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| | Sunday 15 June, 2008 | | Blog: O ye of little faith | | Italy can still qualify, but Susy Campanale feels all the talk of Holland’s possible ‘fix’ with Romania is only doing harm |  |  | | Once again the Azzurri find their fate out of their hands going into the final group game, as Romania’s victory against an already-qualified Holland would automatically eliminate the world champions. It is a situation they found themselves in four years ago with Denmark and Sweden coming to a frankly improbable 2-2 draw – the only result that would send both Scandinavians through. Are we to expect a similar Dutch stitch-up? Is there any point in playing at all? With that kind of attitude, Italy deserve to go out.
I like a conspiracy theory as much as the next person, but in this case I find the degree of certainty we’ll be ripped off to be disconcerting. Cynicism permeates the Italian game so much that headlines of stunned admiration were reserved when Siena managed to stall Inter’s title celebrations despite having nothing to play for. I am glad to say the Dutch do not share such a bleak view of the sport and always go out to win.
Even if they were tempted to walk the final game, there are many reasons why we should have faith in Marco Van Basten’s squad. The former Milan star is a good friend to Italian football and Roberto Donadoni, his erstwhile golfing buddy and holiday companion, so he knows the wrath he’d face if something dodgy were to take place on the pitch.
Secondly, the complaints have been that Holland will field a second-string side. Look at those Oranje reserves for a moment, as they are going to include the likes of Robin Van Persie, Khalid Boulahrouz, Johnny Heitinga, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Ibrahim Afellay and an Arjen Robben seeking match fitness. Hardly lambs to the slaughter, are they? If anything they’ll be eager to prove themselves worthy of getting a shot later in the competition.
Another issue I have with the victim mentality is that it ignores the facts. Even if Romania did beat Holland, it would not be such a surprise. They have gone unbeaten against the two World Cup Finalists and finished in front of the Dutch in qualifying, having earned a win and a draw. Evidently their system works against Holland and we do them and Van Basten a great disservice by assuming that result must mean a conspiracy.
The very worst aspect of all this pre-emptive bleating is the self-destructive effects on the Italy squad. Everyone is so worked up about urging Holland on that they have forgotten there’s the small matter of beating France – something they have not achieved inside 90 minutes since 1978. Add in the protests and demands of a public apology for Luca Toni’s incorrectly disallowed goal and we have the clichéd apoplectic Italian response to a simple error, always seeing the dark undercurrents to everything.
Circling the wagons to lock out the Calciopoli attacks proved decisive in uniting the side for the 2006 World Cup, but now it just sounds like lazy cynicism to defend a likely elimination. If Italy do go out in the first round, they have nobody to blame but themselves.
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One thing confuses me about Susy Campanale's column on the prospect of Holland allowing Romania to win - who exactly has suggested such a scenario? Roberto Donadoni has briefly stated that he has 100% confidence in Holland's integrity. To my knowledge no other Italian squad member has aired an opinion on the subject, so who exactly is 'bleating'.....could it be that it's the media themselves (including you Susy) who are attempting to stoke the fire in order to fill column space in their newspapers?
Bruno
Just for info: "There’s the small matter of beating France"
This is not a necessity in the case Holland beats Romania, as a score draw would be sufficient, even a 0-0 draw would be enough in case Holland wins with a difference of 3 or more goals.....
Arjen
What annoys me most is the refereeing of the Italy games, denying a perfectly good Luca Toni goal. It was a disgrace and has potentially cost Italy the opportunity of making it through to the next stage. I bet had it been an Italian player taken down in the box, a penalty would not have been awarded. Luckily for us, Buffon showed why he is the best goallie in the world by making the save from Mutu's spot kick.
My other issue is, why is it that Italy who are World Champions are not seeded in this tournament? It is a disgrace as well. Copping such a hard group to begin with whilst the others like Spain and Portugal hammer the "easybeats". It's not right and it needs to be changed immediately.
I guarantee Italy will hammer France and make it through to the next stage. At the end of the day, we have the Serie A, what does France have? Just a B-grade league whose teams would struggle to beat our Melbourne Victory of Australia.
David, Melbourne Australia
I’ve been a true Azzurri fan since I watched my first World Cup in 1970 with my papa'. I’ve always had faith in them even when up against it all and yes we have had a lot go against us in the years: 1996 in the group of death, 2004 yet again and now. Also so many offsides in World Cup 2002 and yes now in this tournament. Why do UEFA always change the offside rules before a tournament? They might as well forget the ruling of offside as it contradicts itself every time and there no consistency with the refs. I hope we beat France and Holland do the same in their match as I think they would like to beat Romania for beating them in the qualifying stages.
Italy will do us proud, they always do. Heads up all you Azzurri fans and hopefully meet the Dutch in the semis like eight years ago.
Gino
I think that Susy is right as usual and have great respect for her opinion. We need to accept a few things that we haven't been able to at this point. Holland are a great team that are playing outstanding football. Romania are a strong, well organised team and haven't lost to France, Italy or Holland in qualifying. Would it be so improbable that they can beat Holland have done so once in qualifying already?
Also I think we have to accept that both Italy and France are both aging sides that need to be rebuilt. I don't think that they have done anything wrong but get old and unfortunately they have come up against an outstanding young technical Dutch team. Anyway whatever happens on Tuesday, Italy must beat France for themselves more than any other reason. Even if Italy go out, beating the French would be the perfect chance to end an 30 year jinx which in the long term could be very important.
Looking to the future can Italy make a good challenge for 2010? There are good Italian youngsters coming through, but they need to be given a chance at club level. Are you listening INTER? Also when you take the two Italy teams that started the World Cup Finals in 1934 and 1938 (both won by Italy) only two of the 11 players featured in both. The side got ripped apart and rebuilt from scratch over the four years. I think history needs to repeat itself.
Enrico, Essex
I couldn't agree with your article more. A lot of bad blood when there’s no point crying over spilt milk.... Coming from a region where many just support the English Premier League, many of my peers are quick to stereotype Italian football as slow, boring and rigged by the mafia. Nonetheless I'm still a hardcore Bianconeri and will support the Azzurri for life, but I think perhaps in times of difficulty the management should just learn to knuckle down quietly. Perhaps some good might come from it if the Azzurri focused more on the job at hand and with less irritated officials maybe things might work out well. La speranza è sempre l’ultima a morire, Forza Italia!
Nigel
I agree with you that the Italians are clinging too much to the Holland game and not giving the last match against France their total attention. But you gotta understand this isn't a result of just one game it is a host of so many games, so many goals disallowed and so many players sent off controversially for Italy. The
Italians had endured the early elimination by these "conspiracies" from three major tournaments: the 2002 World Cup, Euro 2004 and this one right now. They just had it with the likes of stupid refs!! I have had it!!
It's true the boys didn't do that well for the World Cup holders and one of the favourites of the group but that doesn't give UEFA the permission to walk all over us by appointing refs that probably have been told the result in advance.
Back to Van Basten and Holland, the guy doesn't owe the Italians anything and he has every right to field the team he likes. Whether he decides to play the reserves or the reserves of the reserves I am sure Italy would have done the same if they were in Holland's shoes. What also bugs me is the fact that Romania beat Holland in the qualifications so it won't be weird or unusual of they did that again. Anyways, I just hope Italy do well in the last game, at least give us a win against France.
Mohammed Ahmed Al Nuaimi
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