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

               Italy - Belgium 
                              Preview

Are We Ready to Cheer for our AZZURRINI?????

Come on guys, I don't hear you!!!!

I said, ARE WE READY TO CHEER FOR OUR AZZURRINI???? ..... BRAVI!  Now I hear you!

I can't tell you how excited I am about this match.  The Italian National Olympic Team must pass this test. We need them to be concentrated, focused and with that "winning mentality." 

I will be following the match in the blog, so make sure to visit me and cheer together for the Azzurrini to do the "Cheer leading dance," Go Azzurrini, Go Azzurrini, Go Azzurrini

I want Juventus midfielder Sebastian Giovinco to play his best match today, as well as Goalkeeper Viviano.  Either you win or you lose, period.   Here is my PREVIEW Italy - Belgium.

What:    Men's Olympic Football Tournament Beijing 2008 Quarterfinals
Who:       Belgium - Italy
When:     Saturday, August 16, 2008, 
               3 a.m. USA Pacific time
Where:   Beijing

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Italy has not won an Olympic Gold Medal since 1936.  Wow!  It means Italy has been waiting 72 years to win the coveted 'GOLD."  Can this Italian National Olympic team do it? YES, yes, they can. Belgium won their last Gold Medal in 1920! Precisely, 88 years ago!

If Italy play like they did in the first two matches against Honduras and South Korea, then, by all means, we can win.  Now, if Italy plays like they did in the last match against Cameroon, you better go and get some tissues or napkins because it will be crying time. 

Am I being too tough with the Azzurrini? NO. not at all.  The last 10 minutes of the match against Cameroon were unbearable and Chinese fans even whistled both teams for not playing hard enough to win.  It was clear they were ok with the draw. Ok, let's close this awful chapter.  Time to see the future, the light....

The Azzurrini can win even if not having Lazio forward Tommaso Rocchi who is ruled out for injury.  Now, if we recall the first match against Honduras, Rocchi was out and Cagliari striker Robert Acquafresca took his place.  I will say that Acquafresca did not disappoint and played well. Italy Coach Pierluigi Casiraghi has the choice to use Napoli forward Andrea Russotto too.


Let's see how both groups finished in their groups.

ITALY - Finished 1st plce Group D with 7 points, won two matches, 1 draw
Goals in favor 6, Goal against 0.  Italy has not conceded a goal.

First match:       Honduras 0 - 3 Italy.
Second match:  Italy 3 - 0 South Korea 
Third match:      Cameroon 0 - 0 Italy
 
BELGIUM  = Finished 2nd place Group A with 6 points won two matches, lost 1
3 Goals in favor and 1 against

First match:      Brazil 1 - 0 Belgium
Second match: Belgium 2 - 0 China PR
Third match:     New Zealand 0 -1 Belgium

On paper, Italy seems the favorite to win.  Now, let's keep it that way too in the pitch and win this match.

Here is what  Belgium coach Jean Francois De Sart declared: "Italy are a very strong, world-class team. We have the opportunity to make Belgian football history and I'm sure it would have an extra-special flavour if it happened against opponents of this stature. Let's hope we can stay in the tournament and add another chapter to this beautiful story."


What do you think, will Italy play like in the first two matches against Honduras and South Korea and win or play like in the third match against Cameroon and lose?



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