future king

The last round of Group F is extremely critical for the Italian team. In the first two games, the Blues Italy only scored 2 points. To get a chance to qualify, they must defeat their final opponent, Slovakia.

In this campaign, Slovakia made a lot of adjustments to the starting lineup. Weiss won his son Weiss Jr., Storch, Kuka, Jendrisek, and Zabavnik entered the starting lineup.In Italy, midfielder Andrea Pirlo was on the bench, Di Natale and Gattuso replaced Marchisio and Gilardino in the starting line-up, Cannavaro and Chiellini were still on the defensive line, and Marchetti guarded the gate.

In the end, Italy lost 2-3 to Slovakia, and the defending champions were last out of the group.Witke scored twice, Kopnek scored, and goals from Di Natale and Quagliarella once brought Italy close to a miracle, but they fell short in the end.

In the past few days, all Italian supporters have used the most vicious words to attack Cannavaro.But with the game over, and with Italy eliminated, that anger was finally relieved.At this moment, Cannavaro was also relieved.Because everything that happened this night decided that Cannavaro, who has struggled for 12 years in the World Cup, bid farewell to the World Cup forever.

Since 1998, Cannavaro has become the main central defender of the Italian team.In that battle, Cannavaro gave people the image of a tough guy. In the 14 finals, he was hit by the French striker Givas on the forehead, but after a simple bandage, he played with gauze on his head and made several headers to clear the siege. .His performance has become one of the classics left by the tragic Italian team.

In 2002, Cannavaro and the Italian team experienced an embarrassing qualifying in the group stage and a humiliating defeat against South Korea.That year was special for Cannavaro, because Maldini, who was grabbed by Ahn Jung-hwan on his head, announced his withdrawal from the national team, and Cannavaro became the new captain of the Italian team.

The 2006 World Cup was the culmination of Cannavaro's 12-year World Cup history.The defense of the Italian team led by him only conceded 7 goals in 2 games, and one was an own goal and the other was a penalty.That competition was destined to belong to Cannavaro, not only because he won the championship and the Golden Globe after the game, but more importantly, it was Cannavaro who won the World Cup final. The 100th national team match.Lifting the trophy on a milestone night couldn't have been a more perfect achievement for a 33-year-old.

But the problem is that the 33-year-old Cannavaro should have chosen to retreat bravely.It seems that Maldini withdrew from the Italian national team at the age of 34.But Cannavaro didn't.Not only did he refuse to quit the national team, he also became a problem figure in Italy.In the words of Gazzetta dello Sport, Cannavaro relied on his credit to rule out dissidents in the national team. His opposition was the key to Cassano and Balotelli's failure to qualify for the national team; his support was Lippi's support. The main reason for trusting veterans and rejecting newcomers.

Cannavaro's idea is good. He hopes that at the age of 37, he will succeed again in the World Cup, so that his legendary career will have the most perfect ending.Many professional players have such a dream, but many legendary players cannot achieve this.For example, Maldini and Nedved retired with hatred in the embarrassment of not having a crown.Cannavaro even more so.The difference between him and the former two is that although the former two are regretful, they don't need to blame themselves; while Cannavaro has become the number one cancer in the Italian group's exit!

In the first two games in Italy, they only gave their opponents two chances to shoot on goal, and their opponents scored two goals.The two goals were all from Cannavaro's mistakes: against Paraguay, he was scored on top of his head; in the second game, he stopped the ball directly to the opponent's forward.So much so that before the third battle, the Italian journalists yelled at Lippi at the press conference, "If you are a man, replace Cannavaro!"

In the third game of the crucial decisive battle, Cannavaro did his best. 8920 meters of running, 22 predicted interceptions, and 6 headers, these statistics look gorgeous.But he is old after all. Not only does he need to take some responsibility for the team's second conceded goal, but also, he conceded the ball in the backcourt 8 times in the whole game, and every time it may be a fatal mistake!How can such a player deserve to appear in the World Cup even if he has made great achievements in the past?His disappointment was, in fact, his own fault.His departure has relieved all Italian fans who have had enough.

