Italy go through the European Cup final

No one would expect The Azzurri to go the last game of the tournament. But they do with the influential & the shining performances of  Andrea Pirlo & Balotelli respectively.

As I mentioned 2 years ago in Italy: Behind the early exit! after the embarrassing in the Wolrd Cup, Buffon, Chiellini, Pirlo, De Rossi, Cassano have now in deed been an indispensable pillars  for the Prandelli’s team. With the shine of Giovinco and particularly Balotelli, Italy have incredibly defeated England and Germany to face Spain in the final.

BalotelliBalotelli leads Italy to the final

They may win or be crushed by the “invincible” Spain, but their performances deserve big praise from the fans as well the critics!

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The Red Devils

There are two small stories about the red devils that I would love to share:

1. Attack is the best way of defense:

I don’t really remember exactly how I fell in love the Red Devils. But like other youngsters, I & my bro were fascinated & attracted to Manchester United during one of their peak periods in the late 90’s. Together with the facts that English football was very popular in Vietnam back then and  they got some of the most talented & handsome guys like Ryan Giggs and David Beckham in their team,  United attracted us by  the way they played their football, extremely beautiful & sexy. Attack, Attack & Attack. It seemed like everytime they played, not matter where they did or who their opponents were, we would always get something interesting to watch. There were some amazing & thrilling moments that I still remember till now like the dramatic late 2-extra-minutes comeback to champion over Bayer Munich or the heavenly 5-3 comeback over Tottenham after being led 0-3.

I can’t forget a famous speech of one of their legends – Ryan Giggs, which summarized all their philosophy, before a returned away match versus the giant Real Madrid that basically says “Although we’ve got the advantage, we’re gonna still attack because we know attack is the best way of defense“. Oh what a thought! The saying still impresses me untill now.

…

Their philosophy is now changed. They are now willing to play passively & unbeautifully as long as they get results. Because of 3 points, they are willing to play down times. They hardly dare to play their traditional 4-4-2 formation in Champion League away matches. I know there are always ups & downs. Now they’re no longer the one and only one English giant. The emergences of Chelsea and recently Man City, who are all backed by their mega wealthy owners from Russia &the Middle East respectively, have threatened their opportunities much more than ever before. Heavily in debt, they now couldn’t afford to buy the top and most expensive players. Some of their best players even left them for bigger challenges. Although Sir Alex Ferguson has been working miracle in order to lengthen their glory days while they’re deeply in crisis; although, in fact, they went to the 3 over 4 Champion Leaguge finals before the disappointed elimination in the Group Stage this year, they’ve got to change and rejuvenate themselves faster and more thoroughly so as to prove again their manager’s famous saying: “Form is temporary, Class is permanent!”

2. Thrilling

First of all, with my favorite team losing the champion with 30 seconds remaining, I have to say, f*ck you, Manchester City! But… what a game!

1-0 City led at the very first minutes, a little wonder. But whoever could imagine that QPR could equalise, keep the score and even lead 1-2 until the last couple of minutes?

It was the minutes of excitement and fascination – yah, City, who are you? You’re nothing but an inexperience competitor.

But then something happened. An equalized goal at 90′ – no problem, when the ball was kicked off again, it would be gone already. But no.. a stupid kick-off between two QPR players… the last attack.. Oh… GOAL! Miracle really occured!

Watching their fans and players celebrating, I feel really touched. It reminds me of the reasons why I love football in general and United in particular. 90+ minutes of ups and down, of happiness and sadness. All of them mixed together created a very-hard-to-describe feeling. Although I still shake my head in disbelief, I have to admit that was what football is all about and it was indeed one of the best moments I have ever seen. If the 2-extra-minute winning back the champion of United created history, this 4-extra-minute coming back from hell of City deserves the same praise!

After an excellent fight to equalise the 8 points difference, there is really no better way to win the titlte. What a match! What a season! Manchester City, you totally deserved it. Congratulation!

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Italy: Behind the early exit!

(5th & final edition) 
 Lippi ended his second reign as a Italy coach with an embarrassing defeat against Slovakia witnessing the current champions eliminated surprisingly in the first round. But would the failure be that surprising as it seemed to be? Is Lippi the only one to blame? And most of all, will Italy’s future be as dreadful as the failure?

