The Mayor of Bari has assured Marcello Lippi he will not receive a hostile reception despite freezing out local hero Antonio Cassano.
The media uproar over Cassano’s absence from the Italy squad has caused a very tense atmosphere for the April 1 World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland.
The match will be hosted by Bari’s Stadio San Nicola and there are fears the local fans could turn against Lippi because of the Cassano snub.
“Bari is the city most tied to the Nazionale,” insisted Mayor Michele Emiliano ahead of the encounter.
“We will support Italy with all our passion from the opening whistle to the final kick of the game.”
This is going to be the eighth time the Azzurri have played in Bari and so far they have a 100 per cent record in this city.
The first event was a 3-1 friendly win over Czechoslovakia on December 14, 1947, while the most recent was a 2-0 Euro 2008 qualifier against Scotland on March 28, 2007.
It would not be the first time that Italy have played to a hostile crowd on their own soil, as the 1990 World Cup semi-final in Naples was marred by some sections of the home fans supporting Diego Armando Maradona’s Argentina.
Florence was also a very tricky place for the Azzurri to play for several years, as the Viola supporters felt the international scene ignored its local club stars.
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