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Through to the Quarterfinals!

August 10th, 2008 | By: Julian | 35 Comments »

All those pre-game worries seemed to be in vain. Did the Azzurri really gel against Honduras? I mean, those guys are just pushovers- what if Korea are a fitter, more technically gifted team? We had 2 penalties and only one goal from open play last time. Are we going to be able to score more from open play now?

The answer- a resounding “Shut up. We’re going for gold and we got this”

We’re through to the quarterfinals, as you may have guessed from the title of this post. Korea went down 3-0, thanks to goals from Rossi, Rocchi, and Montolivo(Click the link for vids! If anyone can figure out where to get the html on that site so I can embed the vids here, please write it in the comments below). Here’s the write up, courtesy of channel4.com

Line ups for the match were:
Italy: Viviano; Motta, Coda, Criscito, Bocchetti; Montolivo, Cigarini, Nocerino; Giovinco (Abate 77), Rossi (Dessena 82); Rocchi (Acquafresca 58)

South Korea: Jung Sung Ryong; Shin Kwang Hoon, Kim Jin Kyu, Kang Min Soo, Kim Dong Jin; Oh Jang Eun (Cho Young Cheol 85), Ki Sung Yong, Kim Jung Woo; Park Chu Young, Shin Young Rok, Lee Keun Ho

Apparently, Giovinco again had a good game, forcing everyone’s favorite Soul Caliber warrior Ryong into a couple good saves. Obviously, the three strikers who scored also did well, and once again we conceded no goals. I really couldn’t be happier. 6 goals in 2 games with 0 let in? Makes you kinda wish we brought these guys to the Euros instead of Materazzi and Barzagli.

Now this was expected- I would’ve been pissed if we didn’t beat Korea. The good thing out of this is that we have a really good shot now of avoiding Brazil until the semis at the earliest. If we win the next game, we’ll most likely have to play Belgium. And hey, it might just be me, but I’d rather play them than Brazil.

In other Group D news, Cameroon beat Honduras 1-0.

This is currently how Group D looks:
Italy-6 points
Cameroon-4
Korea-1
Honduras-0

So basically, Italy are already through and Honduras are already out. Cameroon looks most likely to join Italy and go through to the quarters, but it’ll be tough to predict. Why? Well they play Italy next, while Korea have Honduras. If Korea beat Honduras and Cameroon lose to Italy- both very likely scenarios- Korea has to score 4 goals just to match Cameroon’s goal differential. It’s a tough task, but if you can score 4 goals against any team in this group, it might as well be Honduras.

Up next for our Olympic team- Cameroon in 3 days. We need to win, just to ensure we don’t have to face Brazil next round. The way this works is that the top team of our group- D- face the second team in group C, and vice versa. So if we lose, we’ll finish second and will probably have to face the South American giants, who look very likely to top their group.

Forza Azzurri!

Tags: Brazil, Cameroon, Guiseppe Rossi, Honduras, Italy, Korea, Olympics 2008, Ricardo Montolivio, Tommaso Rochhi

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Comments

Displaying the most recent 25 comments from a total of 35 comments.

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By Caleb | August 10th, 2008 at 9:08 pm

I watched part of this game, and I’d just like to say - how good is Rossi? Imagine managing a top club and selling him to Villareal…

I was impressed with the team as a whole, and I’m not usually an Italy fan. Keep up the good work. =)

Posted from Australia

By yoman | August 10th, 2008 at 9:49 pm

Caleb……….
now now Fergie wouldn’t like that

By yoman | August 10th, 2008 at 10:02 pm

Anyone who missed the game.
It will be replayed on NBC Soccer channel @ 12:30 pm ET/PT.
In Direct TV it’s on Channel 750 HD Only

By alessio | August 10th, 2008 at 10:17 pm

Still cannot believe no clubs, big or small, bid for him, or Toni even! I rag on Toni for his Euro performance but for his club he is a machine. It seems Roma or Milan would have done well for themselves if they had bought him.