FAILURE: It’s not that surprised

It is the norm that a coach will shoulder full blame for a team’s failure. Lippi will (and must) do it, and a brand new cycle will soon start as Cesare Prandelli supplants him. But hold on! Before looking forward to a better future, let’s take an overall look at what has happened with Italy under the Lippi’s second reign.
After the failure at Euro 2008, Marcello Lippi yet again took charge of Azzurri with the mission of helping Italy qualify and get results at the World Cup in South Africa. Yah, he did it half! The first mission accomplished as Italy easily won the UEFA qualifying group 8 with seven wins and no lose. What a smooth running! Perhaps the ex-Juventus boss wanted to “create history” by repeating the achievements of coach Vittorio Pozzo who won back-to-back World Cups in the 1930s when he had agreed to return to the Azzurri. And it was the time for him to fulfill it. He had nearly a year to prepare for the second biggest sport competition in the world.
However, contrary to popular speculations, he came to a very surprising squad selection – omitting Totti, Cassano, Miccoli and Balotelli, while keeping washed up veterans such as Gatusso or Canavaro. Many may (and actually did) accuse Lippi of stubborn and selfishness. Yep, there is no doubt that Italy would be stronger with the likes of Cassano or Miccoli, but yet again it must be conceded that these omissions were not as shocking as Zanetti’s, Cambiasso’s or Ronaldinho’s. Moreover, no one could guarantee that the presence of Cassano or Miccoli could help Italy avoid being eliminated that early. Obviously, with the experience of Iaquinta and Gilardino, who were the champions four years ago, and 29-goal Serie A top scorer Di Natale, Lippi had a good excuse for omitting Cassano and Miccoli or refusing to re-call Totti in the last minutes (which, if happened, would have been unfair with other players who participated and helped Italy qualify for the World Cup as Nesta admitted). Every coach has their own philosophy, Lippi does too. I totally agree with him that experience is the most important factor in the competition wherein players only have to play at most SEVEN matches! (Look at Robert Green versus David James!) Most importantly, it was, in my opinion, not Lippi’s fault but rather Canavaro’s or Gatusso’s as they should retire from international football after 2006 tremendous success like Totti and Nesta did. It is hard (for Lippi) to omit one’s (his) heroes (as he “had to” do it with Grosso), isn’t it?
Lippi had also tried to combine the experience and the youth – well, made the youth compensate for the elder, to be precise, but failed! Why? Here comes the answer:
Most of all, we must confess that there is actually no world-class player in the current Italian generation generally, and particularly in this team! Nesta refused to return; Pirlo was injured and already passed his prime; there was neither Totti nor the likes of him; the youngsters like Marchisio, Criscito caused disappointing; Maggio is same age but not the quality as Grosso four-year ago; Cassano and Miccoli are, albeit good, definitely not world-class yet; Canavaro is really a shame – he (is actually the one that “contributed” to and) stands for Italy’s embarrassing failure as he did for Italy’s tremendous success four-year ago!
No –thing new, no big player, yah, no wonder failure!

The embarrassing draw against New Zealand, who stands far away from Italy’s strength, quality and level, exemplifies the fact that it was not utterly Lippi’s but rather both Lippi’s and players’ fault, as Montolivo confessed, for the early exit! (Say, for example, if Brazil draws Thailand, whose fault is that?) 

Comment

It is not the first time (and not the last time) I try to ‘defend’ a failed coach in the World Cup. (Perhaps I will do it again after the round of 16 match of England, lol, hopefully not!) Coaching career life seems relatively volatile and risky! Let’s see the ironic situation of another Italian coach legend, Fabio Capello: no sooner had he agreed to extend his contract than he would be at risk of being sacked if England will be eliminated “early”! Lippi will forever remain a legend for masterminding the 2006 World Cup success but Lippi now is much different from Lippi before the World Cup, and of course from Lippi of four-year ago. In respect to the lesson of another World Cup champion Scolari1, should Lippi “step twice into the same river”?
1 Scolari’s reputation was greatly ruined after being sacked as a Chelsea manager in the early of 2009. Afterwards he ‘wandered’ at an Uzbekistan club and now returns to Brazil.

FUTURE: today we cry, tomorrow it’s better world!

