Comments on: Lippi: Let’s Give Youth a Chance

By: Bobo

Bobo — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:52:41 +0000

Well, Camoranesi’s paternal grandfather was an Italian. Which isn’t really an ideal situation (compared to kids like Rossi and Forestieri, who are full-blooded Italians), but what made it intolerable, at least initially, was his continued protestations that he would always be an Argentine and thta playing for Italy was just a “footballing matter”. I think I speak for all the Italian boys that grew up dreaming of playing for the Azzurri when I say: then feel free to get the f*ck off my national team.

However, he has worked tirelessly for the Italian cause and that’s certainly commendable. I’m fairly sure that Amauri, given the chance, would do the same, but it just seems so odd to have a foreigner on our national team who has no links to the Italian people whatsoever beyond naturalization… still, we need all the good strikers we can get.

By: Julian

Julian — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 16:21:31 +0000

Rossi is looking like the real deal imo. He’s not just a flash in the pan. Hes been consistently good for a number of seasons now. I’d love to see him back in Italy.

Camo is Argentine but he’s the exception. Correct me if I’m wrong but I thought he had some Italian blood in him, while Amauri is just a citizen. I’m not sure if that’s true though

By: Bobo

Bobo — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:36:00 +0000

Sure, but given the generally higher birthrates of the immigrants that are already present and taking into account that the largest wave of Italians of non-Italian origin is just now going to elementary school, it could very well turn into a bigger “problem”… depending on one’s perspective of course.

My father is at his wit’s end when it comes to Italy. The low Italian birthrate makes immigration absolutely necessary (something that a lot of people don’t wish to acknowledge), but he told me the other day that it almost doesn’t feel like his own country anymore. I’m not sure what to make of this.

But anyways, Rossi scored an EXCELLENT goal for Villarreal in their Champions League fixture against Aalborg. I highly recommend it to anyone who’s watching his career with interest.

By: John Silver

John Silver — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 13:26:35 +0000

Well, immigration is much over-hyped by Italian media – we actually have some of the lowest numbers among the big countries in Europe. We’re well below the UK, France or Spain, let alone Germany! But even if it were to happen, nah, I wouldn’t be that bothered.

By the by – I just got an unpaid job as sports writer for footballitaliano.co.uk. First article should be a Napoli-Sampdoria preview. Look out for pieces by “Andrea Tallarita” (my real name) if you can be arsed to visit.

By: Bobo

Bobo — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:29:18 +0000

Although I do have to wonder, considering the levels of immigration that Italy has been experiencing… when the sons of immigrants are old enough to be footballers and presumably be selected to the national team on a major scale, will that be off-putting to some of you?

By: Bobo

Bobo — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:24:40 +0000

The problem is that we’ve already had a player who considered us a backup option. No Italian worthy of his blood should be happy about Camoranesi being an azzurro, but it’s also obvious that he doesn’t half-ass it on the pitch and gives our attack a much needed creative dimension. Who knows, maybe Amauri being selected for Italy may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

But the day that the Italian national team is no longer reflective of the Italian people (not ethnically, but culturally through the bonds of common experience) is the day I stop watching international football.

By: KJ

KJ — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:21:56 +0000

His wife is NASTY

By: alessio

alessio — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 19:09:05 +0000

His wife is Brazilian, not Italian anyways.

By: Julian

Julian — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:43:42 +0000

If his wife was a soccer player, I’d love for her to be on the team. Fact is that he’s just looking for a team to play for. He doesn’t care if it’s Brazil or Italy. Which means he doesn’t really have the desire to wear the shirt that we need on the team

By: Vincent

Vincent — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 05:41:25 +0000

At first and second thought I didn’t want Amauri as an Azzurro either. But on third thought I have changed my mind. I don’t know even if Dunga called him up now if he would go due to Dunga’s personality. His wife want him on Italy.

So I guess it would be swell if he was called up, if it didn’t rankle the players too much