I've searched for a writting that well-described Italian National Teams. I found it at guardian sport blog, as usual, couple of days ago. Unfortunately, not from the sports journalist but from one of the commentators (under the monicker of guest1977). Here it goes:
Italy is always criticeized, disliked and sometimes hated.
But think about it.
Italians know their limits.
You will hear some Spaniards or Dutch saying that they can be better than Brazil.
You will never hear an Italian saying that.
They will just say (as Buffon did lately) "we can beat Brazil".
It's a subtle but substantial difference.
Italians know they are nowhere more skillful than most South American and Spanish sides.
They know they are nowhere as physical as any African side, or USA or Australia.
They know they cannot run as much as any Northern European or British side.
Once they acknowledge that, they wonder: what are we good at?
Some might ironically answer "cheating, diving, moaning, defending".
Too simplicistic and despite statements, everyone does those things whatever they say and no matter how much media braiwash people.
So what are truly Italians good at?
Surviving.
Think about normal life. Do you know other people as good as Italians in adapting and turning a crisis and an emergency into a victory?
So, I see what you mean, but Italians don't even think of "how they would like to win". We don't have that priviledge. We wish!!!
You guys have it. Good for you! :)
They know that when they are on the edge, when people write them off, when everything seems to be lost, they have that something...
That something that they always forget about when things are normal or go well.
Watch Brazil-Italy 1982, Italy-Germany 1982, Germany-Italy 2006.
Look at the true attitude of those teams. Their eyes. The way they were sticking together on the field and committed to their team-mates.
It was not just passion, run, skills, strategy.
It was a bunch of men, like in one of those movies or book, who knew they had been on the verge of losing everything and they came back inch by inch to see paradise, unreachable heigths.
they have that hunger that makes you go beyond the skills you don't have, the runs you can't make, the endurance you could only dream about.
Paolo Rossi, Cannavaro, Tardelli, Conti, Pirlo, Grosso, Materazzi never played on those levels anymore after those WCs.
If you understand this, then you understand why Italy won in the past. And of course that bit of luck that sometimes Italy didn't have though (and exactly like anyone else...).
The rest is bullsh*t.
But think about it.
Italians know their limits.
You will hear some Spaniards or Dutch saying that they can be better than Brazil.
You will never hear an Italian saying that.
They will just say (as Buffon did lately) "we can beat Brazil".
It's a subtle but substantial difference.
Italians know they are nowhere more skillful than most South American and Spanish sides.
They know they are nowhere as physical as any African side, or USA or Australia.
They know they cannot run as much as any Northern European or British side.
Once they acknowledge that, they wonder: what are we good at?
Some might ironically answer "cheating, diving, moaning, defending".
Too simplicistic and despite statements, everyone does those things whatever they say and no matter how much media braiwash people.
So what are truly Italians good at?
Surviving.
Think about normal life. Do you know other people as good as Italians in adapting and turning a crisis and an emergency into a victory?
So, I see what you mean, but Italians don't even think of "how they would like to win". We don't have that priviledge. We wish!!!
You guys have it. Good for you! :)
They know that when they are on the edge, when people write them off, when everything seems to be lost, they have that something...
That something that they always forget about when things are normal or go well.
Watch Brazil-Italy 1982, Italy-Germany 1982, Germany-Italy 2006.
Look at the true attitude of those teams. Their eyes. The way they were sticking together on the field and committed to their team-mates.
It was not just passion, run, skills, strategy.
It was a bunch of men, like in one of those movies or book, who knew they had been on the verge of losing everything and they came back inch by inch to see paradise, unreachable heigths.
they have that hunger that makes you go beyond the skills you don't have, the runs you can't make, the endurance you could only dream about.
Paolo Rossi, Cannavaro, Tardelli, Conti, Pirlo, Grosso, Materazzi never played on those levels anymore after those WCs.
If you understand this, then you understand why Italy won in the past. And of course that bit of luck that sometimes Italy didn't have though (and exactly like anyone else...).
The rest is bullsh*t.
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