Comments on: Toni’s a menace, but Pirlo delivers.

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 20:22:49 +0000

Nobody is a bigger Azzuri fan than myself, however, after the game vs the USA on saturday i took my car flag down due to embarassment. I dont understand why year after year, Italy puts themselves into the situations they do. They have the natural talent and chemistry to beat all their group teams (espeecially this year) if they would stop diving and stop worrying about the referee’s calls. They should play the game, stay on their feet and keep their mouths shut and i would be willing to bet they can and would go all the way. I hope they sit down as a team this week and watch the relpay of that game vs America and see how rediculous they looked. I wish them the best of luck in the tourneament and i hope they make some necessary changes so they can show what they are capable of.

Paul
Ontario

By: Claudio

Claudio — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 23:51:52 +0000

I totally agree with the Dutch guy who posted about decency. At long last Italian players look like men, not sissies.

By: forza italia

forza italia — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 22:11:50 +0000

super play by us italians, not a slow start this year thank god, lippi has got the team right this year alot of youngsters with the experience of totti and canavarro and buffon,we look strong this is our year, toni impressed me very much a strong player that can hold the ball well,totti should b okay lippi took him of to be cautious, we are definitly going to win this year were playin good football,we havent lost for 18 games b4 the world cup,and our pay makers totti and pirlo look in fine form, ITALIA ITALIA ITALIA

By: Enrique

Enrique — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 23:25:59 +0000

From an unbiased outsider in Mexico:
1) Italy REALLY is a serious contender for the Cup. They showed it yesterday.
2) It comes as no surprise; however, the way Italy played WAS surprising. Nothing to do with other boring games in the past. Thus, it was the best match so far, thanks mainly to the way Italy proposed it.
3) In all honesty, there was a clar push to Asamoa that should’ve been a penalty call. You can see the arms of the Italian defender (Rossi?) pushing Asamoa.
4) On the other hand, Asamoa clearly dived a couple of minutes later, so the referee should’ve shown him a yellow card.
5) The Ghanian defender should’ve been expelled OF THE TOURNAMENT because of that foul over Iaquinta, more so because it was dead time.
6) If it wasn´t for Kingson, Italy would’ve scored 4 or 5 more goals… though that’s what GK are for, ain’t it?
6) Congratulations Azurri. A wonderful start.

By: marc

marc — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 21:22:08 +0000

‘Tis a good thing Ghana had trouble scoring… They had 2 or 3 unmarked opportunities right in front of the goal, which were the only defensive lapses I saw for the Azzurri, but they would have been definite goals for a better team. Very nice to see such an aggressive attack working for the boys in blue. Toni was great up front. I was a little disappointed in the 2 or 3 plays where he was wide open in the middle but his mates decided to try a shot at a tougher angle rather than pass it to him. Totti sent a lot more one-touch long balls forward then I’m used to, but the overall movement upfront was very fluid and fun to watch. Should be an interesting game next Saturday with the Americans having everything to prove and Italy looking to add points.

By: Lang

Lang — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 21:05:41 +0000

Joe, you’re right. They are very athletic and where that counts most is in the midfield (a la Essien), but scoring is more of an art, one which they need to perfect. Future knockout rounds of the world cup will be populated with African teams, for sure, with the advent of soccer schools and training infrastructures that will help them gain the polish of the best European sides.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 19:15:40 +0000

I am proud by how the African teams are performing in the middle of the field. However soccer is won by scoring, which Africa is not doing. Maybe in world cup of 2010, they will have learned how to score.

By: rinaldo

rinaldo — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 16:06:43 +0000

what a game! i’m loving every moment of this WC.

By: MooDy

MooDy — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 15:39:35 +0000

Italy did good , though i expected much more , Ghana was’nt an easy team as far as i was watching , good play , but final excutionz are bad when it comes to Ghana..
but goo go gooo Azzurri …

By: Carlo

Carlo — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 14:07:58 +0000

What a start!! It makes such a change to see the Azzurri win their first game, or not having to fight like mad in the dying minutes. I pray that they will get better and better.

I’ve been more worried about the USA game then the Czech Republic – but after last nights performance maybe they have finally learnt their lesson in taking the underdogs more seriously.

What a joy to watch, in perticular Nesta, Pirlo & Toni.

Italia! Italia!