By Anna Italia
Covering the 2008 Summer Olympics Game in Beijing  from an Italian Perspective

                   Honduras 0   -  3 Italy
                                                                    41'  Sebastian Giovinco              
                                                                    44'  Giuseppe Rossi
                                                                    52'  Robert Acquafresca

Substitutions:    46' Padilla out, Alvarez in               59' Giuseppe Rossi out, Ignazio Abate in
                            66' Rodas out, Sanchez in             71' Bocchetti out, Coda in
                            79' Claros out, Nunez in                76' Giovinco out, Marchisio in



Hello guys, are you ready to support our Italian National Olympic Team?  Good!  Get your Italian flags and waving it proudly!  It's Italy's debut in the 2008 Summer Olympics Games from the Category of Men Football Group D  

Time for our "Cheer leading dance" for our Azzurrini.  Come on....

GO AZZURRINI, GO AZZURRINI, GO AZZURRINI


Wow, good guys, Italian National Olympic Coach Pierluigi Casiraghi has Robert Acquafresca as the main striker. Good. 


                    

Here is the starting lineup with the surprise that Lazio striker Tommaso Rocchi is not in and it is Robert Acquafresca taking his place.  Rocchi seems to have injured during training.

Goalkeeper:  Viviano;
Defenders: De Silvestri, Bocchetti, Criscito, De Ceglie;
Midfielders: Cigarini, Montolivo, Nocerino;
Forwards:  Rossi, Giovinco; Acquafresca.

Our Azzurrini are attacking, wow... I am loving it.  Good forza Azzurrini.

Just in the 10th minute, WE ALMOST SCORE!!!!!!   Who else than our great midfielder Sebastian Giovinco sending a beautiful pass to striker Robert Acquafresca who passed the ball to midfielder Riccardo Montolivo and when he tries to blast the net  missed it by few inches!!!!
Great.. good  Come on Forza!!!!. 


Click the video to watch the highlights of the 2008 Summer Olympics Games Men Football Group D "Honduras - Italy"


Mamma mia!   No, no, no, and no!!! Honduras is becoming dangerous.  Wake up Azzurrini!

In the 15th minute, Honduras  Striker Martinez passing to his fellow striker Pavon, come on Azzurrini. 

Guys, the media is saying that Giovinco is so far the man of the match  showing great football technique. 

In the 18th minute, Giovinco sends a long pass to Giuseppe Rossi but cannot control the ball because Honduras defender Molina blocked him... again, we almost score.

In the 21st minute, help me guys do the CHEER LEADING DANCE for GIOVINCO... Wow, this kid is really shining and making all the combination, passes, crosses, just love it.

      GO GIOVINCO, GO GIOVINCO   

Giovinco sends a cross from the left towards Acquafresca and Giuseppe Rossi heads the ball but it goes out. Just unbelievable...  So proud of the Azzurrini. 


                 
    2008 Summer Olympics Games Beijing, (Thursday, August 6 2008) GROUP D: Honduras - Italy
Italy midfielder Sebastian Giovinco battling against Honduras to help the Azzurri take the 3 points.


Did not I tell you that I wanted ROBERT ACQUAFRESCA to be in the starting lineup?  He is doing great partnership with GIOVINCO!!!

Oh my gosh..... a long shot by Acquafresca from 20 meters after a pass from the one and only Giovinco in the 31st minute!!! 

Wow... a deviation by Honduras goalkeeper Hernandez, corner.  close chance for goal and nothing yet but let's not panic, the goal  is coming soon,  Forza Azzurrini!!!!

This is crazy.  In the 41st minute, finally A REWARD for Giovinco!!!!!  Giovinco shoots with his left foot from about 25 meters and blasts the net of Honduras goalkeeper Hernandez!!!!  Guys, this is the first goal of the Olympics and what a goal!!!!
Honduras 0 - 1 Italy

                    

2008 Summer Olympics Games Beijing, (Thursday, August 6 2008) GROUP D: Honduras - Italy
Giovinco blasting Honduras goalkeeper Hernandez.  Do you see the ball wowww GOOOOAAALLLLLLL Photo:
                 
                                    
2008 Summer Olympics Games Beijing, (Thursday, August 6 2008) GROUP D: Honduras - Italy
Giovinco celebrates the first goal!!!!!  Bravo.  Photo: Reuters
          
Oh oh spaghetti oh.... Penalty for Italy!!!!!!   Honduras defender Arzu commits a foul on striker Acquafresca inside the area with his his hand... so it is fair .. a penalty for Italy. Uffa... who is taking the penalty???? Ah, good, It is Giuseppe Rossi.  Come on... concentrate....  YESSS, YESSS, YESSS, YESSS,,GOOOAAALLLLLLL  In the 44th minute, Rossi converts the penalty shooting to the left side of goalkeeper remaining frozen!!!!!
Honduras 0 - 2 Italy 

                             

                                   Italy Striker Giuseppe Rossi celebrates his goal.

Second half starts and Italy has no changes.

In the 46th minute, Honduras make their first substitution.  Padilla out, Alvarez in

That's it guys... I am mad!!  Honduran players want to knock down our guys!!!  In the 51st minute Honduras goalkeeper Hernandez bring down Acquafresca and it is penalty!!!  A clear penalty everywhere.... Mamma mia!!!!

