World Cup Discussion Thread

[eppie]

Juventus to Serie C? :lol: How funny, but perhaps that would be just. Inter or AC to Serie B? While I was in Italy, Forza Napoli was demoted to Serie B, which was a sad day. Maybe they can stay in Serie A with Juventus and a few of the other powers being demoted? That would be good.

AC Milan is usually called Milan, while Internazionale di Milano is called Inter.
AS Napoli is now in Serie C1.....they had lots of troubles also with corruption. In the years that they won the Serie A wth Maradona the stories of corruption and drugs money were numerous. Later they couldn't get their finances in order and were declared bankrupt. From SSC Napoli and AS Napoli, now they are called Napoli soccer. They times they became champion must have been fantastic especially in the spanish quarters in Napoli.....complete and utter chaos.....if you can find a documentary about Maradona in his Napoli years buy it....this is great. The people from Napoli saw this as a liberation or victory from/on the north.

As to my fan preferences, I would be rooting for i Azzuri if it weren't for the cheap crap they pulled in the US match, and their overall tendency to act and dive. That match (the US side was not blameless at all, nor were the officials) put me off of rooting for Italy this cup. I must say, they played well vs Ukr and Ger.

As to the last, I lived in Italy for three years. I like Italy a great deal. I got to see the Italy/Russia Cup Aqualifying match (late 97/early 98) in the San Paolo stadium in Bella Napoli. I had a great time, what with all the explosions and stuff being thrown through the air. :w00t: (Italy 1-0, Gianfranco Zola did not score, which was a disapointment. He was one of my favorite Italian players.) Ravinelli played the thug all game long.)

Had the US-Italy match been cleaner, perhaps I'd cheer for Italy. Germany got my backing once USA had flailed its way out of the Cup. I grew up on soccer watching Gerd Muller and Franz Beckenbauer play, so my affections for German soccer tend start there in World Cup play. Ever since Sheerer left the UK side, I find it hard to vote for them, though Gascoine's departure pleased me.

Occhi

I understand what you mean. I always have problems supporting south european football teams I absolutely dslike their way of playing. Portugal this year was a great example. The fact is, football is so popular in a country like Italy......and so many people have strong feelings for their teams, that results are more important than nice games. As long as the football teams don't loose their fans and sponsors this will never change.