http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun12m.html
Lippi expected Ghana struggle
Monday 12 June, 2006
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Marcello Lippi said he knew Ghana would provide a tough test,
but that Italy passed it with flying colours.
“Our opponents proved themselves as strong as we thought they were,
both athletically and in terms of quality.
We knew they had some elements over us, but that we had quite
a few more over them,” said the Coach.
The Azzurri struggled during their World Cup opener and
allowed the Africans plenty of possession, but had almost all
the scoring opportunities.
Andrea Pirlo broke through with a fierce drive and Vincenzo Iaquinta
sealed the scoreline in the closing minutes by taking advantage
of a Sami Kuffour error.
“It was a dynamic, vibrant game and we hit the woodwork twice
as well as scoring two goals. I think we can be more than satisfied,”
added Lippi.
Luca Toni's spectacular half-volley slammed the underside
of the crossbar and Alberto Gilardino's deflected effort also struck
the upright in the first half.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter praised the Azzurri after the final whistle,
saying they had played perhaps the best football of the tournament so far.
“It's a great compliment from football's Number One man,”
added Lippi when told of this interview. “It's always difficult
from a psychological point of view to win the first game,
so this was an important result.”
There was some bad news, however, as Francesco Totti limped off
with a bruised ankle following a late tackle, but the Coach chose
to see it from a different angle.
“In a game, there are positive signs and negative ones.
I was about to substitute Totti anyway, so that was a bonus,
as Mauro Camoranesi was ready on the sidelines.”
The Azzurri are currently second in Group E on goal difference,
as the Czech Republic thrashed USA 3-0 earlier today.
Their next match is against the Americans on June 17.
Ghana Coach Ratomir Dujkovic gave Italy some problems
in their World Cup debut, but was angry with members of his side.
“They were very good,” he said of the Azzurri.
“All the scandals in Italy at the moment have not affected them.
They deserved to win. Maybe we had some chances, but we missed.
With one group of players I’m satisfied, with another I am not.”
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http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun12p.html
Toni rues crossbar Monday
12 June, 2006
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The crossbar stopped Luca Toni from netting a cracking goal
against Ghana, while Fabio Cannavaro and Gigi Buffon are happy
with the performance.
“I gave it a go, but unfortunately was unable to score.
The important thing was to win and we did it,
while it was a very emotional World Cup debut for me
and we all tried to pour our frustrations into the game,”
said the Fiorentina striker.
He was fielded in a trident with Francesco Totti and Alberto Gilardino,
who also struck the woodwork in the 2-0 win.
“I think we moved well with Francesco and Alberto,
just failing to score by a couple of inches,
so we're still working on this partnership and will improve.
We tried to spread the central defenders as far as possible
so that Totti could break into the middle.”
Toni, who scored 31 goals in Serie A this season,
was replaced by Alessandro Del Piero eight minutes from time.
“I feel pretty good physically and we had to move around a lot of
the ball to create space, so some tiredness was inevitable.
It was very hot, but that caused problems for everyone, including Ghana.
The fact we scored a goal in the final minutes suggests
our fitness levels are good.”
Fabio Cannavaro is now an old hand at World Cups and
didn't have the same nerves as his teammates.
“We knew we were facing a tough side with a very strong midfield,
while the first World Cup game is always the most difficult,”
said the Juventus defender.
“We allowed them a few too many counter-attacks in the first half,
but I was impressed with the character shown by our players.
In the crucial moment, we struck and took home the points.”
Gianluigi Buffon only had to make one real save –
on Chelsea star Michael Essien's screamer –
but was ready for the challenge.
“I'm rather used to that with Juventus,
but during the World Cup it won't always be like this,
and we came up against a side that gave us some problems,”
said the goalkeeper. He broke his Press silence to comment
after the game on the Calciopoli scandals and constant search
for controversy.
“I think in Italy there is too much talk and the entire sport
would benefit from cutting that back a little.
Every day they have to bring something up to enflame the masses.”
His former Juventus teammate, Stephen Appiah,
insisted the Azzurri did not earn their three points in this 2-0 victory.
“I don't think it was a deserved victory, as it was a balanced game.
We played well and they used their quality to score two goals.
Ok, so they had more chances, but in terms of play I didn't see
the Azzurri do better than us,” said the Fenerbahce midfielder.