What??? Rossi not taking the penalty??? It is Robert Acquafresca taking the penalty spot.   Oh my gosh.. come on Acquafresca NON SBAGLIARE... pray, pray, pray.... YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Now, really I am super happy, finally my guy ROBERT ACQUAFRESCA scores!!!!!  In the 52nd minute, Acquafresca converts the penalty   OH guys,,, join me in with the "Cheer leading dance for Acquafresca!" 
Honduras 0 - 3 Italy

                          Go Acquafresca, Go Acquafresca, Go Acquafresca!!!!

                              

I am in heaven guys, in total paradise!!!!!  This is wonderful!!!!!  Our Azzurrini are shining!   So happy for Giovinco and Acquafresca those are my two guys!!!!

In the 59th minute, Coach Pierluigi Casiraghi makes the first substitution.  Giuseppe Rossi is out and Ignazio Abate is in!!!!!    Well, this is a good move because Rossi has not fully recovered and Abate is coming fresh.. good move. Let's see how it goes.

In the 61st minute, Wow,  LUCA CIGARINI almost make the 4th goal... wow!  Our Azzurrini are having a blast, party time with Honduras.  The Azzurrini are rocking!!!!

Oh woww Honduras almost score too!!!!  Honduras midfielder Norales shoots with his right foot from the distance and GREAT GOALKEEPER VIVIANO SAVES!!!!!!  I love Viviano!!!!

In the 64th minute, wow, wow, wow, Ignazio Abate sends a cross to Acquafresca but Honduras defender Caballero blocks the action.   Well done Abate, come on.

In the 66th minute, Honduras make his second substitution.  Rodas is out, Sanchez is in.

This is not possible!!!!!!  Help, help!!!!  In the 68th minute, emergency for our Azzurrini.  Bocchetti is having cramps.  Uffa... Mamma mia... I dont' like this.  Medical staff coming into the field... wow, this makes me feel sad.

No, guys, Bocchetti cannot make it, he cannot continue. 
In the 71st minute, Bocchetti abandons the field in stretches...  Casiraghi forced to make a second substitution.
Bocchetti out, Coda in

Twenty more minutes and this is over.  I think it is over already because Honduras is not proving a strong team while the Azzurrini are showing class and individual football technique with GIOVINCO, especially!!!!

In the78th minute, Casiraghi makes his third substitution. Giovinco is out and Marchisio is in. 

Well done Giovinco and he leaves the field with a standing ovation!!!!   The photo on the right is Giovinco celebrating his goal.

In the 79th minute, Honduras makes a third substitution: Claros out, Nunez in

wow, guys,,, in the 79th minute A GOAL FOR BRAZILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL  Remember we are cheering for Brazil too because Our AC Milan Players PATO and RONALDINHO are there.   Goal is by Hernanes.

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OOOOpss, In the 81st minute, penalty for HONDURAS!!!!!  Hum!  De Silvestri commits a foul on Pavon and yes, it is a penalty.   De Silvestri got a yellow card.

Taking the penalty spot is PAVON himself.   OH NOOOOO , I mean, OH YESSSSSS, Pavon missed it!!!!!  Ball to the bar!!!!

Nine more minutes guys,,, keep cheering... forza.  Wave your Italian flags with pride... Forza,,,,,,  We are almost done... PO PO PO PO POPO PO PO

In the 83rd mintute, Honduras got another clear chance to score but Caballero missed!!! I am glad our goalkeeper Viviano is on guard!!!!! 

Gee... In the 90th minute, Ignazio Abate gets a yellow card for a foul on Martinez.

Ok, guys, I think our AZZURRINI, the Italian National Olympic Team officially deserves a STANDING OVATION FROM ALL OF US in Italian Soccer Serie.... so guys, stand up and applaud our Azzurrini for their first great performance and let's do all together the "Cheer leading dance" for the Azzurrini.

                          GO AZZURRINI, GO AZZURRINI, GO AZZURRINI

We did it, that's it.... Referee whistles the end of the match!!!!!!!

PO PO PO PO PO PO PO
PO PO PO PO PO PO

To summarize guys, I think Coach Casiraghi did the right move by having Robert Acquafresca instead of Tommaso Rocchi. Acquafresca passed this test with FLYING COLORS and certainly deserves a second chance to be in the starting eleven in the next match. Don't you think? 

Sebastian Giovinco --- without a doubt --- the man of the match!  Boy,  do I feel so proud of Giovinco!!!!  Viviano, Rossi, Abate, all our Azzurini did well.

Congrats to Casiragahi and let's keep doing a good job.


LINEUPS
2008 Summer Olympics Games in Beijing
Honduras - Italy
Thursday, August 7, 2008

GOALS: Sebastian Giovinco 41, Giuseppe Rossi 44 (Pen), Robert Acquafresca 52, (Pen).

HONDURAS: Hernandez; Molina, Caballero, Arzu; Norales, Padilla (Alvarez 46), Thomas, Rodas (Sanchez 66), Claros; Martinez, Pavon

ITALY: Viviano; De Silvestri, Bocchetti (Coda 72), Criscito, De Ceglie; Cigarini, Montolivo, Nocerino; Giovinco (Marchisio 78), Rossi (Abate 59), Acquafresca

CARDS: Yellow De Silvestri (I) , Cigarini(I),  Hernandez (H)  




Related Stories:

- Click here  for the Official Called Up Players of the Italian National Olympic Football Team



  What do you think of Italy's victory, did the Azzurrini convinced you they might win the Gold Medal, yes, no, and why?



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