By Myles Palmer
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Denmark 2 Sweden 2 was a fair game, but the Italians will squeal about it for decades.
The quotes coming from Buffon, from Riva and others are sheer bilge.
Alessandro Nesta says “We have finished third behind two teams who are inferior to us. To go out undefeated with five points really hurts.”
RUBBISH ! You didn’t beat Sweden or Denmark!
Italians are crybabies who lead the world in self-pity, just as we lead the world in ticket touting.
Different countries are good at different things.
My advice: Grow up, wise up, stop being paranoid, look at what you are doing wrong.
Materazzi is a rugby prop !
He can’t play football.
Once he wrestles Berbatov to the ground and gives away a penalty, it’s hard work.
OK, Zambrotta was fantastic and Buffon is by far the best keeper and Italy are the only Euro Championships team in history to go out unbeaten.
But face facts : Vieri and Del Piero played like old men.
With Ruud Van Nislerooy or Tomasson last night, Italy would have beaten Bulgaria 9-1.
Cassano was sensational at times, a novice at other times.
His shot against the underside was over the line before Perrotta stabbed it in, and his finish in 93 minutes was world class after Pirlo stepped over that low cross.
But it was all too late because Trap had blown it in games one and two.
Trap has been at the very top for too long : 42 years.
He is GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI !
Nobody else can say that.
I bunked off school to see Trap win the European Cup at Wembley.
AC Milan 2 Benfica 1.
So Trap has been at the very top since 1962.
And it is no exaggeration to say that Trap was at the top of football BEFORE he won the European Cup.
He won seven trophies playing for AC Milan between 1959 and 1971.
AS A COACH, he has won seven Serie A titles and also the Bundesliga with Bayern.
He won six with Juve and one with AC.
So, as a coach, Trap has won eight league titles, a European Cup, a Cup Winners’ Cup, three UEFA Cups and two Italian Cups.
I call that a career.
But his Italy, second favourites, were mediocre.
In Euro 2000, Dino Zoff’s Italy were fabulous and almost won it after outplaying France over 90 minutes in the final.
But they lost on a golden goal.
Sadly, negativity is in their DNA – score one goal and defend.
It’s the football of fear, boredom, stalemate, damage limitation, and excuses – always excuses.
Italians are the biggest crybabies in the world.
Character is destiny and eleven Italians in a football team is too many.
It rarely works.
They should hire a foreign coach to kick their arses ( or at least release their inhibitions) and make them attack !
But they won’t do that.
They will go home and cry and Mama will say : You were unlucky, my son.
June 22nd 2004.