Faroe Islands v Italy: Savior Pippo, Part Deux

By: Martha | June 3rd, 2007

[The caption for this photo in the Gazzetta is "Roberto Donadoni preoccupied in park bench." It strikes me that "BOOBS!" might have been more appropriate, but I like that the irony even comes through Google translate.]

Though I was denied the game by the cruelty of Portuguese cable (Apparently the Portuguese were expected to watch only their team — on one of two channels — or France and Ukraine. RAI Uno went black during the match, possibly in mourning for the performance.), by all accounts it was crap, so perhaps it’s just as well to have been spared.

Though the Azzurri won and therefore achieved bottom-line success, that was never going to be enough for the media, fans, coach or players, all of whom are quite rightly varying degrees of unhappy. While it was diverting and sort of cool to see Donadoni start with three ostensible attackers, as well as Palermo’s Aimo Diana, who was making his first national team appearance in almost two years, the lack of sharpness and focus quickly obliterated any excitement Azzurri fans had about the match.

Though Pippo — whose lack of regular playing time during the season has mercifully left him fitter and healthier than most of the Azzurri core — finished twice, he was one of many Italians guilty of missing gilt-edge chances, carelessness that very nearly (and I can’t believe I’m about to type this) let the Faroes back into the game. And, yes, they eventually scored, a goal which surely must be the low point of Gigi Buffon’s career. The goalscorer — one Rogvi Jacobsen — isn’t a professional footballer, you know. He’s a carpenter, out hammering and sawing while Gigi and his mates are busy winning the World Cup, being media darlings, and making zillions of dollars. (You gotta admit, that’s pretty cool. I wonder if it’s a holiday today in the Faroes.)

Anyway, three points are three points, and after the reception the Azzurri performance is getting in the media, I wouldn’t want to be Lithuania on Wednesday.