Why not Italy?

[Il Medico]

I am a rather causal football watcher and don't really get super into it. I've been reading stuff that I commandeer from my job about the world cup and whenever they are talking about contenders, they never mention Italy. I was wondering why this is, Italy is the reigning champs, why is no one even considering them? Have they gotten that bad since 2006 or something. :confused:

Also, from what I hear, the everybody seems to think that it will be Brazil v Spain in the final. Or Brazil v Argentina. What do you guys think?

[Raúl Duke]

Many people speak that Italians play a very "defensive" football game and they were never considered to be contenders for the last world cup and that they won by luck.


Also, from what I hear, the everybody seems to think that it will be Brazil v Spain in the final. Or Brazil v Argentina. What do you guys think? If this is the case go Spain/Argentina!

I'm against Brazil winning since everyone (specifically people who aren't Brazilian) sucks up to them (or used to) in the states.

Although an Argentinian win against Brazil will be a shit-show.

[Bandito]

I know why I won't be cheering for them.
They have loads of fascists in the league and in the national team as well.
Just check Buffon, De Rossi and Aquilani.

[Raúl Duke]

I know why I won't be cheering for them.
They have loads of fascists in the league and in the national team as well.
Just check Buffon, De Rossi and Aquilani.

This is true, in Italy I think one Milan team and especially one Rome team (SS Lazio, I think...) is known to be right-wing.

In Italy I prefer Fiorentina, Juventus, and Livorno.

But my preferred team is Barcelona.

Although I don't watch soccer much.

[Dr Mindbender]

Go North Korea (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8106203.stm).

:lol:

[Bandito]

AC Milan fans aren't generally political, but they are all pro-Berlusconi, who's the club's owner.
In Italy, Livorno and Atalanta have a long antifascist tradition, and Lazio and Inter are known fascists.

[4 Leaf Clover]

AC Milan fans aren't generally political, but they are all pro-Berlusconi, who's the club's owner.
In Italy, Livorno and Atalanta have a long antifascist tradition, and Lazio and Inter are known fascists.

ill tell you funny thing , im a long time lazio fan :D

actually since i was kid , when i discovered their pollitical background i couldnt just stop being a fan like that , you dont do that

Inter is not that radical right , their ultras groups are completely marginal anyway

the known far right are Lazio , Hellas Verona , Catania , Triestina , Ascoli , and similar

[farleft]

Argentina are not considered contenders despite the betting odds, they only just qualified for the world cup due to the managers (Maradonna) erratic team selections.

Brazil and Spain seem very likely, also England are in good shape with Capello at the helm, I think the bookies are putting England 4th favourites to win it.

[A.J.]

'Tis high time Argentina won the World Cup again.

[(A)(_|]

Well, I don't think Italy have ever been contenders for any previous world cup. A slice of luck there and some boring defensive play in another match and they're suddenly in the final. Spain and Brazil -last I saw- both rank 1st and 2nd in the rankings so that's pretty logical. Also Spain's considered to be having one of the best teams in all-time really. Unfortunately for them, they're also always over-hyped as being serious contenders, but in some way or another always get knocked out of the quarters or round of 16. After they won the Euro, people have been contemplating that they might have finally gotten rid of this curse, hence; why people are projecting them in the final.

[chebol]

Inter? Internazionale? "Known fascists"? Is this the same Inter that played a solidarity match with the Zapatistas? Get your facts straight. You meant AC Milan.

But yes, the Azzuri can go jump. Or have you forgotten a certain little racist outburst in the last WC grand final?

Germany all the way....

[MortyMingledon]

Inter? Internazionale? "Known fascists"? Is this the same Inter that played a solidarity match with the Zapatistas? Get your facts straight. You meant AC Milan.

But yes, the Azzuri can go jump. Or have you forgotten a certain little racist outburst in the last WC grand final?

Germany all the way....

I know it sounds ironic, but it is AC Milan that is generally regarded as left-wing, while Internazionale is more right-wing. AC historically drew its supporters from the working class and immigrants from Southern Italy, while Inter supporters were generally from the petit-bourgeousie. These boundaries have somewhat blurred now, but the general ideas assosciated with each club are still the same. And I don't think a solidarity match with the Zapatistas 100 years ago still counts for much.

[chebol]

I know it sounds ironic, but it is AC Milan that is generally regarded as left-wing, while Internazionale is more right-wing.

