Nesta Muttering About Quitting Azzurri (Before He’s Dropped)
By: Martha | November 13th, 2006
Alessandro Nesta is reportedly telling friends he’s thinking about retiring from international play. And when I say “telling friends” I mean speaking in language so flowery I pray it’s a bad translation. To wit: “You cannot always keep the lucidity playing at these rhythms, I’m thinking of leaving the National team.” Yeah, I think that’s just how Maldini put it, too.
Really, his retirement would be a win-win situation: Italy don’t have to deal with having a space cadet who thinks his name alone will make him a good defender in the middle of the back, and Nesta gets to go out on a wave of praise. He won’t have to deal with the embarrassment (and, if Donadoni has any balls, seeming inevitability) of being dropped, and the moment the Azzurri defense has a bad day in his absence, the papers will be full of calls for his return. What’s not to like?
According to Goal.com Nesta is thinking of leaving Milan as well — they say the player wants to end his career back at Lazio, and that Milan aren’t real jazzed about keeping a guy whose form has been slipping and who isn’t getting younger. While the first part of that statement seems reasonable, any sharp-eyed reader will quickly realize that the bit about Milan wanting to unload him is entirely fictional — as if Milan care (or even notice) when their backs get old.
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Comments
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I want to cry… Nesta ACT ALIVE
Posted from
Australia
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A bit harsh I think. Yes, Nesta has constant problems with his health and he’s been having a bad year so far, but jeez. Did you want Cannavaro to retire after a couple of bad years with Inter at the same age? And Nesta’s not old for a defender, even at 30. Do you want Materazzi and Cannavaro to retire, too? They’re older. And I don’t know who you see as the big wave of Azzurri CBs ready to take their elders’ places.
Nesta plays very well next to Cannavaro on the national team when he’s not hurt, and that was evident in the World Cup before his injury. I don’t think it’s quite yet time to bury Nesta’s career. Donadoni has displayed a willingness to sit Nesta when he believes that he’s not in form, which is a good thing, but for him to retire completely is unnecesary.
Posted from
United States -
While the stuff about his age was said mostly in jest, Louise, I daresay that Nesta has been pretty dismal of late. He’s making at least one major error in every match (leading directly to goals against Roma and Palermo), and isn’t exactly inspiring confidence. Really, blaming it on his age is probably kind, since he can’t control that and therefore is blameless!
Posted from
United States -
As I said, I understand he’s been out of form this year, but I still don’t think that’s a reason he should completely retire from the National Team.
Despite a number of things going on in his life and the dismal state of Milan, there is no excuse for Nesta’s play–he is to blame and needs to find his form. But Nesta still has to be considered a great CB and when he does improve, I want him to be available for the Azzurri. (end of Nesta apologist rant)
Love the blog, by the way.
Posted from
United States -
Thanks for your kind words, Louise!
And, believe it or not, I love Milan — trust me, when Nesta returns to form, I’ll be the happiest wrong person around.
Posted from
United States -
I love Nesta I love Cannavaro i dont want either to retire i just want nesta to start playing how he used to and Cannavaro to never get old
Posted from
Australia -
well i think now that italy won the WC, all the older players should move aside, appart from Canna who is the capitan … this Euro should be all about bring up young players … he should field a really yung team, the up and comming players from the U 21 (and they have some awsome young talent comming up) even if it meanss they dont do to well at Euro .. so that come the WC in 4 yrs time, these players will be ready to contest for the title again
Posted from
Australia -
Who exactly are “all the older players”? If whoever they are can still play, they shouldn’t arbitrarily be kicked off the team. Italy’s goal should be winning Euro 2008 if only to prove all of the Italian football naysayers wrong and to do that, we need the best Italian players on the pitch.
Posted from
United States -
I agree that they should won Euro just to shut all the azzurri haters up (if reading this azzurri haters SHUT UP) Technically they have already won Euro as they have won the world cup and Europe is apart of the world
Posted from
Australia
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