Posted from United States

By Julian | August 10th, 2008 at 10:36 pm

MAD, who was at fault for most of our Euro goals? Those two bozos I mentioned. GC and Panuc were a rock as central defenders, Grosso had some devastating runs, and horrible back header aside Zambro didn’t do that bad.

Nothing to do with clubs. Nowhere did I mention Inter (And considering I singled out Barzagli who doesn’t even play for Inter, that’s a weak argument)

By Stefan. D | August 10th, 2008 at 11:45 pm

Our young players are total guns. Everyone watching this team, including the classic Italy haters i know, have been silenced. Avanti azzurri, dimostriamo al mondo perche siamo i migliori.

Posted from Australia

By MAD | August 11th, 2008 at 12:13 am

Wasn’t Panucci on the field for all the goals against us in the Euros? Wasn’t it his fault that guy from Holland was on sides? Wasn’t he at fault for giving up a penalty against Romaina? Didn’t he almost deflect a goal into our net as Buffon went the way of the original shot in a game during the group stage?

Zambro was at fault for the other two goals against Holland as the guy he was marking had about three yards of space to work with every time he had the ball in our area.

I think that you and I have a different idea about what a “rock” is.

And judging from your past posts, I don’t believe for a minute that you weren’t taking a shot.

By MAD | August 11th, 2008 at 12:23 am

One more thing, Materazzi was off the field at half time against Holland, when I think the score was 2-0. Considering that Holland scored one more time in the second half, and Romaina scored once– on an idiot backpass by Zambrotta, that means that Materazzi wasn’t even on the field for 2 out of 4 goals against.

So your statement, “who was at fault for MOST of our Euro goals? Those two bozos I mentioned” couldn’t even be a possibly — even though you would want to be– if he isn’t even on the field for HALF the goals against. Or do the laws of physics and causality cease to act on your television set?

So this ISN’T bias?

By Julian | August 11th, 2008 at 9:48 am

I think you’re over-analyzing the whole thing. My point is that it almost seems ironic that these young guys can go 2 games in group stages without letting in a single goal, when our senior team conceded 4 in the first 2 games. I named dropped the two biggest offenders- Mater and Barzagli. They were the two who I thought played the worst, and it seems like I was right considering they didn’t play again after that. Zambro and Pannuc weren’t perfect but they do tons more than the other two bozos.

By vin | August 11th, 2008 at 11:01 am

MAD, are you seriously defending Materazzi? Not that everyone else you mentioned is without fault, but come on.

It seems (and I hope this is not the case) that you are actually LOOKING for club bias at this point.

Back to this Olympic team: I usually couldn’t care less about Olympic soccer, but this squad is interesting, and I am sure that Lippi is taking lots and lots of notes. And I love the fact that Rocchi has stepped up to leas this squad, as was intended. Good call by Casaraghi, bringing him on. (Yes, I said something good about someone from Lazio. Hear that, MAD?)

Posted from United States

By JP | August 11th, 2008 at 11:08 am

As a whole, Italy played better when Materazzi and Barzagli were replaced with Panucci and Chiellini. But I don’t think it is fair to say “the Azzurrini haven’t conceded any goals, we should have called them up to the Euros instead.” Because at the Euro Cup, Italy faced Holland, France and Romania (all very good squads). At the Olympics, Italy is playing Honduras, Korea and Cameroon.

But I definately agree, Barzagli and Materazzi did not have a very good Euro Cup, and I am a fan of Barzagli and at one time wished Milan would have made move for him.

By alessio | August 11th, 2008 at 1:15 pm

Materazzi sucked. Barzagli sucked. Panucci was mediocre. Chiellini was amazing. End o’ story.

Posted from United States

By JP | August 11th, 2008 at 1:28 pm

Hahaha alessio, well put.

By MAD | August 11th, 2008 at 1:34 pm

My contention from June to today and unto tomorrow is that the unfortunate showing at Euro was a team effort. My first post on this thread reiterates this. Materazzi doesn’t need my defense. You can like him or hate him as you please, I care not.