We see can see the light, albeit not too bright, in the future of Italy.
There were moments in the second half of Italy’s last and disappointing match in the World Cup when the performance kept up, to a certain extent, with the standard of the “real Italy”…
It probably comes from the players.
On the one hand, we bid farewell to Canavaro, Zambrotta, Gattuso as well as Totti, Grosso, Nesta and thank them – another golden generation, for their tremendous contributions. Futhermore, there would be no room for the likes of Di Natale, Marchetti, Maggio and perhaps, Gilardino, Iaquinta or Pepe in the brand new team under Prandelli’s reign.
On the other hand, some of the players in this damn team can actually become indispensable charactersin the Prandelli’s strategy. Quagliarella is absolutely one of them after his amazing performance in the second half of the last match. The twenty seven-year old is already known for scoring spectacular goals form unconventional angles that often catch the goalkeeper by surprise. Yet again, he scored a stunning goal when executing a 25-yard chip to bring the score to 3-2 at 91’ in Slovenia match. In my sight, few players would do that particularly in the situation where Italy was losing 3-1. There would be a lot of things to talk about the character in the future. Buffon and Pirlo are still one of the best at their positions. Hopefully they can contribute more to the team owing to the fact that there is still nobody can supplant them. In the near future, it is hard if not possible for Italy to find new golden generation or even a few world-class players. Nonetheless, Italy can be a united team of qualified players instead of a team of several groups of world-class players.
Let’s imagine: Buffon, Chiellini, Pirlo, De Rossi, Cassano build the framework of the brand new Italy team; Miccoli, Giuseppe Rossi, Quagliarella, Montolivo, Aqualian, Cossu complement this framework while Giovinco, Ballotelli, Santon, ones of the world’s best prospects, are the choices. What a team! Theoretically, the future of Italy looks brighter than that of Portugal, France, England and even Germany (!?) in term of youngsters’ prospects and team’s quality. Now is Prandelli’s mission to transform the current mess into a champion team.

The article reflects author’s opinions

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World Cup 2010 [live]

this is my fourth* world cup as I expect to watch 21 World Cups in my life

* World Cup opener: South Africa – Mexico( remark on 12-06)

Perhaps, this is the most fascinating Worl Cup opener I have ever watched! (partly because I don’t even remember clearly the older ones lol). Despite the fact that there was neither world cup favourite nor the current champion (Italy), the yesterday opener was still well worth watching. In fact, SA had a decent performance while Mexico was, in my point of view, really impressive. However, SA still needs intensive work done in order to qualify the group stage, whereas Mexico actually lacked an inspiring player in the midfiled and a bit of luck.

In essense, SA strikers impressed me by their strengths and speeds whilst Vela and particularly Dos Santos were actually awesome. In my sight, they are the future of Mexcio as well as of the club they played. Sooner or later, believe me, they will be the top world class players! Blanco, huh, he looked like a sight actually. Yep, Mexico, however, desires a leader player with decent passing like him, of course not Blanco of present but Blanco of 12 or 8 years ago. Marquez can actually supplant the role, unfortunately he is a defender. Nonetheless, he was, once again, pretty good yesterday. He did score a crucial goal!

A first controversial decision as a perfectly good goal was disallowed seems to highlight the match. yah, Surprisingly, there are a few if not none at all posts memtioned the issue in famous online sport magazines today. Maybe it’s not the time! lol LOL, sorry! The player was actually in offside position according to the rule of FIFA!

~ Uuguay v France

no comment as I didn’t watch it!

~

>> (20/06/10) France is at the high risk of being eliminated at the group stage. After the loss against Mexico, they are well on track to replicating their horror show from eight years ago..In fact, it is little wonder as France is not highly rated before the World Cup. Nonetheless, it is somewhat dissappointing because France is always a “big name” in every World Cup and they are currently the World Cup runner-up. Many reasons have been given for the failure, wherein Domenech has had a high profile. The fans can blame him for the failure, but it is not fair to deny all his successes as a Frech coach. I found it surprising as a famous former Vnmese football player, in a prevalent newspaper’s article, slams the coach and claims that last World Cup silver is due to the contribution of the “golden generation”, particularly Zidane. I laughed at that because such ridiculous comments came from the so-called “expert”. The omission of Narsi and Bezenma is another blame for the failure. Yep, but honestly, Bezenma or Narsi’ incidents were not as shocking as Ronaldinho’s or Zanetti’s! So let’s be fair with Domenech, he deserves with what he has done! A coach, who led a team to the World Cup final and only lost in a penalty shoot-out, is definitely not a bad manager if not a fine tactician. The French failure can be seen, in different aspect, as an internal division (!?) beginning with the “unconvinced” captain armband giving to Evra, the “unconvinced” act of putting Henry on the bench or the recently insulted comments of Anelka, which axed him from the team. The team is no longer a French football team but a French theater with a traitor as captain Evra admitted.

