By Anna Italia
Covering the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa from an Italian Perspective


Guys, Italy lost against Egypt and I am extremely upset with the way our Italian National team is playing.  U N B E L I E V A B L E, first time Italy losing in Africa after 15 encounters with African teams Egypt 1 - 0 Italy. This is what makes me mad without disrespecting any of the African team.  It means that Italy seriously need to "CHANGE" voltare pagina e fare sul serio!!!!  It's time to think and show "we mean business" once and for all.  Point is that far from  showing why Italy is the reigning World Cup champion, we are seeing a struggling team so inconsistent and not showing a top game, period. 

I am tired of so many excuses but the truth is that Italy has not found their way to rule as Champions. Yet, as a fan, I can't stop supporting Italy National Team but it pains me tremendously to see the inconsistency and as millions as Italians fans I am still waving my Italian flag..

Buy your Official Italian National Team Gear including the 2009 FIFA Confederations Home Jersey 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. Jerseys with names of Pirlo, Totti, Gattuso, Toni, Cannavaro, Del Piero, Italy La Quarta Stella victory, and more. Buy your football tickets for the Italian National Team matches now Click here to buy  the 2009 Confederations  Cup Soccer Jerseys, t-shirts, and  more for South Africa, Italy, Iraq, USA, Spain, New Zealand, Brazil, and Egypt. 1936 Italy Retro Tracktop   2009 Italy Confederations Cup Jersey Official Puma track jacket for the 2009 Confederations Cup 2009 Italy Confederations Cup Socks Egypt Soccer Gear  Italy Star Backpack 2009 World Football Challenge tickets for AC Milan, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Club America, and Manchester United   Italy 4-Star Medium Bag.  Italy National Team Soccer Gear, outfield, training wear, accessories, in Subside US Italian American White T-Shirt   Italy Sloffies Italy Street Sack (Royal) - Italia

Buy all your tickets for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. 
Click here to buy your Tickets: Italy, USA, Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Iraq, New Zealand, Spain and USA.

It was amazing to see how Egypt had enough "drive, grinta, and confidence" to beat the Azzurri not reacting on time to change the approach. I give a standing ovation to Egypt goalkeeper El Hadary, wow, amazing! 

I also applaud the efforts from Italy forward Vincenzo Iaquinta trying in every way to blast the net only to find the "Super El Hadary" denying the goal. Though, at least Iaquinta tried.  I also loved how in the final moments even our beloved goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon joined his teammates for the final corner kick and then had to run back to his place. 

My heart was pounding so hard, my eyes were literally red of crying, I was so desperate!!!!   I keep asking myself again and again  "WHERE IS MY ITALY, THE WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS!!!!!" 

Well, I found my answer in the interview of Italy and AC Milan defender Gianluca Zambrotta after the game by journalist Enrico Variale.

Zambrotta said, "We had the wrong approach. In the first 20 minutes, thirty minutes of  the match. Though, after, even in the second half we constructed at least three or four clearly gol opportunities. We could have scored with just a little luck and should have not been here talking about this defeat.  We failed to press Egypt. We saw them against Brazil, they are good with ball possession.  Yet, in the second half we give them some difficulty."

Here is the situation of Group B.

	Team	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
	Brazil	2	2	0	0	7	3	6
	Italy	2	1	0	1	3	2	3
	Egypt	2	1	0	1	4	4	3
	USA	2	0	0	2	1	6	0

Brazil has full 6 points, Italy and Egypt have 3 points each, USA has 0 points.  The match against ITALY - BRAZIL is on Sunday, and boy, do we really need to win AND HOW!!!!! A defeat will eliminate us period. The situation is crucial because as Zambrotta rightly said, "we have lost a friendly game against Brazil in February.  We want to cancel that defeat and go to the next stept in the Confederations Cup. It's not over yet."

When journalist Enrico Variale asked Zambrotta about the age, referring to the critics that Lippi has a team based on too old players "i vecchietti." Zambrotta responsed, "I don't feel old and neither other of my teammates, it is enough to see how we run in the pitch."

Lippi commented a similar point to Zambrotta. "We had prepared a different approach for this match, though in the pitch we could not done the things we had prepared.  We played bad in the first half. Yet, in the second we have seen a great goalkeeper, the Egyptian [El Hadary], stopping 3 or 4 goal opportunities. All the teams are strong, and we have to be at our maximum level."
 
My questions is for Lippi, did not  Italy prepare a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, and even a Plan D?


Click the video to watch the interview of Italy defender Gianluca Zambrotta and midfielder Riccardo Montolivo after the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup match EGYPT - ITALY on Thursday, June 18, 2009.

Related Stories:

-Photos: Italian National Team In Lion Park before the Confederations Cup games against Egypt and Brazil "Italy Group B Leader" , Tuesday, June 16, 2009

-  Official Squads 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa for Italy, Brazil, South Africa, Spain, USA, Iraq, New Zealand, and Egypt

- FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009: Match Officials, Fixtures,Schedule, Tickets for Italy, Brazil, New Zealand, South Africa, Iraq, USA, Egypt, and Spain

-   RESULTS Group B 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup USA 1 - 3 ITALY Goal by Landon Donovan, Giuseppe Rossi, and Daniele De Rossi

- Quick video interview after the USA - ITALY match with Giuseppe Rossi, Daniele De Rossi, Gennaro Gattuso and Andrea Pirlo. Watch it. 

- Soccer Gift Ideas: Italy National Soccer Team - Italy Jerseys, Italy T-shirts, Italian National team Soccer Gear 

Click here to buy your Italy Confederations Cup Home Soccer Jersey

What do you think of the declarations from Zambrotta and Italy Head Coach Marcello Lippi, agree, disagee, and why?




blog comments powered by Disqus