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| Thursday 13 December, 2007 |
| Blog: Just the Tonic |
| Italy are in desperate need of a Luca Toni alternative at Euro 2008 and Antonio Labbate thinks a Brazilian could provide the answer |
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Forget about the debate over whether it is right or wrong for a national side to use naturalised players. Instead, put yourself in the shoes of Roberto Donadoni, stroke your greying goatee and ask yourself how much trouble Italy would be in at Euro 2008 if you were suddenly robbed of the services of Luca Toni. It’s a scary thought, isn’t it?
Donadoni’s Azzurri team lacks a credible Vice-Toni – a player capable of leading the line, a powerful technical attacker who is just as dangerous in the air as he is on the ground. Basically, a man who can step in for the Bayern bomber, if needed, without forcing the tactician to totally revamp his preferred formation.
Don has understandably turned to his former Livorno goal machine Cristiano Lucarelli in the past, but with limited results. Vincenzo Iaquinta is a useful squad member, yet he doesn’t have that eye for goal that could make all the difference on the international stage. Christian Vieri is also being touted as a possible solution, even if he is nothing more than a luxury reserve at Fiorentina. That’s why we should not be surprised in the slightest if Donadoni turns to Amauri come the summer.
Born and bred in Brazil, the 27-year-old is in the process of being handed an Italian passport. Given that he hasn’t featured for his homeland at any level and continues to be ignored by Selecao boss Carlos Dunga, the Palermo forward has understandably failed to rule out a career with the current world champions. He could seriously become the Azzurri’s secret weapon in Austria and Switzerland.
Amauri certainly has the potential to do a job at Euro 2008. Having hit the headlines with the Rosanero since his move from Chievo in the summer of 2006, talk of an international future was only postponed when he damaged knee ligaments last Christmas following a flurry of goals and some impressive showings at the Barbera.
It was a setback that could have seriously jeopardised his career, but Amauri is once again starting to attract the interest of the big Italian and European clubs. His outrageous blind back-heeled assist for Fabrizio Miccoli’s goal against Fiorentina on Saturday underlined his quality. It was an inspirational gesture which would have become a You Tube phenomena had Ronaldinho performed it at the Nou Camp.
Instead, Amauri today remains a virtual unknown to those football enthusiasts outside of the peninsula. But that could all change in June should the bureaucratic process in Italy finally give him citizenship before the start of the tournament. If that happens and he continues to shine, it’ll be hard for Donadoni to cross the border without a boy from Brazil.
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Amauri is so ridiculously skilled, he and Kaka are my favourite players. I think he is Serie A’s equivalent to Didier Drogba, but with flair. If I was an opposing defender at Euro 2008 and I saw I had to defend against Amauri and Toni at the same time I’d have nightmares.
Justin, Vancouver
I agree that Amauri is good enough to play for the Azzurri. But the one question that nobody has said anything about is what is Amauri's heritage? Obviously, he is Brazilian. But is his family Italian, Portuguese or is he part of several nationalities?
By taking Amauri I think it would continue the trend that I don't want to see in world football. The international game is supposed to be a celebration of culture and nationality and you lose that if you try to get the best players on your team regardless of where they were born.
Back in the day when the Oriundi played for Italy, almost all - if not all of those players - had direct links to the motherland. In the case of Mauro Camoranesi, I think his link was a little too far removed for him to play for Italy, since I believe it was his great-grandparents who were born in Italy. Also, the fact that he is the only player who doesn't know the words to the national anthem and doesn't sing also takes away from the spirit.
FIFA needs to step in at some point and not allow every country in the world to adopt a Brazilian or an Argentine. The only way these players should be allowed to play for another country is if they have a direct link in their heritage to the nation they are playing for.
Jim Riggio, Glendale, California (USA)
Regarding the integrity of the cultural composition of teams, there are FIFA regulations in place which define who is or is not eligible. At least Amauri, just like Camoranesi, Taddei, Doni and a host of others, are ethnically Italian though they may have been raised in another country.
Contrast this with the fact that teams like France have only one or two players in their starting line up who are actually ethnically French. A number of my French friends see France as more of a "pan-African" team, while one of my friends from Senegal longs for the day that Senegal would become a good enough team to lure some of its best players, like Patrick Vieira, back to play for them.
If Veira played for Senegal, Makelele for Zaire, Trezeguet for Argentina, Henry and Thuram for Guadalupe, France would be the first country to have no team whatsoever. I agree that there should be restrictions about who should be allowed to play where, but it is not teams like Italy who are stepping over that line.
John Libertino
Thank Goodness some of the previous posters agree that Amauri should not be considered an option for the Azzurri. I don't care how good he is, he's not Italian. It's just so sad how low we can stoop. Once again showing our lack of pride and not realising the quality we have in Italy.
How can the four-time world champions have to resort to calling a foreigner to the team? It’s just an absolute disgrace. As an Italian living abroad whose closest friends are Brazilian, Argentine, Greek, etc, I am going to be ridiculed and justifiably so.
And whether we lack strikers or not, it's the national team, why all of a sudden is it becoming like a club team. The Azzurri are my greatest passion, but should I see Amauri, Taddei or any non-Italian on the team I will give up on this passion.
I've seen this decline in Italian pride over the past years. We do not realise what we have whether it be in soccer, fashion, cars, etc. We’re always quick to compliment others rather than appreciate our own. You would think Gucci, Versace, Prada, Ermengilda Zegna were not from Italy... I will let the FIGC know what an absolute disgrace it would be to call upon a foreign player.
DP
It’s bad enough having an Argentine in the team, now you want a Brazilian. What next, asking a foreign Coach to take over if Roberto Donadoni fails?
Nick Biondi
Amauri doesn’t even want to play for Italy, he has said many times his dream is to play for Brazil. The Azzurri should be a team built of Italian players living their dream, not a team or foreigners playing for any county who will accept them.
Joe, Brooklyn, NY
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