http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun7j.html
Riva: So far, so good
Wednesday 7 June, 2006
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Italy have flown to Germany this evening and the legendary
Gigi Riva is happy with the preparations so far.
“We are leaving Italy in the knowledge that we have done
some excellent work despite the problems,” said the Cagliari hero.
“Lippi has done a great job so far.”
Riva is part of the Azzurri party and has been in close contact
with the squad and boss Marcello Lippi over the last 10 days.
The climate has not been one of the easiest for the players given
the Calciopoli scandal which has rocked the peninsula,
but the veteran is optimistic for the future.
“By setting off for Germany we are leaving behind a serious problem,
an important one for all of those involved in the game,” he added.
“It's as if Italian football is playing in two World Cups this summer.
This situation shows that we have a few defects,
yet that we are ready to roll up our sleeves and start again.”
The one-time Scudetto winner and scorer of a record 35 goals
for the Azzurri is also keeping his fingers crossed that the side
can succeed in Germany.
“It is our job to do well as there are many, many Italians who will
follow us at home but also in Germany,” he added.
“Fans from Belgium, Holland and Switzerland will turn out for us.
They want to see the side give it their all in order to
do as well as possible.”
Italy will kick off their campaign on Monday night when
they take on World Cup debutants Ghana.
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http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun7m.html
Platini believes in Italy
Wednesday 7 June, 2006
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Michel Platini believes the Azzurri can make their mark on Germany 2006,
while Gianluca Zambrotta and Simone Perrotta analyse the injury crisis.
Some, including Franz Beckenbauer, have stated that Italy will struggle
to get over the current Calciopoli inquest threatening to
tear Serie A apart, but former Juventus hero Platini has other ideas.
“Marcello Lippi's side will play for keeps in this tournament,
because football is a world apart from the recent scandals,”
said the FIFA director.
“The players are all grown men and consummate professionals.
They'll know how to set themselves apart from the controversy,
especially with the help of their Coach. The team will be united
and form a group that desperately wants to push forward.”
The fate of several clubs, including Juventus, Milan, Lazio
and Fiorentina, hang in the balance during the World Cup as
the investigation continues in the peninsula.
“I think that once you set foot on that field, the rest disappears
from your mind. That's especially true if you have nothing to do
with those issues.”
The Azzurri touched down in Germany today and will make their debut
against Ghana on Monday, but Zambrotta and Gennaro Gattuso
are out of that tie, with Alessandro Nesta and Francesco Totti
threatening to follow.
“I was a little sceptical on my chances of even facing the USA,
but after yesterday's scan, I have more confidence,”
stated Zambrotta of the second match on June 17.
“Everything is going well and I really think I'll be ready for that tie.
I was running in training this morning and didn't feel pain,
which is a good sign.”
With Gattuso sidelined for two weeks, Lippi and his men are forced
to reshuffle the midfield and perhaps change their tactical system.
“We really could've done without Gattuso's injury,”
continued the Juve full-back. “We'll miss his aggression and grit.
In any case, Lippi has plenty of alternatives, like Massimo Oddo
and Cristian Zaccardo for me, Marco Materazzi to replace Nesta
and Daniele De Rossi and Simone Perrotta for the midfield.”
De Rossi was pushing for a starting spot in a 4-4-2 system
even before Gattuso's setback, so he could now be partnered
by Roma teammate Perrotta.
“I am ready and the Coach knows it,” said the former Chievo star.
“I am also prepared to play on the left flank,
even if those aren't my natural characteristics.”
－－
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jun7b.html
Azzurri win Maradona faith
Wednesday 7 June, 2006
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Napoli legend Diego Armando Maradona has backed Italy to make
a massive impression at the World Cup.
The Azzurri go into the tournament with their national game
on its knees as a result of the Calciopoli investigations.
Yet Maradona, who inspired Argentina to the 1986 title,
is confident that Marcello Lippi's boys will be protagonists this summer.
“I'm sure that Italy will have a great tournament,”
the former Stadio San Paolo favourite said after arriving
in the peninsula for a charity game.
“The players can use what is going on in the Italian game
to charge themselves up, Italy can become stronger because of it.”
The squad will fly out to their Duisburg base in Germany on Wednesday.
Their first match is in Hanover on Monday evening.
－－
Riva是義大利足壇的傳奇人物，當然要挺自家球隊，
Platini、Maradona都是在義大利踢過球的，出來講好話也蠻合理的，
今天沒什麼時間翻譯，有興趣這些老人講什麼的請自己加油。（逃）
關心義大利隊近況的話，本篇有一個重點，在 Platini那篇的後段，
Zambrotta經過檢查，搞不好有機會提早復出趕上美國場，
他也順便為 Gattuso的受傷事件降溫，說義大利隊有其他球員能勝任，
Perrotta接著跳出來說他準備好了，就算是打不適應的左路他也準備好了。
Perrotta先生，你膝蓋扭傷也才剛好沒多久吧？這麼HIGH～ XD
不過 Gattuso的空缺還是給 De Rossi最合適，
這小子打完瑞士才出放話說他覺得自己有能力打先發，野心不小，
這麼年輕就開始成為主力的話，搞不好三年後義大利隊長就是他了，
結果 De Rossi話講完沒多久，Gattuso就傷了…（默）
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