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Posing a question…

March 20th, 2006 | By: Jay | 13 Comments »

OK, tonight let’s have a wee bit of fun. I’m going to throw out a question for anyone who cares to respond. Given what we’ve seen in the last six months under Lippi, and especially the recent results…what will it take for him to stay on as coach after this summer? (Contract extension talks are ongoing, as we know, but contracts were also meant to be broken.) Does he…

a.) Has to win the whole tournament. At which point, his legend is cemented and he can do whatever he wishes.

b.) Make it to the final. Nobody in Italy would be thrilled with second place, but it might add to those dramatic legendary finishes that account for so much Italian theatre, so to speak. The coffeehouses would buzz from Turin to Naples.

c.) Make it to the semi-finals. At this point, you’d have to ask yourself “well, how did they/would they get knocked out? A bad refereeing decision? An off day? Poor tactics?”

d.) Just has to make it through the group phase. And really, you’re almost kidding yourself at this point. If the Azzurri go down to Croatia, for instance, given what we know now…that would certainly have to rate up there as a big blunder.

I think they have to make it to the final for Lippi to stay on. There is too much pressure to win and four years in between tournaments. The press, the squad turnover, the press, the fact that Marcello is not getting any younger, and did I mention the press? Those are all contributing factors.

Tags: Group E, World Cup 2006

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Comments

By justin | March 21st, 2006 at 7:13 am

ok i just had this huge writeup but because i typed in this fuckin code wrong its all gone. lovely

Posted from Italy

By justin | March 21st, 2006 at 7:15 am

and please tell Bob to change the picture of Crespo at the top right corner, hes argentine, this is an italian blog

Posted from Italy

By Euler | March 21st, 2006 at 7:27 am

As far as I know, every Italian knows for a fact that Italy will win this year because of the Germany game. This Lippi guy is like a God now, right? But things change when the games start. They should not discuss contract before the end of the tournament. Look the English example.

By The Blog Goes On 03.21 - FIFA World Cup 2006 - World Cup 2006 Blog | March 21st, 2006 at 1:34 pm

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Posted from United States

By Harvey | March 21st, 2006 at 2:15 pm

Hey Euler, are you talking about the 5-1 drubbing the English laid on the Germans in Munich during qualifying? At least the Germans scored first in that game.

Posted from United States

By croatia | March 21st, 2006 at 9:25 pm

CROATIA IS NUMBER 1 in the world YAAAAAA T I what u dont about that 44s cheeses where my G ’s AT WHAT ABOUT THAT CROATIA WE ARE GOING to fight that!!

Posted from Canada

By Euler | March 22nd, 2006 at 5:30 am

No, Harvey, I’m talking about contract issues and the discomfort that comes from that.

http://england.worldcupblog.org/1/todays-news-in-the-next-sven-2.html

By Don Italo | March 22nd, 2006 at 5:45 am

Lippi is one of the most famous and talented coaches in the world. His past talks for itself with 5 Serie A titles and 8 Cups with Juventus. Only him and Capello and Ancellotti can bring Italy to the top. He knows how to structure the team and keep it on focus. Italy came out of its qualifiers pretty easily when you think that the group wasn’t the easiest one (look at France’s group). Scotland, Norway, Slovenia are solid teams likewise for Germany. Lippi has brought with him a new style of soccer for the Italian National Team and has managed to instaure competition among the players (no one is assured to go to the Cup). Look at players like Del Piero who have been called at nearly every international match but who has been playing awfully for the past few seasons. Well Lippi decided to kick him out of the team. Consequence ??? Del Piero remotivated himself, and has come back as one of the best players in Italy by scoring and making numerous assists to his fellow juventus players. No doubt he will come to the World Cup stronger than ever. Plus with players like Gilardino who has adapted very well to AC Milan and scored nearly 16 goals so far and Toni who has scored 24 goals, Italy has a strong team.

However, Italy is a very surprising team where results sometimes do not follow the quality of the team (like spain). Lippi is a charismatic coach as well as a very respected one. The press have confidence in him (so far…) so as the tiffosi all over the world.

I believe that he will stay in place at least until 2008 after the next European Cup as long as Italy does not go out by the very very little door of this World Cup. Who knows…

Posted from France

By Massimo | March 22nd, 2006 at 11:47 pm

The only time a coach did not get fired from the Italy squad after not winning the world cup is Trapattoni, and that’s because even someone who doesn’t know anything about football could tell the game against South Korea was bought. What a disgrace.
Anyways, if Lippi fails to lead Italy to victory, I want him gone. He will be fired. There’s better Italian coaches out there anyways, like Capello.

Posted from United States

By Juve | March 23rd, 2006 at 2:04 am

Massimo hit it right on the Nail! Capello would be an outstanding manager.

Posted from United States

By Don Italo | March 23rd, 2006 at 5:40 am

Agreed about South Korea. The referee was prohibited to referee for any international matches for life. Thats a sign…

Regarding Capello, he will first go to England to coach an english premier league after maybe one to two more years at Juve, than will take care of the Italian squad in 5 years.

Posted from France

By soze | March 23rd, 2006 at 3:40 pm

well said Croatia…..well said.

Posted from Canada

By yqmievfaia | July 9th, 2006 at 10:01 am

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Posted from United States

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