Italy Goes Out Fighting 3-2 to Slovakia

Italy much to my tremendous sadness has been eliminated from South Africa 2010 and will be leaving a world cup for the first time in their history without having won a single game. Italy being the only team to compete in at least 17 world cups and never have failed to at least win a game; this a feat which not even Brazil or Germany have managed yet that was until today.

Today, unlike four years ago, I decided to watch Italy's match at home instead of at San Lorenzo; being that I wanted to keep taps on New Zealand's game against Paraguay. This meaning that I would watch the game away from the place and people with whom I had seen every Italian world cup match since their first encounter of Japan/South Korea 2002. Italy however, I was confident could win regardless of where I chose to watch their match, so it was with this in mind that I opted to stay home instead of going to San Lorenzo; where my fellow Italian supporters were sure to be.

FIFA 2014

As for the match, it started with Italy attacking and with Gattuso on the field of play; who had yet to make his first appearance in South Africa 2010. I, for my part was very optimistic regarding Italy's chances for advancing, this given that all they needed to do was to draw against Slovakia and hope that New Zealand would not beat Paraguay yet if worse came to worse; I figured Italy could always defeat Slovakia. It being perhaps what they should have done with ease had all their players been 100 % yet in football like in life; one must often make do with what one has. In all, I did have one worry which was, what if Italy and New Zealand both tied their matches at for instance 0-0 each? This would leave both of them with three points each and with 2 goals for and 2 against and even their head to head matches would be even. All of which would have made a coin toss necessary to decide which one progressed yet I was hoping it would not come to that though I was mentally preparing myself for the possibility of fate sending us further or out.

Italy Goes Out Fighting 3-2 to Slovakia

Italy at the start of the match like through out most the tournament attacked or at least went forward yet for some reason never really got it going in the same way they did four years ago It in fact being Slovakia who went up by 1-0; thanks a mistake by De Rossi which led to a goal at the 24 minute mark of the game by Vitek. Italy perhaps lacking the creativity of Pirlo and also the confidence a great goalkeeper like Buffon can provide his defenders, seemed to be another team than that which four years ago went on to become world champion. The half however would end with a 1-0 lead for Slovakia though in all truth play was not being dominated by either team.

Italy was down at half time but it was not the first time they had been down after the first 45 minutes of play and come back to either win or draw, this making it that my hope for an Italian victory had not yet vanished; for defeat is never certain till the match is over. Marcelo Lippi, also making changes during the intermission as can be expected when one is losing in a game one can not afford to. This prompting him to replace Gattuso and Criscito with Quagliarella and Maggio; in an attempt to get more on offense.

The second half however would start with Italy going forward in search of that ever elusive goal which would qualify them to the next round. This being the case since Paraguay and New Zealand were still tied at 0 and a goal would give Italy a draw which would leave them with 3 points while Slovakia would only have 2.Italy however was still in need of that goal which would mean so much and it was probably with this in mind that Marcelo Lippi finally sent in Andrea Pirlo in place of Montolivo. It seeming as if Lippi were saying that if he was going to loose, he would do so with his best men on the field; much like the gambler who decides that he was going to play all his cards in the hope of victory or in Italy's case at least a draw.

Italy, playing with Pirlo gained a sense of direction that allowed them to go forward with more order and creativity and though chances would come, most notably one which was cleared off the line by a Slovak player in a way which is bound to cause controversy; a second goal would come for Slovakia. It being Vitek who 73 minutes in to the game got his second goal of the day as well as giving Slovakia a 2-0 lead. Italy at that point seemingly finished as they were trailing by two goals with 17 minutes left to play yet attack they would with all the despair of a team that is playing for its life.

Italy would not loose without a fight or give up their title without at least doing all they could to keep what they so richly earned four years ago. Italy's pressure eventually leading to a goal which came at the 80 minute mark of the game when Di Natale's powerful shot brought them within a goal of not only equalizing but of progressing to the next round. This due to Paraguay and New Zealand who were still tied at 0-0. Quagliarella would then score what to me appeared to be a perfectly legitimate goal which saw me get out of seat, in the believe that Italy had tied it yet like the USA's goal against Algeria which was ruled out for an offside which did not exist; so too was the goal that would have tied matters at 2-2. The game was in full excitement at that point as Slovakia brought in Kupenek, who upon the 88th minute of the game and his second touch of the ball brought Slovakia's third goal and the one that restored theirs to a 2 goal lead and made the score 3-1. Italy however much to their credit and perhaps the only real sense of pride, we Italians can take from this game; did not surrender and continued to press forward. In fact getting a second goal thanks to a wonderful shot by Quagliarella, which found the back of the net with two minutes left in overtime.

After Quagliarella's goal however a near brawl would develop in the Slovakian goal when Slovakian goalkeeper clearly struck Di Natale in the face which should have led to his expulsion yet the referee showed him but a yellow card. Italy however was once again within striking distance of a draw as well as their qualification and how my faith in what could be had been restored even if the clock only showed two more minutes to be played. Italy however pushed forward and it was in the last minute of play that it might have been but Pepe failed to connect on a close range shot which would have been perhaps Italy's greatest come back ever in a world cup. How close we came on that play was something I felt so intensely as the ball went out of bounce with Pepe not even being able to get a foot on it from close range. It was as if all my dreams and those of all Italian football fans through out the world had been on Pepe, who simply failed to connect but came so close in what was our last chance at going in to the next round. The game as all who saw it know would end 3-2, with Italy loosing and being eliminated in the first round of the world cup; this being something which had not happened since 1974 when Poland beat us by 2-1.

In conclusion, I would say that for Italy the whole world cup was about frustrations and hardships such as Pirlo and Gattuso not being completely fit as well as Buffon injuring himself in the first match along with other small factors. Of course when analyzing Italy's performance one also has to take in to consideration many other factors, like players who had past their prime along with bad calls such as the goal scored by New Zealand in their 1-1 draw; which was clearly offside. Today also being a case of a call denying them a goal which like Mexico's second against France could have been seen either way yet unfortunately for Italy; was not in their favor. Naturally, after this game and failure, there will be changes; starting with Lippi being replaced as manager along with certain players such as Canavaro retiring from the national squad. I, in expressing my private thoughts can only state that Italy will be back in Brazil 2014 with a much younger team and though it does hurt to see one's team being eliminated; one must never give up hope of winning the championship again. For after all, if we have won four titles so far, why would a fifth be outside of the realm of possibilities.

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