Italy look to put bitterness behind them
By Simon Evans
DUISBURG, Germany (Reuters) – Italy seek their fourth World
Cup title on Sunday with memories of two recent bitter defeats
to opponents France adding extra motivation, if any were
needed, for the Azzurri.
Eight years ago, a highly-rated Italian side were knocked
out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage on penalties by
France who, as hosts, went on to win the final.
Two years later, Dino Zoff’s Italy came up against the
French again, in the final of Euro 2000, losing out to a golden
goal struck by David Trezeguet.
“We hope we can end that run and beat them this time,” said
Italy defender Marco Materazzi who will once again partner
captain Fabio Cannavaro in the center of defense in the absence
of the injured Alessandro Nesta.
Marcello Lippi’s side have, as the coach himself put it
“grown throughout the tournament” and their 2-0 win over hosts
Germany in Tuesday’s semi-final was by far their best display
at the finals.
It took goals late in the second period of extra time from
Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero to defeat Germany in
Dortmund but Lippi’s team showed their quality and maturity
throughout the 120 minutes.
Italy’s success, as always, has been built on a rock solid
defense, marshaled superbly by Cannavaro, who will win his
100th cap on Sunday, and keeper Gianluigi Buffon has conceded
just one goal — a freakish own goal — in the tournament so
far.
Attacking full-backs Grosso and Gianluca Zambrotta have
given the side width and in midfield the grit and determination
of Gennaro Gattuso and the classy passing of Andrea Pirlo have
ensured plenty of possession.
The 11 Italian goals in the finals have come from 10
different players with every striker in the squad finding the
target as the Azzurri have extended their unbeaten run to 24
games.
In previous tournaments internal rivalries have led to
rumors of dressing room disunity but at this World Cup, the
Italians have shown an impressive unity and a great
determination.
Lippi has admitted that some of that team spirit was forged
in the face of adversity as his team began their preparations
for the final as the Serie A match-fixing scandal developed,
while Cannavaro says there has been a huge desire to make up
for recent disappointments.
Italy went out to co-hosts South Korea in the second round
of the World Cup two years ago and then failed to make it out
of the group stage of Euro 2004.
ACCUMALATED ANGER
“We’ve accumulated a lot of anger after two major
disappointments,” said Cannavaro.
“We put that rage to good use on the pitch and you can see
that at the World Cup — we are turning that anger into
something positive,” he said.
The Italians went out of those two tournaments with snarls
and sour accusations but there have been only smiles and hugs
from the Italians this time.
A nation which has had to endure months of reports of
corruption and shady dealings in their game took to the streets
in their thousands to celebrate the semi-final win on Tuesday.
Sunday could be the moment all of the accumulated
bitterness finally disappears in an explosion of joy.