Tight Lippi
- 8 Jun 06, 05:35 PM
DUISBURG - There's nothing quite like a day with the Italians. Today it was the usual high octane mix of hundreds of journalists, manic press conferences and great sandwiches provided by the Italian FA.
We got our first look at the Italians training in Germany this morning. After their recent skirmishes with the media, they were keeping as far away across the pitch as possible, making the job of working out which player was which almost impossible. Thank god, then, for the unmistakeable figure of goalkeeper Peruzzi. Like us all, he's clearly carrying a bit more timber round the waist than he was and his trot-walk warm-up wouldn't have looked out of place on Hackney Marshes the day after a very big night out. His reflexes, though, still looked pretty amazing.
We then went back to some Italian press conferences, which are renowned for their chaotic atmosphere. Gaskers managed to throw a couple of questions to Coach Lippi about the scandals which have been engulfing the Italian FA. Mr Lippi was clearly not in an overly chatty mood on this subject. Gaskers did manfully go for a third question in a row, but was on the end of a withering glare the like of which i I think he normally only gets from his kids. It was a great effort from Gaskers, but I think he may now be on a yellow card from the Italian FA.
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Interesting piece but is no-one subbing your copy?! Managerd? Trow? Whcih?
I thought the Beeb had a 10,000-strong team out there?! Clearly the subs got left behind.
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Interesting piece but is no-one subbing your copy?! Managerd? Trow? Whcih?
I thought the Beeb had a 10,000-strong team out there?! Clearly the subs got left behind.
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well... it has the beginnings of "an interesting piece" - no matter the typo's - that's part of blogging after all; but really, tell us more: the Azzurri after all (and Lippi indiviually) appear to be under something of a cloud. How indeed does this mesh with their typical brio for calcio? Could be a story here 'ol Gaskers, don't let us down now...
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Whoops - what can i say !!! I've had a shocker !!!
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Congratulation Africa especially Ghana where i'm from, Germany here we come please prove to the world that we can do it but Play according to wistle cos they do anything to elliminte us.
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The Italians do best when they feel besieged and poorly treated, especially by the press. Yes, we all know they will feel this at some point in each and every tournament. It's in their nature. But the fact that they are feeling this now, before the first shot is fired, should be a warning. Please don't antagonize them any further.
The last time they went on to win the whole thing they were so upset with the media they sequestered themselves away for the duration. A poor first game at the 82 World Cup was all it took.
History tells us to beware the Azzuri when they feel unjustly set upon. Please try to restrain yourselves.
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Although still a dangerous team, the Italians are not as mighty as they once were, which reflects in their odds.
Their group is the second "group of death" and despite a run of 18 or so games without defeat, the calibre of their apponents will undo them. But this is Italy after all and they will somehow go through. I predict a second round or quarter final exit for the azzuri. This is all irrelavant however, as Engerland will triumph over Argentina 2.0 in the final after an impressive 3.1 victory over Brazil in the semis.
Heres to hoping!
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