By Steve Amoia
Contributing Writer

Antonio Cassano is one of the most creative talents of his generation of Italian footballers; however, he has only 17 caps and four goals for the Azzurri. I emphasize "only" because for a man of his prodigious abilities who has been in the national team pool since the early 2000's. We have to ask why only 17 appearances? We can point to his well-known temper tantrums, which are better known as "Cassanate," that has seen him send to hell virtually every single coach since he became a professional with AS Bari in 1999. But perhaps there have been other reasons.

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Creativity Has not been Utilized

Players such as Cassano and Roberto Baggio before him represent qualities that Italian coaches can't seem to utilize out of either fear or ignorance. Both have talents that don't come out of coaching manuals or adhere to strict tactical modules. They create on their own rather than execute a manager's precise instructions. Marcello Lippi wouldn't play Baggio at Internazionale and exiled Cassano to what appeared to be an Azzurri retirement at a young age. Ironically, Baggio is the new President of the Technical Sector at the Italian Federation. Perhaps now Italy will develop and promote creative/fantasista type of players.

Press Conference from Coverciano

Cassano gave a long press conference from Coverciano, the headquarters of the Italian Federation, ahead of the Azzurri's Euro 2012 qualifier against the Faroe Islands on Tuesday evening in Florence. He discussed his new-found maturity, the mistakes from his past, Mario Balotelli, past and present coaches, the influence of his wife, his new team-oriented attitude and plans for the future.



Photo AP
Italy and Sampdoria forward Antonio Cassano during the press conference in Coverciano on Sunday, September 5, 2010


On Making Up for Lost Time and Misconceptions

"Voglio riprendermi il tempo perso sì, ma prendermi la Nazionale sulle spalle no. Leggo che sono il leader: no, Chiellini e soprattutto De Rossi sono i leader azzurri".

"I want to make up for the lost time but not to carry the national team on my shoulders. I read that I am the leader. I don't think so. Giorgio Chiellini and above all Danielle De Rossi are the Azzurri leaders."

"Esco ed entro in Nazionale da anni, la maggior parte della colpe sono mie. Mi prendo la responsabilità per gli errori che ho fatto. Ora sono partito bene, spero di proseguire sulla strada giusta. Ma non sono un terrorista, non ho mai mancato di rispetto a nessuno. Eppure passo per quello che rovina lo spogliatoio".

"I come in and out of the Azzurri set-up for years. Most of the fault has been mine. I take responsibility for my mistakes. Now I have started well and hope to proceed on the right road. But I'm not a terrorist. I have never disrespected anyone. Or have been one to create problems in the dressing room."

On Mario Balotelli

"E’ un ragazzo fantastico, ha 20 anni. E’ un grandissimo giocatore, se fa qualche errore, pace. Io qualche consiglio glielo do, però non sono certo io il più adatto a fare da chioccia".

"He is a fantastic bloke. He is 20 years old. He is a great player and if he makes some errors, let him be. I give him some advice but I'm not certain if I am the best adapted to do this."

On Cesare Prandelli

"E’ una persona fantastica, con cui mi trovo davvero bene. Lippi? Pensiamo al presente (bello) e al futuro (speriamo ancora migliore), non al passato. Prandelli a Roma l’ho messo in difficoltà, ma quando mi ha ritrovato cambiato era l’uomo più felice del mondo. Sta credendo in me come uomo, non posso che ringraziarlo".

"He is a fantastic person with whom I get along very well. Lippi? Le'ts think of the present (great) and to the future (let's hope even better) not to the past. I caused problems for Prandelli at Roma but when he saw that I had changed, I was the happiest man in the world. He believes in me as a man and I can't thank him enough."

On Gigi Delneri, his former Sampdoria Manager

Lui mi ha convinto a fare la seconda punta. Da uomo vero mi ha detto "O fai questo , o sei fuori". Mi ha fatto capire - anche tenendomi fuori un po’ - che più avanti possono essere devastante".

"He convinced me to play the supporting striker. Like a real man, he told me, 'Do this or you will sit down.' He made me understand, even keeping me out for awhile, that higher up they (two strikers) can be devastating."

On His Wife, Carolina

"Mia moglie mi ha cambiato la vita, la ringrazierò per l’eternità".

"My wife changed my life. I thank her for eternity."

On His Azzurri Future

"Prima pensavo più ai miei colpi, alle cavolate. Ora penso alla squadra, perché l’unico che vinceva le partite da solo era Maradona e io non sono Diego, anche se prima pensavo di esserlo. Ora mi sento più forte, perché ci sono 10 compagni che mi aiutano. Il mio sogno calcistico è fare parte del gruppo della Nazionale per 4-5 anni. Io sono l’uomo degli Europei , voglio diventare anche quello dei Mondiali".

"I used to think more about my own moves and plays. Now I think about the team because the only one that could win games on his own was Maradona and I'm not Diego. Even if before I use to think to be like him. Now I feel stronger because there are 10 teammates that help me. My football dream is to be part of the national team nucleus for four or five years. I have played at the European Cups. Now I want to feature at the World Cup."

Italian text courtesy of La Gazzetta dello Sport, 5 September 2010.

Steve Amoia is a freelance writer, editor and translator from Washington, D.C. He is the founder, editor and writer of the World Football Commentaries blog. He has written for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio (Italian soccer school), Football Media, Italian Soccer Serie A, Keeper Skool and Soccerlens.

Steve Amoia is a freelance writer, editor and translator from Washington, D.C. He is the founder, editor and writer of the World Football Commentaries blog.  He has written for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio (Italian soccer school), Football Media, Italian Soccer Serie A, Keeper Skool and Soccerlens.

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