Similar to Cannavaro, many big-name stars bid farewell to the World Cup with a disgraceful image.For example, Di Natale (32 years old) who has repeatedly played opportunities, such as Gattuso (32 years old) who has announced that he will retire from the national team, such as Zambrotta (33 years old), who has been reduced to a substitute in Milan, such as Camoranesi (33 years old) who spent half of the time in a hospital bed in recent years.These people, judging from their age and development trend, they have almost no chance of participating in the World Cup next time.

It is certainly a tragedy for them to say goodbye with regret.But if their departure allows more young people who are better than them to get a chance, then this is definitely a good thing for Italian football.

Italy lost 2-3 and went out sadly.The soul-stirring battle in the last 15 minutes is enough to prove that this Italian team has not lost its mental strength.But the hard power of this Italian team is too weak.An important piece of evidence is this: In this World Cup, Italy played 270 minutes, only a dozen or so minutes played the style of the Italian team back then.And the key person who brought about the "qualitative change" in these ten minutes was actually Pirlo, who was tortured by injuries and only had half his strength left!

Italy fell behind shortly after the start, which forced the conservative Lippi to make a last-ditch effort.He first used two substitutions, but the game scene did not change.As time ticked by, there were only a few 10 minutes left for Italy to save its fate.The last substitution is considered to be the last trump card.Lippi used this trump card on Pirlo.At that moment, everyone knew that he was the only player capable of saving the team.

But Pirlo is not in the state.Due to injuries, although Pirlo played, his body was obviously unable to keep up.After playing for 1 minute, he conceded the ball on the wing.Since then, he got rid of the midfield several times, and his technical movements are also very incoherent, showing that his physical condition is only half of his usual state.

But even such a Pirlo still makes a huge difference!As soon as he played, Italy became a whole again, and began to shift and cooperate again.Italy continued to threaten the opponent's goal. Di Natale's shot came from Pirlo's midfielder; Quagliarella's shot was blocked by the opponent at the goal line, also from Pirlo's shot.

At the end of the game, the Italian team scored two goals despite conceding one goal.Among them, the most critical first goal started from Quagliarella's right-sided cut. This cut was initiated by Pirlo's transfer ball.In less than 40 minutes of playing, Pirlo successfully passed the ball into the penalty area 7 times, initiated oblique transfers 10 times, and completed pre-judgment interceptions 5 times. It was his loss in the midfield and his continuous offensive passes. Only then did Italy set off a heroic counterattack at the last moment.

Many people sighed: If Pirlo is not injured, what will happen to Italy; if Pirlo can come back earlier, what will happen to Italy... But these issues are not important.The really important question is: Why did Italy fall to such a point that Pirlo, who was only half left due to injuries, is still far better than those so-called international players?Why does Italy have more than 20 so-called elite players, but at the last moment, they can only count on a Pirlo who played with an injured leg to be the savior?After all, Pirlo is 31 years old. Who will Italy rely on when he gets old?After he retires, who will Italy rely on?

It is these issues that people are most worried about.In the current Italian team, there are fewer and fewer people worthy of the title of "world-class star". There are only a few players who are over 30 years old and are dying.Among the young people, De Rossi had two wonderful performances, but became a sinner at the decisive moment; Montolivo, Pepe and others tried their best, but did nothing.Di Natale, Iaquinta and others had limited abilities; Marchisio and others paid the price for their youth.It can be concluded like this: Italy counts on Pirlo to be the savior, on the one hand because of Pirlo's outstanding strength, on the other hand the key reason is that other Italian players are too weak, they are so weak that they are not as good as half of Pirlo!

There are many reasons for this phenomenon.The downturn of Juventus has directly affected the status of most players; the shortage of Italian talents has directly caused the decline of the overall strength of local players; Inter Milan and other teams favor foreign players, which has hindered the growth of local rookies; The illegal monopoly of foreign companies has led to chaos in the transfer market for local players in Italy; Lippi's self-willedness has left many available people with nowhere to serve the country...

