 world cup ended now don’t we

In terms of my playing career, I’ve been okay at the sport. Mixed successes. I think though my biggest success comes with coaching. I have won 4 regional champions and am the most successful coach in my town. Not only that I won four championships in 5 years of coaching. Furthermore, I won these championships feilding a formation 4-1-2-1-2 capish!

this article looks like it was written by a 12 year old

Both my parents are Italian so naturally I followed Italy threw World Cups and Euro Cups. Even a very young age I always said that I was Italian first not Canadian. I started playing soccer when I was seven and I can still remember my Roma socks and my Italia 90 soccer shoes. Italia 90 was the first time I saw the Azzurri, TOTO and Zenga is what I remember and my dad saying he cant watch the shootout. Also every weekend my dad had soccer on and I just couldn’t stop watching it. Now I’m just obsessed with it.

Watching the 82 WC Final on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. Being of Italian descent, I took an interest in the game and was hooked after Marco Tardelli scored and had his famous celebration after the goal. Was hooked after that.

I have been thru so many disappointments since then with the Azzurri, that after they won the PK’s against the hated French in 06, I cried and yelled like Tardelli with joy around the lving room!

The Azzurri are basically my club team, ahead of Napoli.

My dad was a Roma fan and he would always tell me stories about the team (since we couldnt watch it on t.v.) The Conti days, the dreaded CL final in Rome against Liverpool that we lost (he went).

At first, i wanted to choose my own team to support (didnt want to copy my dad) but I was lucky enough to have grown up in the Totti era (seen him play since day one) when i came to Puerto Rico as a child. Puerto Rico had a spanish channel that would show Serie A (doesnt exist anymore)and Roma would be on from time to time.

I started to play a lot in my backyard, with a Conti jersey my dad bought me and trying to do backheels hahah, those were the days.

If it wasnt for Totti, i would have been a Milanista… yuck.

BTW the Azzurri?…World cups and Euros’s are so special that they attract almost everyone.

u21 this week—————>

From Saturday

De Ceglie
Warmed the bench vs. Reggina

Giovinco
Came in @ 70″ vs. Reggina

Marchisio
Played 70″ vs. Reggina – Was doing so-so before he was replaced by Gio

From Sunday

Lanzafame – 0 Goals + 1 Assist/ 8 Games (but not many minutes)
Slept in vs. AC Milan

Coda
Played 90″ vs. Chievo

Motta
Played 90″ vs. Chievo

Abate
Out injured w/Ankle Injury

Osvaldo – 0 Goals/ 6 Games
Is out injured

Balotelli – 0 Goals/ 6 Games (1 CL goal + 2 CL Assists in 08/09)
Went shopping vs. Napoli

Bocchetti
Played 90′ vs. Bologna

Criscito
Was Supsended vs. Bologna

Cigarini
Is out Injured

Consigli
Warmed the Bench vs. Lazio

De Silvestri
Warmed th bench vs. Atalanta

Dessana
Played 78″ vs. Cagliari

Santacroce
-> Warmed the bench vs. Inter (So Inter could win)

Russotto
Went Fishing vs. Inter
His talent is being wasted @ Napoli

Acquafresca/ Freshwater – 5(1Pk) Goals/ 13 games
Played 83″ vs. SampdoriaNapoli
——————————————->
Extra

Pelle – 0 Goal + 2 Assists/ 7 games

Lupoli – On Loan @ Norwich City – 4 Goals + 1 Assist/ 11 games
Warmed the bench vs. Sheffield Wednesday

Di Carmine – On Loan @ QPR – 1 goal/ 9 Games
Came in @ 90″ vs. Crystal Palace

———————————————->
Sorry I don’t have Serie B players info.

1994. I was 7 years old and began to play soccer (still to this day) and was following the World Cup for the first time. I immediately fell in love with The Divine Ponytail and was hooked on all things Azzurri after that. Watched his dominant performances against Spain and especially Nigeria and knew that this guy was something special. Cried like a baby for an hour after I saw him sky the ball over the crossbar.

And so my love affair began.

2002 being the toughest. Vindication would be right around the corner.

Posted from  United States

I grew up in Vicenza, playing soccer the whole time but never really following… Lanerossi Vicenza were never the greatest team around… I only really starting following soccer after the 1990 World Cup, as somebody said earlier I thought we were destined to win it “Notti Magiche di Schillaci”… I will never forget the opener though, The Indomitable Lions of Africa beating Argentina … what a game!!!

Posted from  United States

I’m only 18, but I’m an azzurri fan first, Roma second (began following only in 2005) Some memories:
1994, I was only 4, but I swear to myself I remember seeing Baggio miss the penalty while watching with my grandfather (he’s native of frosinone)
I officially gave my allegiance to Italy in 1998, when I was on vacation in Frosinone during the World Cup. I remember being in our hotel’s bar watching us lose on penalties again.
After the disappointment of 1998, I was psyched for 2002. I ordered my first jersey (Totti) and woke up early every morning to watch the games. I was furious after the Korea game and cried when Totti got sent off. Of course, my Mom didnt understand anything that had happened. I was only in 6th grade.
I was sooo ready for 2006. After watching all the group games (and getting SOOO much shit for rooting against the US) I headed to Italy for vacation. Best night of my life, being on a cruise ship watching Italy-Germany on a giant pool side TV. After Del Piero ended it, a group of crazy fans that had formed after the other games, went crazy. We ran around with air horns chanting Italia. Then the final. I watched on the same TV in Frosinone where I saw them lose to France in 1998. This time, they won, I ran in the streets to celebrate with the natives. Finito.

Posted from  United States

Born and bred Italian… I even played on the primavera of a pretty big club back in the day until I got injured (but I guess this isn’t the time for depressing stories, eh?)

As a Belgian, you have three choices: love football, love cycling or love both. I chose the latter. Started playing football when I was 5, played until I was 14, then became Belgian Judo Champion for three straight years, before going back to football when I was 19. Been playing again for four years now, made it to the 3rd Regional Level in Belgium (comparabkle to Promozione in Italy), then a year Prima Categoria, and next year returning to amateur level because I can’t combine work and a girl with 2 practices and a game every week.

Have been a Borussia Mönchengladbach-fan sinds ‘94, but since ‘99 Palermo is my one and only. Been to the Barbera about 30 times, and about the same amount of games as a visiting fan around italy.

Posted from  Belgium

How the hell did you start liking Palermo?

Posted from  United States

Ale, its more like, how the hell couldn’t you like Palermo?

3 words, una squadra siciliana

Posted from  United States

10 years old on summer vacation in Wasaga Beach watching the 1982 World Cup with my father. I fell in love with the sport that summer and have not looked back. Since Italia 90 I have changed from a “every 4 years” fan to one who doesn’t miss a friendly.

Posted from  Canada