Italy were virtually on the road to elimination during the qualifying rounds of the 1982 World Cup in Spain, until Francesco Graziani’s sixtieth minute goal - against minnows Cameroon – ensured the draw and the vital point to the put them through to the second round. In doing so, the Italians joined the group based in Barcelona alongside favourites Brazil and the talented title holders from Argentina – which included Diego Maradona. Then in a closely contested match on a hot July afternoon Paul Rossi dispatched three stunning goals eliminating Brazil and set Tardelli and company unexpectedly to a semi-final at the Camp Nou against Poland.
Two more goals from the indomitable Rossi secured a place on the Madrid final and the rest was history - as Marco Tardelli is living proof.
In 2012 the much un-fancied Italians arrive in the wake of a betting scandal, not dissimilar to 2006, and currently engulfing Serie A, which judging by a lethargic performance against Russia in their last friendly before arriving in Poland, showed a general look of disinterest. But then the history from that world cup in Germany ]proved that despite their internal troubles, Forza Italia went home with the FIFA World Cup trophy courtesy of some phenomenal defending from Fabio Cannavaro and cohorts - undoing a much fancied French team. It would therefore unwise to make a prediction about their EURO 2012 prospects given the similar background.
But if there is ever a time to meet Italy in a major tournament it seems the earlier the better is the preference. At EURO 2008 in Austria and Switzerland Italy lost their opening game against the Netherlands by three goals to nil, drew the second one apiece with Romania and fell to France – yet made it to the quarterfinals. The memory of Giants Stadium at USA 1994 is enough supporting evidence, as is the memory of Ray Houghton's 11th minute goal that sent a shudder through New Jersey.
Spain’s comprehensive win over Korea and the resurgence of one Fernando Torres – albeit their scoring record throughout qualifying is not much better than the Republic of Ireland’s – shows a side coming into form. Even on foot of a season where Barcelona only secured the Copa del Rey, David Villa continues to be out with injury, and Real Madrid failed in their Champions League quest. Undoubtedly raising questions about whether Del Bosque’s side can retain the EURO trophy. Or play the champagne style football that so resonated during the 2008 tournament, masterminded by Luis Aragones – the manager who discovered Torres at Atletico Madrid.
It could be that the World Champions fall back into errors of their previous ways now that the players have achieved all their sporting ambitions. The only statistic that favours a Republic of Ireland perspective is that Spain have only beaten Italy once in a major tournament - the win on penalties at Ernst-Happel-Stadion, Vienna in June 2008. In Boston in 1994 Spain were a surprise casualty of the Italians at Foxboro Stadium after which they went on to the final at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.
Indeed until the jinx was broken in 2008 and 2010, Spain were always the ones that came with the talent, but when home empty handed through hapless misfortune. But five years of Pep Guardiola at Barcelona ensured a belief and a system for the core in the national squad - that would also accept nothing but victory. It would be foolish to expect that to have dissipated so quickly since South Africa. Although many teams now have learned to play successfully against the physically draining tikka-takka football so well practiced by Iniesta, Xavi and Co.
As England showed in their friendly earlier this year at Wembley.
But for Ireland the real worry is the opening game against a Croatian side that can be as unpredictable as it can be deadly in front of goal, and on their day can slay any team. Their major championship record proves that, albeit they no longer have the big names of yesteryear, with the added loss of Bayern Munich’s Ivica Olic to prove costly. But Bilic is shrewd and has undone a number of major sides before, including Germany in the opening game at EURO2008. In that same run the former West Ham player also downed Austria and Poland in the group stage – albeit by small 1-0 margins.
All enough to almost reach a place in the semi finals, only for a penalty shootout against Turkey in Vienna to go wrong.
However in more recent years they have flattered to deceive and most notably in the 2010 world cup campaign when Fabio Capello’s England beat them 9 -2 over two legs – despite much bluff from Bilic.
In watching the Republic of Ireland play their final friendly against Hungary this week, the worries remain - that a similar playing style as Croatia could be undo – against the staid 4-4-2 formation so loved by Trapattoni. Which looked more than vulnerable on Monday night. Also a wake up call to the European type of football that is anathema to the Premier League most days of the week.
As a European Championship is a shorter tournament, unlike the world cup, there are no Mickey mouse games either in the early rounds. So every game counts and a similar lacklustre performance as evidenced in Budapest would suggest an easy defeat to Croatia this weekend. Unlikely perhaps as Trapattoni has already made soundings of a change in approach.
A flexibility unknown here to for.
Clearly a place in the quarterfinal; is not beyond the Republic of Ireland and might come with three draws – that would set the group into a log jam as none of the teams are huge goal scorers. For the record the number goals scored by all teams in qualifying remains pretty similar – Spain 26, Italy 20, Croatia 21 and Ireland 20. But Italy have the lowest goals conceded - with two – which is no surprise.
The added bonus for the Republic of Ireland maybe a lucky manager, born on the national Saints day March 17th - even if he does not hold a great record at his one and only major tournament in 2002 in Korea and Japan with Italy.
After winning the first match against Ecuador, Italy then controversially lost to Croatia in Ibaraki by two goals to one and snatched a much needed draw – a late moment of magic from Alessandro Del Piero – against Mexico to make the second round. But a match up with the speed and endless running of hosts South Korea, under the tutelage of Guus Hiddink was a step too far for Il Trap. Especially down to ten men when Totti was controversially sent off.
At the EURO’s the Italian’s experience is limited to his playing days in 1964, where in the old format of home and away matches, the USSR eliminated Italy in the qualifying stages – in a championship eventually won by Spain in front of their home fans in Madrid.
But it could be third time lucky for Il Trap and match meeting Italy in the quarterfinals of the 1990 world cup in Rome. In the same way Jack Charlton undid his own country in Stuttgart in 1998, Trapattoni could be on the same course in June 18 in Poznan.
Now where’s Ray Houghton when we need him?
©OSM
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