Straight & Fast

I am ashamed. Completely and totally ashamed in Italy today. I have never been more embarrassed to support a squad as I was today. Not because they lost, but how they lost. From the first whistle, they abandoned every tactic they’d used to get them into the final. They threw away the style of play that led them to the brink of greatness and opted for careless, mindless, wasteful football. It honestly looked as if they weren’t even trying. They were so wasteful in possession, oftentimes looking directly at a Spanish defender before gifting him the ball, as if they didn’t care to try to score or make any real effort. Then their was the shift in attitude for Italy. As if it wasn’t bad enough that they played without effort or passion from the first whistle, they gave up on the match after the first goal was scored. Seeing the lack of focus, the lack of caring or will to win, seeing the Italians act like they had nothing to play for made me completely ashamed of them. Leonardo Bonucci was exposed for what he is: a defensive liability. His lack of effort and scattered focus helped Spain take advantage. Then in the second half with the team refusing the get back on defense, preferring to yell at referees and give up on plays rather than defend and prevent goals was even more pathetic. Italy were a sad group of players and I’ve never been more disappointed in them.

Oh Germany, you were Klose, but no cigar. 

Crow. It’s what you’re eating tonight. What happened on the pitch, that’s what it looks like when an arrogant group of chokers gets what’s coming to them. Germany are a team that haven’t proved a thing, haven’t won anything, and got beaten by a team that is full of winners, full of players that come up big for club and country, and full of players who know the joy of defeating arrogant Germans. Italy showed everyone the weakness of an overrated German side and showed why they deserve to be in the final. 

Germany can get absolutely bossed and pushed around by Portugal, get an incredible stroke of luck on a deflection to Gomez that allows them to win, but everyone acts like they dominated and should be feared. 

Spain can struggle mightily against Italy and blame the pitch for all their problems. Spain can play a mediocre match against Croatia and with one spot of good fortune manage to win, but everyone will act like they’re an unbeatable team that should be revered like they’re some sort of deities. 

But Italy can go out and absolutely manhandle, push around, and boss the living hell out of the 6th ranked team in the world, but Italy continues to get zero respect, zero recognition, and excuses are made every time Italy gets a positive result. Look, I don’t mind Italy being the underdog. But give respect where respect is due and stop turning a blind eye to the faults of teams that you claim to be almighty. 

Spain didn’t give Italy respect the last 2 times they played, and all they managed to do was lose and draw and make pitiful, childlike excuses on both occasions. Germany hasn’t given Italy any respect the last 3 occasions they’ve played and all they’ve managed is 2 losses and a draw. Italy deserve much, much more respect than they’re given and I’m getting tired of seeing all these arrogant “fans” disrespecting my team.

Nobody gave us a chance against Spain the last two times we’ve played them. We outmatched them, outclassed them, and outplayed them on both occasions. Nobody gave us a chance against England. We dominated, we bossed them, and got the win we deserved. Now, nobody is giving us a chance against Germany. The last time Germany and Italy met, it was a 1-1 draw last year. I don’t mind Italy being the underdog at all. We will not back down. We will not give up. We will fight, and we will prove everybody wrong.