There are various reasons, but they can be summed up in one point: Serie A can provide too few local players, which has caused the Italian team to fall into a stagnant situation.Therefore, the problem of the Italian team, in the final analysis, still needs to be solved in the league.If Serie A is not revived, how can the Italian team talk about revival?

From winning the Hercules Cup four years ago to being disgraced in the group stage four years later, the strong contrast of the Italian team in the past two World Cups has shattered the glasses of football critics.It is hard to imagine that Lippi was the director who planned these two dramas.Within two weeks, the handsome Silver Fox had lost his reputation as the champion. Is his arrival a blessing or a curse for Italy?Perhaps the answer no longer matters.

After the game, Lippi hurried back to the locker room without saying hello to anyone. Unlike Domenech who refused to shake hands with the opponent's coach after France was out, Silver Fox didn't even go to comfort those players who had struggled with him for more than two years. I know that many of them are the old Juventus clubs who followed him in the early years.Lippi, who is usually fatherly, is now more like a king who watched soldiers die in battle with cold eyes. The moment he stepped off the altar, we couldn't even see his emotions from the camera. Could it be that he guessed it at the beginning? Such an ending?

Time went back to June 2008, 6. The Italian Football Association announced that the 27-year-old Lippi would succeed the former Italian coach Donadoni.Although many Italians do not expect him to lead the Azzurri to successfully defend their title, they still have high expectations for him in South Africa, and a lot of Italian local media also believe that he can lead the national team out of the haze of the European Championship defeat in 60.

But before the World Cup, Italy's performance in the warm-up match exposed many problems.Except that the goal guarded by Buffon is still solid, the scattered defense, the unorganized midfielder, and the striker who can't shoot, Lippi's Italian team has problems almost all over the body.However, Lippi has always gone his own way. Perhaps it was the championship four years ago that created his strong self-confidence. Before the start of the group stage, he was still praying for a miracle: "Italy came to South Africa not only to play games, but also to win the championship. .”

Of course, everyone knows that defending the title is very difficult, but no one thought that the defending champion led by Lippi would perform so poorly in this World Cup. The team bid farewell to sunny South Africa with the bottom of the group.Di Natale who squanders opportunities at will, Cannavaro who is old and feeble, Zambrotta who only has a moving torso, and Iaquinta, Montereyvo, Pepe... the Italian student four years ago In Lippi, four years later Italy died in Lippi.

People can't help but ask, why not bring Grosso, Balotelli, Cassano and other players to South Africa?Lippi has already answered this question: Balotelli?Bad kids are mischievous.Cassano?Old urchins like to make trouble.Rossi?Not suitable for tactical requirements.Borriello?Inexperienced in international competitions.After seeing the poor offense and weak defense in the first two games of the group stage, Lippi of course wanted to adjust, and Lippi also made adjustments. In the last game, he decisively changed to 433 in order to save himself. The score fell behind Quagliarella and Pierre. Luo changed to strengthen the offense.Lippi's reaction was not slow, but he didn't have many cards in his hand.

At this moment, we feel sad for Italy's exit, and we also regret Italy's exit.If Cassano and Balotelli were brought in, would the Azzurri have a different result?The fact is hard to change. Seeing Quagliarella's tears welling up after the game, maybe Cassano sitting in front of the TV felt equally heavy. The same scene happened in his European Championship six years ago. body.

After the game, the coach Lippi admitted that he was fully responsible. He denied that the players were distracted because they learned that he had left after the World Cup.

"I take full responsibility," Italian coach Marcello Lippi said at a press conference.As the defending champion, Italy's trip to this World Cup was not smooth. First, Pirlo was injured and could not play, and in the first game, the main goalkeeper Buffon was injured and ended.The Italian team had only two poor draws in the first two games of the group stage, which allowed them to pin all their hopes of qualifying on the last game against Slovakia, but the team lost to their opponents 2-3.

