"We lost by penalties not on the field," says Italian Head Coach Roberto Donadoni. Watch the video from RAI Sport
By Anna
Italia
Covering the UEFA EURO 2008 from an Italian Perspective
Click here to find everything about the UEFA EURO 2008 Italian National Team
Here is the interview from RAI SPORTS by Carlo Paris to Italian Head Coach Roberto Donadoni after losing the Quarterfinals SPAIN 4 - 2 ITALY in penalties.
The interview is in Italian but I am including the English translation. I criticized Donadoni for not bringing Del Piero earlier and waited until the 108th minute when there were only 12 more minutes. Now, listening to Donadoni's explanation on why he didn't bring him before, I can be a bit understanding. Question is why he didn't bring Del Piero earlier in the 73rd minute instead of Antonio Di Natale when he substituted Cassano. No excuse for Donadoni....
I was watching the news from Spain, France, Switzerland, U.S.A and Italy and believe me about 90% of Italian fans interviewed asked the same why Del Piero and Camoranesi were on the bench for so long when we were struggling.
What do you think of Donadoni's comments?
ItaliaCovering the UEFA EURO 2008 from an Italian Perspective
Click here to find everything about the UEFA EURO 2008 Italian National Team
Here is the interview from RAI SPORTS by Carlo Paris to Italian Head Coach Roberto Donadoni after losing the Quarterfinals SPAIN 4 - 2 ITALY in penalties. The interview is in Italian but I am including the English translation. I criticized Donadoni for not bringing Del Piero earlier and waited until the 108th minute when there were only 12 more minutes. Now, listening to Donadoni's explanation on why he didn't bring him before, I can be a bit understanding. Question is why he didn't bring Del Piero earlier in the 73rd minute instead of Antonio Di Natale when he substituted Cassano. No excuse for Donadoni....
I was watching the news from Spain, France, Switzerland, U.S.A and Italy and believe me about 90% of Italian fans interviewed asked the same why Del Piero and Camoranesi were on the bench for so long when we were struggling.
- Paris: Cursed penalties, not good in your career first as a footballer and this afternoon as coach.
- Donadoni: Not a good tradition with penalties. Beyond those missed penalties, this group demonstrated to be a true group. Players can be proud of what they did on the field, Sure we regret losing in the quarterfinals by penalties, we did not lose on the field. The are going out with their heads held high. I am sure Italians fans must be proud for the group and our players.
- Paris: I think I can tell that most of Italians suffer with the team until the last second.
- Donadoni: I am proud of this group. We have been together for 2 years from the early period of qualification, I have lived good moments and independently of the result it's something that will remain with me. I am telling you the experience of what we have lived.
- Paris: You wanted to win this match when you even brought Del Piero for Aquilani. Changing tactically because you wanted to win without going to penalties.
- Donadoni: I could bring Del Piero earlier but I had problems because De Rossi wasn't feeling that well and if he had to leave earlier and done the change before that I could have remained with 10 players. Luckily, De Rossi continued playing until the end.
- Paris: Last question, injured players and even Pirlo crying.
- Donadoni: They are a group with good feelings and it makes me feel sad to see them cry like that. Yet, they should be proud of what they have done.
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What do you think of Donadoni's comments?
Posted by Anna Italia at 6/22/2008 10:58 PM 
Categories: Italian National Team, General Soccer News, Euro 2008
Categories: Italian National Team, General Soccer News, Euro 2008
OK sure I'm proud of being an Azzurri fan and part of a GREAT family, but being proud of a lost, draw, win, lost, NO WAY that is not WORLD CHAMPS performance right?! ILL STILL BE AN AZZURRI FAN IN EUROPE AND I'LL LIVE TO BE PROUD!!! but don't ask me to be over the lost so fast, MAYBE IN 2010 I'LL GET OVER IT?!!!
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Milan99 i join you too because Donadoni is in denial by not admitting we played bad. We lost and it hurts so much. I keep reading Anna's commentary of the match and it makes me feel sad because it was like all Italian fans felt. We all started so happy, positive and slowly our attitude change during the course of the match. I am upset, I can't get over this lost. Imagine we did not even get to eat our pizza and saw the message from Nina too. NO, sorry Donadoni you betrayed all Italian fans. I don't agree with his explanation on why not bringing Del Piero earlier either. The man obviously doesn't like the juventino much.
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Mark our only hope is that Lippi comes back and start preparing a REAL CHAMPS team for 2010 world cup, don't u think?
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Man, somebody tell Donadoni that he must face the black reality he just failed, period. Wake up man. I agree with Mark, Donadoni betrayed all Italian fans, and what he did to Del Piero was not right, I think that if he was so concerned about remaining in 10 if making a change earlier, why he did it with Cassano and Di Natale. He contradicts himself.
Donadoni please resign and bring back Lippi.
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Yeah I agree, the best thing for Donadoni to do is resign, a least it would be better than being fired!(though it counts as he is already fired)
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I don't think he is resigning. Man, the guy is still believing he did a good job. I don't want to keep risking our qualification for the WC. It's a shame Italy after winning the WC never played like champions again with Donadoni. What's your take?
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He might resign, I watched the Italian news and rumors is a possible "forced resignation on Friday..." I will post the news in few minutes....
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