That's a mistaken outlook, for a few reasons.


AC historically drew its supporters from the working class and immigrants from Southern Italy, while Inter supporters were generally from the petit-bourgeousie. These boundaries have somewhat blurred now, but the general ideas assosciated with each club are still the same.


Historically perhaps, but historically, Inter has also had a large internationalist (and anti-nationalist) following and philosophy, having being founded on those principles in fact, and that was why the Fascists didn't trust it (much like the Nazis when confronted with Unterhaching), forcing it to merge with another club in '28, and creating a conflicted political fanbase in the process.

More recently, you need also to take into account the painfully long time that AC has now been owned by the closest thing to a genuine fascist Italy currently has - Silvio Berlusconi - and you need to remember that class origin of *some* fans doesn't equate to the politics of the whole club.

Does Inter have some fascist fans? Yes. Does it have more internationalist and socialst fans? Yes. So, case not made out. But... read on...


And I don't think a solidarity match with the Zapatistas 100 years ago still counts for much.

Um. No. Try more like 10 years ago. Not 100. As in, with Subcomandante Marcos' men. As in, actually fairly recent news, and therefore somewhat relevant to the outlook of Inter.

Once again - you have the wrong end of the stick.

If you're looking for a rightwing club, Lazio's right there. But Inter's history, allegiances and makeup are much more complicated than you try to make out.

That said, I have little interest in the Serie-A. Come on Unterhaching and Liverpool!!!

[Comrade Cat]

Rome ,Milan,Inter and Lazio ultrà groups are mostly fascists.
Inter at least from 70's has always been traditionally regarded as a team supported by fascists. Milan supporters were comrades during 70's but afterwards they became more and more unpolitical until the largest group finally dismantled 2/3 years ago

[praxis1966]

I am a rather causal football watcher and don't really get super into it. I've been reading stuff that I commandeer from my job about the world cup and whenever they are talking about contenders, they never mention Italy. I was wondering why this is, Italy is the reigning champs, why is no one even considering them? Have they gotten that bad since 2006 or something. :confused:

Also, from what I hear, the everybody seems to think that it will be Brazil v Spain in the final. Or Brazil v Argentina. What do you guys think?

Because the only thing Italy's good at these days is conning referees and elbowing people in the face. Bunch of cheating bastards. Besides, they're ancient in footy terms. Their average age is 28, and over half their starting XI is 32 years old or older. That age is especially present in the center of their defense, where they totally lack the speed necessary to contain the younger, more athletic forwards nearly everybody else has.

And I think it's going to be Spain, England, Brazil, and Argentina in the semis, with Spain walking away with the cup in a 2-1 win over Brazil.

[farleft]

hahaha Italy out in the first round, bottom of a group that includes part-timers in the New Zealand team :thumbup1:

[praxis1966]

hahaha Italy out in the first round, bottom of a group that includes part-timers in the New Zealand team :thumbup1:

Haha You beat me to the punch. In response to the 'Why not Italy?' question, I was going to respond, 'Because they just got eliminated.'

[I.Drink.Your.Milkshake]

They have loads of fascists in the league and in the national team as well.


Fabio Capello was pro-Franco, too.

To answer the OP, Italy were generally not considered favourites this time around because the best players in their squad all played last time 'round and are generally considered too old for it nowadays. 4 years is a long time in football. The younger players are not of the quality of those they replaced. Not yet, at least.

Personally i hate them because they tend to be a boring shower of diving, cheating, crybaby showponies. To be fair i dont think the diving and cheating hasnt been so bad this time around, but boring? Yep. They started playing attacking football with 15 minutes to go in their final game at 2-0 down. They deserve everything they get. Fuck them.


At the start of the tournament i had a fiver on a Argentina - Brazil final.

Then again i also had a fiver on Peter Crouch to be top goalscorer, so...

[farleft]

Haha You beat me to the punch. In response to the 'Why not Italy?' question, I was going to respond, 'Because they just got eliminated.'

Brilliant lol

[Il Medico]

Haha You beat me to the punch. In response to the 'Why not Italy?' question, I was going to respond, 'Because they just got eliminated.'
Oh come now. I asked this along time ago. :glare:

[praxis1966]

Oh come now. I asked this along time ago. :glare:

:laugh: I know, but I hate the way Italy play so I used this thread as an excuse to talk shit. lulz