EURO 2008 Gattuso on Penalties "You can practice all you want but when you're there, your legs shake, sometimes it goes well, sometimes it goes bad"
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
Italy and Milan roaring lion Gennaro Gattuso missed the last match for suspension along with his buddy Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo. They might have been the difference and the result might have been a victory for the Azzurri not the the tragic elimination in Quarterfinals by penalties SPAIN 4 - 2 ITALY.
I like Gattuso's loyalty to his teammates and recognizing that the only player that might have been the difference was Pirlo for "the type of game he has, how he
controls the team on the pitch."
Here is the video from the Italian program RAI SPORTS where Enrico Varriale interviews Gattuso. English translation by Monica 08.
- Enrico Varriale interviewing Gattuso in the studio. Some footage of players training, close up of Panucci, Cannavaro on the bench.
Gattuso: There's lots of bitterness. When you're part of a group, especially when you put on the Italy jersey (maglia azzurra), an important jersey, there's lots of bitterness for losing. I feel proud of being part of this group. We lost on penalty kicks. We won a world cup on penalty kicks. It happens. I am very very proud because we showed that we were a big team that never gives up.
Variale: What would have changed, not just with you on the pitch, but with Pirlo, and if Cannavaro hadn't got injured, that little bit of luck that was at the world cup.
Gattuso- I always said, I think the only player in this moment that could make the difference is Andrea Pirlo. For the type of game he has, how he controls the team on the pitch. I think you need to respect the teammates. I always said it was a good group, when they go on the pitch, they always give their best. I repeat, I am very happy for what my teammates did.
Varriale: Penalties can be missed.
Gattuso- You can practice all you want but when you're there, your legs shake, sometimes it goes well, sometimes it goes bad.
I think that the player
that missed didn't do it on purpose. It's one thing to practice in training
where there are only the manager and the players. It's another one after 120
minutes, in fron of the stands with fans of the opponent team, 15 thousand
people, the weight of your country on your shoulders. It's the human mind. You
can be a great player, but the mind is too important. The emotions I think can't
be controlled.
Related Stories:
- EURO 2008 Italy - Everything it's Over "Front Page of La Gazzetta dello Sport" After the Elimination of Italy by Spain in penalties, June 23, 2008
- EURO 2008 Spain Italy - Gennaro Gattuso leading the ritual to help Luca Toni score again. Italy needs "LUCA TORRERO" against Spain!
- "If Gattuso is Italy's main man, then I'm a priest." said Spain Head Coach Luis Aragones and Gattuso not remaining quiet...
- I'm Sorry I will Miss the Quarterfinals Spain - Italy, But I have Faith in My Teammates," Italy Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso
- We have to play with the knife between our teeth without thinking we are the World Champions, says Milan and Italian midfielder Gennaro Gattuso
What do you think of Gattuso's comments?
ItaliaCovering the UEFA EURO 2008 from an Italian Perspective
Click here to find everything about the UEFA EURO 2008 Italian National Team
Italy and Milan roaring lion Gennaro Gattuso missed the last match for suspension along with his buddy Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo. They might have been the difference and the result might have been a victory for the Azzurri not the the tragic elimination in Quarterfinals by penalties SPAIN 4 - 2 ITALY. I like Gattuso's loyalty to his teammates and recognizing that the only player that might have been the difference was Pirlo for "the type of game he has, how he
controls the team on the pitch." Here is the video from the Italian program RAI SPORTS where Enrico Varriale interviews Gattuso. English translation by Monica 08.
- Enrico Varriale interviewing Gattuso in the studio. Some footage of players training, close up of Panucci, Cannavaro on the bench.
Gattuso: There's lots of bitterness. When you're part of a group, especially when you put on the Italy jersey (maglia azzurra), an important jersey, there's lots of bitterness for losing. I feel proud of being part of this group. We lost on penalty kicks. We won a world cup on penalty kicks. It happens. I am very very proud because we showed that we were a big team that never gives up.
Variale: What would have changed, not just with you on the pitch, but with Pirlo, and if Cannavaro hadn't got injured, that little bit of luck that was at the world cup.
Gattuso- I always said, I think the only player in this moment that could make the difference is Andrea Pirlo. For the type of game he has, how he controls the team on the pitch. I think you need to respect the teammates. I always said it was a good group, when they go on the pitch, they always give their best. I repeat, I am very happy for what my teammates did.
Varriale: Penalties can be missed.
Gattuso- You can practice all you want but when you're there, your legs shake, sometimes it goes well, sometimes it goes bad.
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Related Stories:
- EURO 2008 Italy - Everything it's Over "Front Page of La Gazzetta dello Sport" After the Elimination of Italy by Spain in penalties, June 23, 2008
- EURO 2008 Spain Italy - Gennaro Gattuso leading the ritual to help Luca Toni score again. Italy needs "LUCA TORRERO" against Spain!
- "If Gattuso is Italy's main man, then I'm a priest." said Spain Head Coach Luis Aragones and Gattuso not remaining quiet...
- I'm Sorry I will Miss the Quarterfinals Spain - Italy, But I have Faith in My Teammates," Italy Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso
- We have to play with the knife between our teeth without thinking we are the World Champions, says Milan and Italian midfielder Gennaro Gattuso
What do you think of Gattuso's comments?
Posted by Anna Italia at 6/24/2008 6:10 PM 
Categories: AC Milan, Italian National Team, General Soccer News, Euro 2008
Categories: AC Milan, Italian National Team, General Soccer News, Euro 2008
I would never want to participate in a penalty shoot out at that level. It is easy to miss the kick through bad luck, and then you will be ridiculed and blamed for the loss. Look at poor Chelsea.
Reply to this
Man that is the last thing i want to do, shooting penalties. Like Gattuso said you might practice and be brilliant during training but another thing is when you know you can't fail and thousands are whistling you plus not having enough energies. This is why De Rossi said that at least he dares to shoot them while others don't. What's your take?
Reply to this
I pass the turn. I can't imagine the pain going through by De Rossi and Di Natale right now, but the worst was Roberto Baggio missing in the 1994 World Cup because he was affected by years and I think still he feels the pain.
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Mark you are right because till this day and despite all the great things he achieved, Baggio is remembered the most by the penalty he missed in the final against Brazil.
As for DDR, i had a gut feeling he was going to miss the penalty the minute he stepped up to take it.
Reply to this
I didn't! I felt so bad for De Rossi but worst what I never will forget was watching Pirlo cried. No other soccer player affected me so much when crying, but Pirlo? Come on.... not my Pirlo. It means the pain of elimination was so unbearable for them too.
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I agree Anna,The face of Pirlo crying was unusual,he is often calm and cool that you think he is emotionless, or absent-minded.I was deeply hurt by Andrea's tears.I would expect Rino or DDR to cry,but not Pirlo.
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Totally unusual and that's why it affected me so much.
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'Bitterness in losing on penalties' I agree. If only Varriale asked him about the team's performance, 1 shot on target in the 120 minutes. We know penalty kicks are a lottery.
Reply to this
I agree Monica, the team practically did not do a good job. Why looking for excuses? Penalties.... I don't like them, unless we win.
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