Yet again Italy have emerged from the darkness of a domestic Serie A scandal to waltz through a major football tournament to reach a final that few would have predicted at the outset of EURO 2012. What’s more, they will now have a new belief that took Cannavaro to lift the trophy in Berlin six years ago, dismissing France in the final using a more typical style of Calcio – which on the day worked. As it has done as far back as the football records exist.
After all they hold four world cup titles from 1934, 1938, 1982 and 2006. They were also runners up in 1970 and 1994, with third places secured in 1990. At the same time in European Championships they won in 1968 and were runners-up in 2000.
The shock for Germany is that their dominance of the EURO’s is now but a distant memory with wins back in 1972, 1980 and 1996; second places finishes in 1976 and 1992 – with the most recent lost final in 2008.
This year was deemed the breakthrough for Germany, although a meeting with Italy was not part of the preferred plan given that in seven meetings - at either European or World Cup tournaments - Germany have failed to overcome, in football at least, their Southern European partners. A statistic that remains unchanged still today following the two goals from Italian striker Mario Balotelli and the unceremonious demotion of the champions apparent. Nothing learned either from the slip up on home soil in Dortmund in the 2006 World Cup semi-final.
So after Thursday night in Warsaw that sense of crisis will return once again to German football last time the national team held a major trophy is now more than a generation in the past. The unexpected loss to Chelsea by Bayern Munich in the Champions League final at the Allianz Arena in May would only add to a new period of self evaluation.
With a team averaging 23 years of age the German Football Federation [DFB] was looking to change history at EURO 2012 after the close calls in 2008 and 2010, which were also supposed to have helped the team mature. But Italy unexpectedly unravelled the German driving machine – in the same way Ferrari have undone Mercedes on more than one occasion in Formula 1 – and when tested Joachim Loew’s team had no gear change.
That sense of crisis came long before the EURO 2012 semi-final this week, or the loss in Durban to Spain in the 2010 World Cup semi-final. Or indeed in Vienna to Spain at the EURO 2004 final, but back in 1997 when Borussia Dortmund won the Champions League, and Schalke 04 became UEFA Cup champions.
Albeit the crisis identified at that time was a lack of quality players coming through the Bundesliga.
The match against Italy in the quarter-final was another test of the progress made with the current talent pool and the shortcomings found on this occasion were that the German system could be easily unsettled. And not unlike South Africa, the central defensive partnership this time a round was just as vulnerable as Per Mertesacker and Christoph Metzelder were in Durban - under the Spanish inquisition. Although in Warsaw the captain Philippe Lahm was uncharacteristically away from home when Andrea Pirlo released his pass for Super Mario’s goal number two.
As a stalwart of the German side for more than eight years Lahm was unfortunate to be caught out this time – given his usual reliability and leadership. But that’s football.
For Italian boss, Cesare Prandelli, it has been a tumultuous few weeks which all started out with the match fixing scandal, and affecting some of the players in the original squad. The sense of shame being such that Prandelli himself was ready to support any plan to have Italy banned from future International football. or if needed, leave the EURO 2012 tournament itself.
It also pitched him at the group stage against the Republic of Ireland in the third match and his former boss at Juventus, Giovanni Trapattoni, where he played in midfield from 1979 – 1985. And left him having to manage the demands of the raw diamond that is Mario Balotelli, having left him out of game against Croatia. The reward from the Manchester City striker was a superb gaol that ensured a 2-0 win over the Irish and set Italia on their way to the quarterfinal.
A day also where the master was taught a tough life lesson by his former pupil. And ahead of the final it is worth noting that the two teams have emerged out of Group C - from where Trapattoni fancied his chances of making an impact at this tournament.
This illusory aspiration was highlighted further by the game plan Prandelli adopted in the semi-final - ditching his teachings at Juventus under Il Trap to play a more modern counter attack system. Still reliant on good zone defense but hinging on the quick release of the ball very quickly by Pirlo - once possession was regained from any German attack. The manager’s faith in Balotelli for such a key game is reminiscent of Roberto Mancini at City, and both have been able to exact a response from the talented – but moody - striker.
The two goals in Warsaw that destroyed the most careful German planning showed a style of football of the golden days of Italian attacking play from 1994, 1990, 1982, 1970 and parts of 2006 world cup. Away from the negativity of 2002 where Italy were knocked out in the group stage.
If Italy can retain that formula the attacking flair of Cassano and Super Marion will bring down Spain. A team still debating whether to play or not to play a centre forward. Based on the destruction of Germany by Prandelli the final will be an intriguing contest, with holders about to relinquish their EURO title.
Hail Cesare!
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