“We also should've had a penalty on Asamoah,
but the referee didn't give it. There are still two games to go
and hopefully we can win them both to qualify.”
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http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun12o.html
Totti: I passed my test
Monday 12 June, 2006
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Francesco Totti fought back from injury to start the World Cup opener
and insists he's fully recovered from a fractured leg.
“I'm happy with my performance, as this was my first real test
after the injury and I think it went well enough.
With training and playing consistently, I'm getting my shape back,”
he said after Italy's 2-0 win over Ghana.
The Roma man was a doubt up until 24 hours before the game,
when Marcello Lippi confirmed he would feature –
although he refused to say whether it was from the start behind
the two strikers or as a substitute.
“Initially I couldn't find the right position,
so I went right and left, but after the goal Ghana opened up
a little bit and it became easier to get hold of the ball.
Fortunately, I have played in that role quite a few times,
more at international level than with Roma.”
There were worrying scenes when Totti limped off after a hard tackle
from behind by Sulley Ali Muntari, but it does not appear to be serious.
“It was a heavy bruise and quite a painful one,
so I was worried at the time, but the doctor reassured me
it was nothing more than that. I had three or four quite hard challenges,
but if I'm here, it's because I consider my leg to be healed.
I hope to improve with each game as I find my form again.
I told Muntari at half-time to be a little more careful on the leg
I'd had surgery on – it was as if they were aiming!”
Totti cannot forget his Roma captain's armband and,
at the final whistle, went over to comfort teammate Samuel Kuffour,
whose error gifted Italy their second goal.
“I was very sorry for him and wanted to encourage him,
as he is a splendid lad. This is sport and it was a fair game.”
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http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun12n.html
Pirlo and Iaquinta's Azzurri dreams
Monday 12 June, 2006
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Andrea Pirlo and Vincenzo Iaquinta both scored on their
World Cup debuts and admit it was a dream come true.
“It was my World Cup debut and I managed to score a goal,
so I couldn't have asked for more than that.
More or less everyone in the side was starting out in this competition,
so there were some nerves, but we got hold of the situation
and played well. It was a good opener,” said the Milan star.
He was voted Man of the Match after scoring one and setting up another,
as the Rossoneri midfielder seems to have finally found his form
following a disappointing season for his club side.
“These balls are a little different from the Milan Adidas ones,
but they do pick up pace, as we've seen in the other games,
so it's an extra option to shoot from distance and we'll practice that
this week. I've been training hard to be in the best shape
for this World Cup and I think that work is paying off.”
Italy are now unbeaten in 19 official games under Marcello Lippi,
since their 1-0 qualifying defeat in Slovenia on October 9, 2004.
Udinese striker Iaquinta had to fight off competition from
Christian Vieri and Cristiano Lucarelli to be part of the World Cup party
and proved his worth by breaking his Azzurri duck.
“I don't know what to say. I'm so very happy,
the Coach has always believed in me, and today I tried to give my all.
It's my first goal for the Nazionale, so to do that in the World Cup
is incredible.”
Iaquinta was familiar with some of the African stars,
most notably club teammate Sulley Ali Muntari.
“Ghana are a tough side, especially in midfield with players
of real quality. I know Muntari from our Udinese time together
and how good he can be. They proved their talent tonight and
put us under pressure at times.”
There could've been an earlier strike for Iaquinta,
who was hacked down by Samuel Kuffour after play had been stopped
for an offside flag.
“I was clear on goal and didn't think it was offside.
When I was lining up the shot, I felt a hard challenge from behind
and searing pain. I was also doubtful about another offside flag
when I was sent clear by Simone Perrotta's pass,
but it was a fast-paced move, so the linesman can make a mistake.”
Iaquinta marred his performance with a yellow card for
throwing the ball away after a free kick went against him,
infuriating Marcello Lippi.
“We've told the players 850 times that you can't kick the ball away,
so when Iaquinta was booked, I turned to my bench and said
‘It was the right decision.’ I don't know how we can make it
any clearer,” added the tactician.
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大概是憋太久了，大家話都很多…
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Carlo Ancelotti：「斑馬不奔，就等牠奔。」
Marcelo Lippi：「斑馬不奔，就讓牠奔。」
Fabio Capello：「斑馬不奔，就把牠殺了！」
NIKE：「斑馬不奔，就把牠變成馬來貘！」
--
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