But to name a player, that, if replaced would have changed our entire Euro fortunes, who played 1/2 of one game in four is strange. Consider:

Zambro gave the dutch right side space in our area with no pressure and handed Mutu a goal. Panucci had several mishaps. Our entire/diverse midfield could not ball collect and/or serve our forwards consistently and our forwards couldn’t score when they got the few chances to do something.

But hey, if we change out Materazzi all is well?

It’s not defense of Materazzi. It’s suspicion of motivation behind crap analysis. Especially since this guys early posts included shots at Inter and Materazzi to begin with.

By vin | August 11th, 2008 at 4:04 pm

MAD - Fair enough on Matrix only being in for part of the tourney. I thought you were implying that he’s still somehow fit for the Azzurri, which is something I wouldn’t agree with. For the record, I don’t think Panucci should be called up again either.

But yes, Alessio, Chiellini was awesome.

Posted from United States

By Julian | August 11th, 2008 at 7:04 pm

I can’t believe we’re still on this subject, but it’s safe to say that Materazzi and Barzagli were the worst as far as I’m concerned. The point of the reference wasn’t to name every single defender and what kind of problem they had. It was to contrast the Euro defenders with the Olympic ones- and the strongest contrast is between 2 central defenders that leaked 3 goals in one game to the young guys who leaked none.

End of. I mentioned nothing about any teams. You can search for anti-Inter propoganda but I’m pretty sure the only thing I said about them was that they don’t have any Italians on their team. And that was a joke(But the backlash seemed to prove it true. Just saying).

Lastly, no one’s making you read this blog. If you feel I’m being biased, feel free to not read it. But I think you’re argument is kinda weak. I’ve admitted in the past that I’m a Roma fan and you’ll probably see me commenting over on the Roma blog. But I’m Italian first and foremost and when I deal with the national team, I put club differences aside

Posted from United States

By alessio | August 11th, 2008 at 11:43 pm

The point is yes, Zambrotta and Panucci were mediocre (which they were) and yes, and yes, the 3-0 drubbing was a team effort. (if you could say it that way) But Matrix’s play was dreadful. We were lucky not to concede more, he was late to every ball, caught far out of position on the counters (ADN defending against Sneijder scoring? Where the fuck was everyone?) and just generally poor. Barzagli was also awful, he seems to only play well when he has a very confident rock next to him. When Donadoni, of all people, hauled him off at halftime you could tell he was terrible.

Posted from United States

By mike de robbio | August 12th, 2008 at 2:23 am

hey lads. know anywhere i can watch the cameroon game online? I’ve got a mac so can’t use p2p or anything?

Posted from Australia

By Porchetta | August 12th, 2008 at 6:05 am

Sadly, Rochhi the only experienced overage player is out of the tournament but hey!!that gives a chance to the upcoming great(i repeat he wil be a great) Andrea Russotto and watch out for the lad when he comes in as a sub against probab Argentina in the semis..Also, i was very distrbed to read the Napoli striker lavezzi uring naoli supporters to deride Italia and cheer for Argentina in case they meet..That was wa hapened in 1990 when we met the seless thgs of Maradona in Napoles n the world cu semis when Italia totally outplayed Argentina and could have won by atleast 5 goals if not for the sitters missed b Vialli and a free header missed by Di Napoli in a match where Agentina scored with their only chance and won in penalties with the support of the Napoles crowd..That is the very reason why i consider anything south of Rome as non Italia

Posted from Spain

By Porchetta | August 12th, 2008 at 6:08 am

ooopss my keyboard is stuck..i meant napoli in my previous post..Napoles cheered for Argentina when we met them in 1990 and that for me is unpardonable!!!that is the reason why we real northies dont like the southerners..in addition to havin mixed heritage, the southerners are non italian in their loks, mannerisms, skin colour..just look at all those immigrants in australia, USA..all napoleatanos and sicilians and calabrians…traitors!!!

