(Two Old Men)

While I’m too young to remember seeing Babe Ruth calling out a home run, I’ve heard of the phenomenon, and always chalked it up to coincidence. I mean… how the hell can a guy be sure that he’s going to hit a home run, let alone call out the area of the ballpark that he’ll end up sending it to?

Likewise, how the hell can a guy know that he’ll score a goal in a match, let alone predict that he’ll score two? I suppose we should ask Alessandro Del Piero, who allegedly called out his brace prior to this weekend’s Juve - Palermo match. Come to think of it, this isn’t the first time that there was a spooooooooky pre-match Del Piero-related premonition; some tifosi may remember that Marcello Lippi supposedly predicted Del Piero’s goal against Germany in the ‘06 World Cup semi-final.

Whether or not one chooses to believe the stories of premonitions, most of us will concede that Del Piero had a strong match on Sunday, adding an assist to his pair of goals (one of which was a nice cruise missile of a free kick). Unfortunately, Del Piero (who is the first of the two old guys I’m discussing today, in case you haven’t guessed) isn’t exactly consistent. For instance, prior to this weekend’s impressive performance, he was silent in Week 12’s draw with Parma. Nonetheless, he is “hoping to convince Donadoni” that he’s worthy of a spot in Italy’s Euro 2008 squad.

Speaking of Euro 2008, despite Del Piero’s flashes of brilliance, I wouldn’t be crushed if he was left behind this summer. His lack of consistency, coupled with his primadonna-like insistence on playing up front, makes him a less-attractive option in a country with no shortage of attacking options. On the other hand, if The Don does select Del Piero for the tournament, I won’t cry foul, so long as (and this is key) Del Piero is utilized as an off-the-bench striker, rather than a starter. My rationale here is that 1) he’s been better off the bench as of late anyway, and 2) playing him in as a sub is the one way that The Don appease Del Piero’s desire to play in a pure striker role while mitigating his age and lack of speed. (Think about it: If he comes in during the final third of a match, he’ll be working on a full tank while many are running on fumes, and his age will be less of a factor.)

Panucci! Panucci! Panucci! What can you say about an aging defender who scores three goals in as many matches? The first was surprising. The second was a stunner (i.e. Did that just happen again?). The third probably has people wondering if this will be a regular occurrence. One can only hope, or more specifically, with an attack wrought with injuries, Roma can only hope. At this stage, a healthy Roma player is enough of a curiosity; a healthy Roma defender who scores match after match is a friggin’ unicorn.

Look… Christian Panucci is 34 years old. As a defender, even if he was 25 years old and scored every five matches, it would be noteworthy. To do what he’s doing at his age and in his position is remarkable. In truth, (being a pessimist) I don’t expect it to continue… at least not at the current pace, but if it does, The Don had better include him in the Euro 2008 squad. Between The Old Man, Grosso, Materazzi (assuming he gets back into the swing of things) and Chiellini, Italy will have four scoring threats on defense… and yes, I just typed that without laughing.  Send some high crosses into the box (from Pirlo with love), and it’ll be an Azzurri gol di testa-fest!

Categories: Azzurri, Euro 2008, Juventus, Roma
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(Why is everyone happy about the draw?)

OK, maybe “happy” isn’t the right word. “Relieved” may be more accurate. Either way, a quick jog around the Internet could leave the casual observer thinking that qualifying for World Cup 2010 will be a walk in the park for Italy.

So… Should we feel so fortunate? Should we be so optimistic?

I say absofrigginlutely not!

Allow me to explain. First let’s look at Italy’s groupmates:

