Thursday, October 05, 2006

What have we done to make them so disrespectful?

OK, OK, I know the World Cup is over but just the same you would think it would have earned Italy some RESPECT!

Firstly you have Paul Hartley saying that the Azzurri might have won the World Cup but everybody knows France are the better team. Bite the tongue, I told myself, take it on the chin. Silly wee Hearts man.

But then you get Oleg Blokhin saying he expects to beat Italy this weekend. Now that's taking things too far. Did he miss the Mondiale? Has he forgotten the beating his boys took? Does being champions of the world count for nothing? (I don't know what the blogging equivalent of grabbing your balls and pulling a Sylvester Stallone type pose is but I am doing it now).

I demand RESPECT for the Azzurri and I demand it now. We are four times world champions, a couple of times finalists, always near the top of the Euro tree. We are right up there side by side with Brazil. So give us some RISPETTO!

...And let's beat Ukraine and Georgia please!!!

12 comments:

Spangly Princess said...

ooooh this stuff makes me mad. grr. being here helps insulate me from a bit though I guess. We HAVE to win these two games. The lack of respect for the Azzurri goes hand in hand with the total abject arsekissing of Brazil. (who have only won it once more than us).

Red said...

I echo your and SP's sentiments. I don't know when Italy became the zimbello del mondo, but it seems we are in that spot now and we have to prove everybody wrong. We have done it before (let's see... the lastest World Cup, for example!), we can do it again. But we really, REALLY have to win the next two games! Forza azzurri!

Venezian said...

You already know how much these comments annoy me...But I am going to be bold and say we will gain back a bit of respect this week. Not so much because of Donadoni, but because of the players - I am heartened to hear that they are angry about what has happened so far in the group. Hopefully that can be translated onto the performance on the pitch.

I predict a two good victories over Ukraine and Georgia, and us on 7 points to Scotland's 6 by the time we meet in March!

ginkers said...

It just seems that no matter what Italy do it will always be undermined in some way or another. I mean what possible reason is there for the world champions NOT to be ranked number one in the FIFA rankings, at least for a couple of days?

Then there was the whole Zidane thing which was designed to deflect as much glory as possible away from the Azzurri.

Now we have to prove ourselves again. It doesn't seem right but let's get on with it, I suppose. If the boys have the "rabbia" shown on this blog we should be fine!

a.c.t. said...

It really pisses me off and I know I keep saying it but I will NEVER forget the commentators of Euro 2000, and this bad mouthing has continued up until now. I've tried desperately to think why the Azzurri are so disliked regardless of what they do. Could it be the occasional theatrics? The alice bands? Or jealousy that the boys are so damn better looking than anybody else? I dunno. I would be able to understand if Italy itself was unpopular but it isn't.

* (asterisk) said...

While I agree with you, of course, Gli Azzurri can't go flunking out after winning the Mondiale. They played so well and richly deserved the WC win, but now that Lippi has left, it's all gone tits up. How can one man make so much difference?! It's dissapointing for all of us with an Italian connection.

* (asterisk) said...

disappointing, I meant...

a.c.t. said...

I think losing Lippi is a minor detail. The thing we have to remember is it's inevitable that there may be a slump after a big triumph. Motivation is bound to drop when there's a lot to live up to. There are also other factors to consider such as the effect of the match fixing scandal, losing key players etc. It'll take some time to get back to form. (We're one up now from a penalty as I type).

Neilissimo said...

perhaps it is the 'penalties' aspect whereby the azzurri dont get the respect they deserve. personally, i think anyone who saw the italy/germany semi final could be in a any doubt about the best team in the world, however, im an italophile i guess.

as for paul hartley, i bet he was shocked when scotland beat les bleus last night

* (asterisk) said...

ACT, I disagree that having a lot to live up to must make the Azzurri demotivated. The confidence that comes from knowing you're the best in the world should motivate these guys. And I believe it would have if that Donadoni hadn't changed the team all around and messed with what was clearly a winning formula for the first time in years. IMHO.

Spangly Princess said...

woohoo. meno fucking male, as my mother would say. that was a pretty grim game for the most part, but at the end of the day (brian) the points count. and the second half was a bit better.

a.c.t. said...

I'm not just talking about the Azzurri, I'm talking about football in general. You say 'The confidence that comes from knowing you're the best in the world should motivate these guys.' That's just your opinion but it is generally known by football fans that demotivation can happen. Look at the England team in 1970 who lost to Brazil in the world cup final yet they had a better side than in 66. There are many factors to consider. Another factor is that they must also be very knackered emotionally and physically after winning the cup.

With Italy's win last night, hopefully it will silence the Donadoni critiques and prove that we are back on form and he is a decent coach.