ITALIA - The Italian National Football Team

[Huxley]

Its the lunatic Spalletti for Italia!

Or at least it will be once the lawyers have untangled some clause in his contract from Napoli about managing another team. The FIGC lawyers seem to think it only applies if he joins a team competing against Napoli.

 

[Huxley]

Spalletti confirmed!

È ufficiale, Luciano Spalletti è il nuovo c.t. della Nazionale

L'ex tecnico del Napoli ha sottoscritto con la Figc un contratto fino al Mondiale 2026: assumerà l'incarico l'1 settembre

www.gazzetta.it

 

[Huxley]

Well, he left for ‘personal reasons’ but as the Gazzetta so beautifully put “30 million personal reasons”

 

[Strummer]

Well, he left for ‘personal reasons’ but as the Gazzetta so beautifully put “30 million personal reasons”

To paraphrase Mrs Merton:

„So, Roberto Mancini, what was it that attracted you to the multimillionaire Saudi Pro League?“

 

[Huxley]

Bloody hell. Immobile has scored!

 

[Huxley]

Italia's youngsters (Edit: just checked, they're not that young, just mostly a bit crap which I mistook for youthful exuberance) are going to do well not to get a proper old school, lube free doing tonight.

 

[Huxley]

1-1 at HT and arguably matching them at the end. Proper FIFA style equaliser it was too.

 

[Farmer Jack]

Italia's youngsters (Edit: just checked, they're not that young, just mostly a bit crap which I mistook for youthful exuberance) are going to do well not to get a proper old school, lube free doing tonight.

This has aged well

 

[Huxley]

This has aged well

Despite having not left penalty area for most of the second half Italy are somehow 3-1 up with moments to go.

Forza Spalletti ball!

 

[Huxley]

Italy beat the longstanding European nation of Israel 2-1 where the only things of note that happened was Moise Keane, despite being terrible, somehow scored and the Italian fans turned their backs on the Israel nation anthem. In much the same way Juve fans did at Anfield that time.

 

[Strummer]

Italy beat the longstanding European nation of Israel 2-1 where the only things of note that happened was Moise Keane, despite being terrible, somehow scored and the Italian fans turned their backs on the Israel nation anthem. In much the same way Juve fans did at Anfield that time.

The Italians, another great bunch of lads.

 

[Huxley]

Currently 2-0 up against Belgium. The second goal was hot knife through butter stuff from one end of the pitch to the other in about 4 passes.

Spalletti working his magic.

 

[Huxley]

Belgium vs Italia First observations...

There's no bugger there!

Edit: Must've been something more interesting on outside as it seem to have filled up now.

1-0 to Italia

 

[Huxley]

Got in a bit early. But it’s a different view when you let the boss buy the tickets. Even the toilets are decent.

 

[Huxley]

Loving the German kit. Even the ref looks weirdly old school for some reason.

1-0 Italy

 

[Strummer]

Loving the German kit. Even the ref looks weirdly old school for some reason.

1-0 Italy

Well, that ended well, didn’t it, for Italia!


Morgan Freeman: It did not end well for Italia….

 

[Strummer]

And yes, the special 125th Anniversary Kit is indeed, an absolute beauty:

 

[Trents]

I refuse to acknowledge any kit with the retro trefoil badge until Adidas furnish us with it too.

 

[Strummer]

I refuse to acknowledge any kit with the retro trefoil badge until Adidas furnish us with it too.

Lots of folk here have looked and swooned at that Germany shirt, and then a few minutes later, they realise the thing:

It doesn‘t have those three stripes down the shoulder and arm on it.

…that is because, neither did the originals that Adidas produced way back when.

And that is a very good thing.

 

[PynchonForest]

And yes, the special 125th Anniversary Kit is indeed, an absolute beauty:

View attachment 47041

Almost always simplicity is the best way to make an excellent kit. As soon as you start adding f**ked up patterns, your chances of ending up with something nice decrease exponentially by the number of patterns.

 

[Huxley]

Well, that ended well, didn’t it, for Italia!


Morgan Freeman: It did not end well for Italia….

Deserved win for the Wurst munchers. Much the better team with better players. Italy's lack of quality in anywhere other then the manager's seat is a bit of an issue.

 

[Strummer]

Deserved win for the Wurst munchers. Much the better team with better players. Italy's lack of quality in anywhere other then the manager's seat is a bit of an issue.

I have to say, I enjoyed the match.

But you are correct, it does seem the current Azurri are a long way from such magnificent sides who’ve graced the jersey in the past.

 

[Carlos]

I have to say, I enjoyed the match.

But you are correct, it does seem the current Azurri are a long way from such magnificent sides who’ve graced the jersey in the past.

Only thing is, almost every time anyone thinks that, they go on to win the following tournament

 

[Huxley]

Spalletti's team can and do score from almost nothing all the time. The goal last night was three passes and a shot so they have a punchers chance so to speak. And the succesful Italy teams are rarely packed with world class talent, so who knows.

 

[Strummer]

And absolutely, you have to have the Italians at World Cups and Euros. It isn’t the same tournament without them.