Buy your football tickets for the Italian National Team matches now Buy Your Italian Serie A Football / Soccer Tickets   Italian National Team  Buy your Official Italian National Team Gear Click Here  to buy Italy Home Soccer Jersey, Italy Away Soccer Jersey, Italy 4 star goalkeeper jersey, Caps, Italy socks, Italia Soccer Balls, Italy Soccer Scarf, Italy World Cup Posters, etc. Italy National Team Soccer Gear, outfield, training wear, accessories, in Subside US Italy Sloffies The 2006 FIFA World Cup DVD-The Grand Finale Italia "Italy" Olympic Soccer International Track Jacket Italy 4-Star Backpack This is an official product of Italy National Soccer Team. I invite you to visit my store and check for good stuff for your personal use, soccer gift ideas:   Apparel & Accessories Italy,   Gourmet Food Italy, Gourmet General,   DVD Soccer,   Soccer Books, Italy related books, and more... Click here  ANNA ITALIA STORE

Well after my first visit to Italia in April 2006, I came back a with a different view of soccer. Hey, I used to think it was just another boring sport.

However while I was visiting Italia in 2006, I bought a Napoli jersey, and everywhere I went people would scream FORZA NAPOLI! I learned real quick the passion of Italian Calcio!!

We were watching the 2006 CL in the bars, and Serie a matches. People were going crazy. When I came home I learned that in June and July was the 2006 World Cup. Let me tell you guys that  I knew nothing about soccer other than what I learned on my trip to Italy.

We were all fired up when Italy made it to the quarterfinals. We all went to the Fox Sports Grill to watch the matches.
                 
2006 FIFA World Cup Final Italy - France.  Here is the Italian National team starting lineup.

There was Germany fans fired up singing their songs about Deutchland or however you say it. Then there was a big crowd of Italy fans, all of our family and friends were there. It was a great time!!!  We were going crazy when Italy finally scored late in the 2nd overtime. Then, amazing, when Del Piero made that beautiful chip shot... THE PLACE WENT CRAZY.

Next weekend was the final. There was standing room only at the Fox Sports Grill. I have been a 49er fan my hole life, an Angel fan my whole life, but soccer was a new thing to me. That 3 hours of the World Cup 2006 final was PRICELESS!

I have never experienced anything like this in my life. Standing for almost 3 hours with only Ice Tea and Red Bull in my system. Wow, guys, the passion just got more and more intense. There was only maybe a 1/4 French fan's. as the French are not the most popular group of people in America.

There were Italian fans of every culture, Asian, Mexican, American, all different kinds. There were a lot of true Italians in one part of the restauraunt, singing, chanting and cheering. The game was so intense that nobody could imagine a penalty shoot-out. But as time kept going by, it was looking more and more like that was going to happen.

During the last 20 minutes, were by far the best time in my life that I remember cheering for a team. But we were cheering for a country, a country that was due to win the World Cup. Everything pointed to the Italian's being the champions. We recorded every penalty kick, and the reaction from the crowd. Then it came down to Fabio Grosso to win it for the AZURRI! could he do it????  YES, HE DID IT and our Italy won the 2006 Fifa World Cup!!!!!!!!

                                

     


 And here is the video of the best memory of sports in my life...turn up your volume and wave your Italian flags!!!!!

Ciao, FORZA ITALIA!

Jason Protopappas