It is not the first time the French have experienced such troubled times, especially with a squad that has several ethnic divisions and no small number of inflated egos. To conclude, together with the fact that this team is not as good as it used to be, if it is Domenech’ s fault, it is because he doesn’t know how to manage these troubles and is not able to make weak team become stronger.

~~

~Favourites Analysis (19/06/10)

Spain: seems invincible yet actually not
If we have to name the “strongest team” in this World Cup, many of our answers will be Spain. Yep, in term of “quality players”, Spain but not Brazil or any other team is the best. In fact, there are no more world-class players in other teams than Spain. Every position in the team is a star, and most of them are world-class: Goalkeeper, Calsilass; Denfender, Puyol, Ramos; Midfielder. Xavi, Iniesta, Cecs, Xabi; Attacker, Villa, Torress. Most importantly, the team has worked together for many years, and many of them are also teammates in their clubs. Their coordinations in teamwork, hence, are guaranteed. These 2 reasons make Spain seem invicible, thereby standing at the  top favourite for the World Cup title.

… Nonetheless, they did suprisingly lose their 1st round. Now there is still no doubt about their group stage qualifying as their rivals are so weak. The match, however, proves the fact that Spain still lacks something/someone to be perfect.

Argentina: Time will tell!

 Messi is simply the best! Everyone would agree with it if they watch his performances: stunning but not suprising as it is his standard. The only missing point is that he hasn’t scored any goal. However, Maradona don’t have to worry because he has the likes of Milito and Higuain. Two normal performances from the Madrid striker, yet he did score a hattrick. And that’s adequate! Maradona has an incredible attackers in his hands, including Messi of himself; Tevez (of Rooney) and Higuain or Milito (of Van Nistelrooy or Inzaghi), then Di Maria, etc. Perhaps he lacks the likes of Ronaldo to form the strongest attack ever. Notwithstanding, the goalkeeper, defenders and somewhat midfielders are below the standard of Argentina in general and the attackers in particular. Romero, Demichelis, Jonas or Veron could not be in same team with Messi, Tevez! Unfortunately, Argentina lacks what it actually has got. Zanetti and Cambiasso omission by (unknown) un-technical reasons still remains regrettable for the fans. Otherwise, in my opinion, Argentina can be “a Spain” or even stronger. Nevertheless, let’s still believe in Maradonna’s decision as everything has gone right and wait…

England: flatter to deceive…

~

~

(28/07) ~ In short,

Argentina – one of the best attack ever

Messi, Tevez, Higuain, and what’s more, Milito, Aguero, Palermo forms Argentina’s attack. Undoubtedly, Maradona has 5 of the best strikers in the world in his hands, the remaining is the one who saves his international coaching career. Even the likes of Aguero, particularly Milito have to be on the bench. What a waste, isn’t it? Everyone of them has scored or at least contributed positively to the team. In fact, Argentina has shown off their frightenning attack many times in the World Cup. However, as I said, the other parts are relatively below the standard of its attack. Anyway, Argentina if they are champions, proves the strategy, Attack is the best form of defense!

Brazil – be a truly Brazil, but not that invincible

Brazil is always Brazil. Even in their decline, Brazil is still strong. This World Cup Brazil epitomises that!? However, will Dunga regret omitting the likes of Ronaldinho, Adriano? It’s likely..

Holland – Robben, Sneijder, Persie, that’s enough!

England – flatter to deceive

England was not as good as it seemed to be. Totally dissappointing! Never grow up.

Italy – never step twice into the same river!

It was a big lesson for Lippi and FIGC. However, last 10′ of the their last match did tell something. Bright future ahead.

Germany – Totally contrary to England, always shine in their truly humble ways

Never flatter themselves. But in fact, many desire what they has done for the last 10 years.

France – Inevitable failures!

Remember: 12 years ago, they were the world champions. 10 years ago, they stood at the top of Europe. They are inevitable on the decline of their cycle. Media, please take a break…

Portugal – not a golden generation

They have a world class leader, C.Ronaldo. However, apart from him, Portugal does not have adequate supporting players. The sudden injury of Nani made things even worse.

Who are the favourites now? (29/06/10)

(to be continued)

The article reflects the author’s opinion as a frequent football reader, watcher and an amateur foottball player

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