• Bulgaria (FIFA Rank - #18) - Donadoni remembers that they went on a wild tear back in ‘94. Does anybody else? It took Baggio’s heroics to stop their run. That was then this is now, you say? Well, that may be the case, but in the now, Bulgaria missed qualifying for Euro 2008 by just two points… and Romania and the Netherlands were in Bulgaria’s group. Bulgaria might be the toughest competition here.
• Ireland (FIFA Rank - #35) - Ugh. Living in an area heavily populated by both Italian-Americans and Irish-Americans, I have to bring up 1994 again, because I still haven’t heard the end of it. (My Irish friends will probably make sure I never do.) For those who don’t remember, Ireland upset Italy in World Cup group play… and for those not in the vicinity of NYC at the time, the Irish loaded into their cars and drove through Little Italy in Manhattan, rubbing their victory in the faces of the Italy supporters. NOT FUN.  Fast forward to today: Like all sides from those islands up yonder, hard-tackling, physical play is their M.O. Hell - it’s going to be like playing Scotland in green shirts, and I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m not looking forward to that. By the way, they finished third in their Euro 2008 qualifying group.
• Cyprus (FIFA Rank - #65) - Cyprus finished near the bottom of their Euro 2008 qualifying group, but that statistic really doesn’t do them credit, as they managed to scavenge 14 points with a 4-2-6 record in the midst of particularly brutal company. I’m not shaking in my boots at the prospect of this one, but I’m not putting one in the ‘w’ column just yet.
• Montenegro (FIFA Rank - #172) - These are (half of) the artists formerly known as Serbia and Montenegro, and they bring with them none other than Mirko Vucinic. For those unfamiliar with Mirko’s Giallorossi antics, he is one hell of a striker. The guy fills in for Totti and does a decent job of it at that.  So… yeah. While it’s true that one player does not a team make, it’s not like Vucinic is their only guy. Montenegro also fields several Bundesliga players in addition to one from Red Star Belgrade, and another from Sporting. I think that the only reason their ranking is so low is that they’re basically an unknown quantity at this point; a few months ago, the team didn’t exist. (They were a part of Serbia-Montenegro.)
• Georgia (FIFA Rank - #77) - OK. These guys, we know pretty well, having shared some biscotti and a couple Euro qualifiers with them recently.  Italy won both matches, (3-1 in Georgia and 2-0 in Genoa).  That said, this one doesn’t make my knees shake either, but nothing is guaranteed in calcio.  Georgia DID beat Scotland, after all.

Hopefully, at this point, everyone will agree that there are no pushovers in Italy’s group (which is Group # 8, incidentally). Since that’s out of the way, I’d like to point out the fact that as of late, the Azzurri have intermittently played like crap any time they sense that their backs are not against the wall. Now, with a group that many are already writing off, I am hoping that our ragazzi don’t sit on their laurels. Overconfidence kills.

I would also like to point out the fact that there is only ONE automatic qualifying spot per group. One. After that, eight second-place teams will face each other for the remaining four spots, but I don’t even want to think of that as an option. Win the group, and go to South Africa. Don’t win, and stay home. Italy must win. Period.

By the way, here are the rest of the groups, just in case anyone’s interested:

• Group 1: Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary, Albania, Malta
• Group 2: Greece, Israel, Switzerland, Moldova, Latvia, Luxembourg
• Group 3: Czech Republic, Poland, Northern Ireland, Slovakia, Slovenia, San Marino
• Group 4: Germany, Russia, Finland, Wales, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein
• Group 5: Spain, Turkey, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Armenia, Estonia
• Group 6: Croatia, England, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Andorra
• Group 7: France, Romania, Serbia, Lithuania, Austria, Faroe Islands
• Group 9: Holland, Scotland, Norway, FYR Macedonia, Iceland

Categories: Azzurri, World Cup 2010
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(Congratulations, Cannavaro!)

Yesterday’s 3-1 victory over the Faroe Islands marked Azzurri Captain Fabio Cannavaro’s 113th cap, placing him in second place behind Paolo Maldini (who has been capped 126 times).  Barring the unthinkable, Fabio should overtake Maldini either during or just after next summer’s Euro 2008 tournament.  (Incidentally, the group draw for the actual tournament is slated for December 2; I’ll list the groups here on serieAmerica once they’re set.)

Now, since it’s a national holiday (Happy Thanksgiving!) here in the United States, I’m going to leave you with some video from the Faroe Islands match.  Luca Toni’s goal is first, followed by Giorgio Chiellini’s. (Click these links if you want to see Faroe Islands’ own-goal, or “the carpenter’s” header.)

Categories: Azzurri, Euro 2008
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(Blatter: Inter should be more Italian.)

Gosh, Sepp… ya think?

Blatter, who has had a rocky relationship with Italian soccer, recently pointed out what many have been saying for quite a while now: with only one Italian starter (Matrix) and only five Italians on their 28-man roster, Inter doesn’t look very Italian.

A little digging reveals that Blatter has been on the “we should use home-grown players” bandwagon for a while now. In fact, he’s recently been pushing for a ruling that would limit the number of foreign on-field starters to five, a move that would surely end Inter’s reign at the top of the table. While a current EU law hinders such a move, Blatter contends that it does not apply to soccer.