"If the team brings injuries and psychological fear to the game, it means that the coach is not prepared either tactically or psychologically." Lippi said helplessly.In the three games of the World Cup, the Italian team had 2 draws and 1 loss but had no choice but to stop the group stage. Lippi admitted that he made some mistakes. "I made some mistakes in the selection of people, and there were certain problems in the tactics I formulated. If the team wins, I will be very proud, but now the team loses and I will take full responsibility."

Lippi has served as the head coach of the Italian team since 2004 and led the team to win the 2006 World Cup in Germany. After the European Cup in 2008, he succeeded Donadoni, who had poor performance, and became the Italian coach again.Although he lost to South Africa this time, Lippi said, "I don't regret coming back." He pointed out, "I want to replicate the successful experience of four years ago. I believe I can do it, but I'm sorry."

A reporter at the press conference mentioned, did the players know that Lippi resigned after the World Cup, so that they no longer worked hard or even lost their morale?Lippi denied this. "The team members are actually aware of this, and this matter was determined as early as May."

Slovakia, who defeated Italy, joined hands with Paraguay, who drew 0-0 with New Zealand, to advance to the knockout rounds of the World Cup.

Relying on defensive counterattacks and having a concrete defense line, this is not Italy, but Paraguay.Today, Paraguay, known as "Italy" in South America, has qualified, but the "genuine" Italy is going home. In the 2006 World Cup, Paraguay was eliminated in the group stage, and Italy lifted the Hercules Cup; in the 2010 World Cup, Paraguay advanced to the round of 16, but the Italian team regretted being eliminated in the group stage.From Germany to South Africa, every four years. "Counterfeit" Italy vs. "genuine" Italy, who is possessed by whose soul?

Paraguay, this "cottage" Italy is indeed well-deserved.In the 2010 World Cup South American qualifiers, Paraguay won the third place in South America with a record of 10 wins, 3 draws and 5 losses.In a total of 18 games, Paraguay only conceded 16 goals, the number of goals conceded ranked second to last in South America, only 5 goals more than the first Brazil team in South America.2 goals less than No.6 Chile, 4 goals less than No.5 Argentina and No.4 Uruguay!The high quality of Paraguay's defense is evident from this.

In addition to having an Italian "concrete" defensive line, Paraguay also has an efficient attacking lineup. 24 goals, though only more than Argentina (20) among the top five in South America.However, in the long South American qualifiers, Paraguay actually defeated all opponents! They beat Brazil 2-0, Argentina 1-0, Chile 3-0, Uruguay 1-0... Paraguay's performance in sweeping South American powerhouses is amazing.In the World Cup in South Africa, Paraguay brought defense first and offense to the extreme.

In the three group matches, Paraguay scored 3 goals and conceded 1 goal.The number of goals scored is only one more than the New Zealand team, ranking second to last in the group, and the number of goals conceded is the lowest in the group!It is such extreme data that has won Paraguay such incredible results as 1 win, 2 draws, 5 points, and first place in the group.This Paraguayan team is somewhat similar to the Italian team from four years ago. In the 2006 World Cup, Italy won the first place in the group with 2 wins and 1 draw, scoring 4 goals and conceding 1 goal. The goal lost was defender Zalgado's own goal.In that World Cup, the Italian team only conceded two goals, once again letting the world's top players feel the power of Italian concrete defense.

Four years later, the Paraguay team was "soul-possessed" by the Italian team four years ago, and the Italian team suffered from Paraguay's bad luck four years ago. In the 2006 World Cup, Paraguay ranked third in the group with 1 win and 2 losses and failed to qualify. In the 2010 World Cup, as the defending champion, the Italian team actually achieved a record of 2 draws and 1 loss, ranking at the bottom.

Compared with Paraguay four years ago, the performance of the Italian team can only be described as "horrible".All lucky people are alike, and every unlucky person is unhappy in his own way.Whether it is a copycat Italian or a genuine Italian, they are all trying to create themselves.In the World Cup, only the roles of "washing utensils" and "cup utensils" were exchanged.This is football, the next second, you never know what will happen.