Posted from Spain

By alessio | August 12th, 2008 at 9:26 am

Jesus, not this white pride bullshit again. Guess what, northern Italians have a bastardization too of the Balkans, Germans, French, etc. (Friuli was Austrian till WWI). Unification came from the boot UP, not down.

Don’t lump all of Mezzogiorno with Napoli. My family would scream if you said we were Napolitano yet we are from the South.

Posted from United States

By Porchetta | August 12th, 2008 at 12:05 pm

Hi Alessio, iam not insulting all the southies, only the traitors!!like the whole world saw what happened in 1990!!!italia played the second hand italians Argentina in the world cup semis at san paolo in napoles and guess what??the Arab descended napolitanoes cheered not for the Azzurri but for maradona´s Argentina and tha is unpredicable!!
and as for ur false, totall false claims that unification came from up!
for ur kind information, the south was nder vandal/spanish/arab/greek rule untill Guiseppe Garibaldi and Marzini freed them in 1857..read history!! ITALIAN WAS NOT SPOKEN IN SOUTH UNTILL THE ADVENT OF RADIO IN MID 1900S. It is a fact!!Southern italians have arab/vandal/african/middle eastern………….blood in their veins…did u see the movie True romance??????
any ways, coming back to football, or young guns r a talented lot and i wont be surprised if atleast 8 of them make it to the senior squad in a short time!!!Cassano and Giovinco pair up salivates my taste buds!!!

Posted from Spain

By alessio | August 12th, 2008 at 1:51 pm

Unification came from Sardinia, Piedmont, and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Northern Italy has been under rule of foreign nations as well, Austria controlled large portions of it for centuries.

Some southern Italians do. If you saw me, I don’t tan at all, I’m white with dark hair. I’m do not have a dark complexion, yet I am southern Italian. Not all mixed. Besides, who gives a shit? They have mixed blood, as I said so do northern Italians. The modern Italian language is from Florence. Northern Italy and central didn’t speak it forever, they had their own dialects. (Er Purpone, anyone? Er isn’t a pronoun in Italian as far as I know) Same with Mezzogiorno. Northern Italy is just as mixed and separate as the South.

Posted from United States

By Porchetta | August 14th, 2008 at 5:36 am

alessio, that should answer ur doubts still lingering n ur mind..get educated..
http://www.white-history.com/refuting_rm/italy.html

Are northern and southern Italians the same?
No. Southern Italy differs from northern Italy in physical anthropology and genetics, as well as in culture and achievements
Southern Italians are shorter and darker than northern Italians, with smaller and more dolichocephalic heads.Genetically, southern Italy is allied with the Eastern Mediterranean and, to some degree, the Middle East, while northern Italy clusters with Central Europe. One study found “Clearly detected in the extant Sicilian gene pool . . . a clue for more recent gene flow of people from northern Africa and the Middle East superimposed on a predominantly Greek contribution.”

In The History and Geography of Human Genes, Cavalli-Sforza confirms:

The first synthetic map shows a clear gradient from north to south. One pole of the first axis is in the extreme south, in the eastern part of Sicily and the southern part of Calabria, which are separated by the narrow strairof Messina. The opposite pole includes all the north and center. Between Rome-which is centrally located on the peninsula-and the south, there is a progressive gradient of the PC. This corresponds to the well-known differences in physical type (especially pigmentation and general size) between northern and north-central Italians on one side and southern Italians on the other (Livi 1896-1905). northern Italians are more similar to central Europeans, whereas southern Italians are closer to other Mediterranean people, being darker and smaller. (277-278)
Northern Italians are more central European ad southern talians are more middle eastern/arab …
Not my words but those of historians..and i do know that italian language orginated from Tuscan dialect and Tuscany is NOT NOWHERE NAR TO SOUTH

Posted from Spain

By Julian | August 14th, 2008 at 11:06 am

Guys I love the comments, but you’re walking a very fine line. As soon as race and discrimination gets brought up in this whole North vs South Italy discussion, the comments will get deleted. Just a reminder

Comments are closed