According to the Goal.com article linked above, changes could be implemented as early as next month, which leaves me scratching my head. Surely, Inter’s management are aware of the possibly impending changes. That said, why aren’t they preparing? Is Inter going to put up a “Help wanted: Italians inquire within” sign in January, or do they just not believe that it can happen?

I’ll have my ear to the ground on this in case there are any other developments.

Meanwhile, back on the peninsula…

• The Atalanta-Milan match that was interrupted by Atalanta ultras following Gabrielle Sandri’s death will be played (date TBA). That said, the match will take place behind closed doors. Additionally, Atalanta fans are banned from their team’s Week 13 tie with Inter.

• Despite hopeful whispers to the contrary, Totti will not be returning to the Azzurri… or at least, not any time soon. In other news, “retired” still means “retired.”

• Giancarlo Abete, top dog at the FIGC, says The Don isn’t going anywhere at the moment. (Good for you, Don. Now if you could just get over your penchant for substitutions that don’t make sense. *cough*IaquintaForDiNatale*cough*)

• Although everyone seems to have forgotten about it, the Azzurri have a date with Faroe Islands coming up. Faroe Islands are likely to start three Jacobsens (no, seriously), and The Don will most likely have Quagliarella, Gilardino, and maybe even Palladino on the pitch from the start. Hopefully, they’ll keep the carpenter at an arm’s length. Forza Azzurri!

Categories: Atalanta, Azzurri, Euro 2008, Inter
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(Don’t cry, Scotland!)

If, before yesterday’s victory over Scotland, you asked me to guess who would score for Italy, one of the two players pictured below would’ve been at the top of my list, whereas the other… well, let’s just say I’d never have guessed it.

So, it came as no surprise that Toni hit the mark. (If anything, the only surprise there was the fact that it took him less than two minutes to do so.) Old Man Panucci’s goal, on the other hand, was a stunner - especially for Scotland.

Unfortunately, there have been complaints - most notably from Scotland’s coach - regarding the Spanish referee’s decision to award the free kick leading to Panucci’s goal. Since I was two states away from my favorite Azzurri-watching post, I didn’t see the incident, so I don’t know whether or not the Scots’ complaints are legitimate… but I’ll assume they are. (McLeish, unlike a certain French coach, hasn’t yet given me a reason to think he’s a raving lunatic.)

Continue to the rest of this post… »

Categories: Azzurri, Euro 2008
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(Italy has landed!)

This morning, on the eve of their Euro 2008 qualifier with Scotland, the Azzurri have touched down in Glasgow.

Chris at the Offside blog has put together a craftily-worded and thorough match preview, (his ‘guess’ at Scotland’s tactics is just priceless… and probably right on-target too) so there isn’t much sense in writing another preview up when he’s already done it so well.

That said, I did catch a bit of news that’s worth posting, so here’s a quick rundown:

• First off, Oddo was hurt in training, so we probably won’t see him on the pitch. Luckily, he leaves his post in capable hands, with Zambro, Grosso, Canna and Barzagli / Panucci holding the fort down.
• Second, Scotland’s manager, Alex McLeish has made a comment that I hope isn’t indicative of his team’s strategy. (His words, plus those of Kenny Miller, do not give me a warm and fuzzy feeling about this match.)

This will most likely be the last post on serieAmerica before the match, so I leave you with the Inno di Mameli, and these words:

Forza Azzurri!

Categories: Azzurri, Euro 2008, injuries
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(Stupid Beyond Words)

Before I get started, let me say this: I respect Scotland’s football team, and am impressed with what they’ve done this campaign. Should they defeat Italy on Saturday, then by all means, they deserve to qualify. In fact, one could argue that they deserve to qualify regardless of the result. Their performance in this set of qualifiers was that impressive. Indeed, they will probably continue to impress - particularly this Saturday - when they face our Azzurri.

Will Scotland’s talent, spirit, and the voices of their Tartan Army be enough to see them through? That remains to be seen. Obviously, I am an Italy supporter, and as such, I hope that the Azzurri can overcome anything that they confront in Scotland… but at the same token, I will not malign or defame Scotland, its fans, or its national team. First of all, they wouldn’t deserve it. Sure, they have a tougher, more hard-tackling style of play than Italy… but that’s fine. It’s their style. To hurl accusations at them and call them names would not be in the spirit of the game / good will.

Unfortunately, however, BBC’s Chick Young apparently didn’t get the memo on good will. In fact, he seems determined to spread the opposite.

Let’s take a look at some of his more ridiculous comments regarding the upcoming match:

Continue to the rest of this post… »

Categories: Azzurri, Euro 2008
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