By  Anna Italia
Covering the 2010 World Cup South Africa from an Italian Perspective


                  Slovakia - Italy   
               
    Click to buy tickets Slovakia - ItalyTickets June 24  2010

                    

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To believe or not to believe? That's the question... After the poor performance from Italy and the growing critics about the football still not seen from the Azzurri, Lippi continues to believe in his Italy.   Despite the 2 draws, errors, qualification still not sure, but Lippi comes forward to reassure the players, press, and fans with his belief in his Italy.

Ok, I will take the "I Believe in Lippi's Italy."  I have to take it, I have to believe, I need to believe, I should believe, I must believe.  How about you?  Do you believe in Lippi's Italy?  Lippi says that the World Cup of Italy starts this Thursday afternoon against Slovakia.  Hey, and you bet it is so.... there are no more chances after this game. Is either you win and you are in, or you lose and you are out.

It's Monday, June 21 and the first day training of the Italian National football team preparing the third group stage match Slovakia vs Italy on June 24, 2010.

Here is the thing guys.  Talking about qualification to the next round, Italy and New Zealand have same points and samegoals in favor and against. TQualification to be decided in the last game and if it comes to goal difference at the end, then, Italy forwards should, no, just, wait... "Italy forwards MUST score more than 1 goal" to win against Slovakia, period.

Current  2010 FIFA World Cup Group F Teams Standing 

2010 FIFA World Cup Group F Teams Standing Updated June 20, 2010	MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Paraguay	2	1	1	0	3	1	4
Italy	2	0	2	0	2	2	2
New Zealand	2	0	2	0	2	2	2
Slovakia	2	0	1	1	1	3	1

-  Italy head coach Marcello Lippi and the players are keeping a united front to continue the dream of the World Cup.  Before the  training session at Southdowns College, Lippi and players sitting in a circle  for an 18 minutes pep talk. 

Lippi saying,  “What counts is only what we say on the pitch, far from everyone We mustn't fall into the traps from outside. We can still do big things at  this World Cup. We are capable to do it.  We can do much better than we have  done so far. But it was right to take responsibility after two matches  that didn’t go how we had hoped. The first one now assumes a different  significance after the result of the second. Not everything went well,but we should not think of the cup as half empty, because it isn’t yet.There is no crisis.”

Lippi admits the two first games apparently are negative because they ended up with a draw and not a victory. Yet, nothing is lost.  I like the emphasis from Lippi   alerting us to see good results. “Don’t be amazed or disappointed if this team starts to get results.”

Good thing is that Lippi is aware of the "urgent need to get more goals," and you bet he had a strong talk with our forwards.   "I talk about problems with the team, not with the press. Weare struggling to create goalscoring  opportunities, it’s as simple as that.”

On Andrea Pirlo, Lippi saying that he is getting back in shape after being 15 days out for recovery.

On the general condition of the team, Lippi says, "I have seen many players physically well.  Maybe they are not always sharp for excess of heart."  

Well, then, don't you think our players should improve with their heart emotions and keep focused on the game to execute the best technique? I think so.  Point, guys, is that simple mistakes can cost Italy's qualification, period.  For example, the goal from New Zealand a consequence of a mistake by defender Cannavaro. As I said in the opening of the article, "I am believing in Lippi's Italy" and will keep my positive energy.  So, come on Cannavaro, you can do it.  Let's win this game against Slovakia.

One thing I like about Lippi is his attitude of not being afraid of the so called big teams. Allusion to the comment published  by a New Zealand newspaper saying that  "Italy is able to gobble up the big  fish, but not the small ones.”

On the game with Slovakia, Lippi is clear that the only possible result is the victory, period.   “There’s only one result to go for, which is victory. I don’t believe that  it will end like the New Zealand game.”


   

Here are the photos from the Italian National Soccer Team on their first day training on Monday, June  21  at  Irene's Southdown College, south of Pretoria ahead of the third World Cup game Slovakia vs Italy on June 25, 2010.




Photo Getty Images

Italy injured goalkeeper GianluigiBuffon gives a thumbs up  to his teammates to continue their training preparation and go for the victory against Slovakia.  Sure, you bet Buffon must be giving extra words of confidence to his replacement goalkeeper Federico Marchetti.



Photo Getty Images

Warm up time and let's do some push ups.  Here are Italy midfielder Claudio Marchisio and Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro.   Come on guys... 



Photo Getty Images

Italy forward Alberto Gilardino and Italy Head coach Marcello Lippi during Monday's training session. It's time to touch up "final techniques" with Gilardino to finalize goal opportunities. 



Photo Getty Images

Ok, guys, here is where we really need to put extra emphasis..yep, the "forward department," and midfielder Andrea Pirlo to manage the midfield.  During the training here are Udinese forward Antonio Di Natale, AC Milan midfielder Andrea Pirlo, Fiorentina forward Alberto Gilardino, and Sampdoria forward Giampaolo Pazzini.



Photo Getty Images

Italy's midfielders Daniele De Rossi (R) and Riccardo Montolivo walk off the pitch during a training session at Irene's Southdown College, south of Pretoria  on June 21, 2010



Photo Getty Images

Stretching time.... get those hamstrings ready...


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2010 FIFA World Cup Tickets Group F: Italy, Paraguay,New Zealand,and Slovakia

Match	Date	Venue			Results			FIFA World Cup 2010 Tickets
11	14 June	Cape Town		Italy	1 - 1	Paraguay		Goals  39' Antolin Alcaraz and 63' Daniele De Rossi
12	15 June	Rustenburg		New Zealand	1 - 1	Slovakia		Goals 50' Robert Vittek and 93' Winston Reid
27	20 June	Mangaung/Bloemfontein		Slovakia	0 - 2	Paraguay		Slovakia - Paraguay Tickets, June 20, 2010
28	20 June	Nelspruit		Italy	1 - 1	New Zealand		Goals  7' Smeltz,  29' Vincenzo Iaquinta (pen)
41	24 June	Johannesburg		Slovakia	-	Italy		Slovakia - Italy Tickets, June 24, 2010
42	24 June	Polokwane		Paraguay	-	New Zealand		Paraguay - New Zealand Tickets, June 24, 2010

What  do you think of  Italy head coach Marcello Lippi's declarations?  Do you believe in his Italy, yes, no, and why?





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