footballspectator

At the 2002 World Cup Azzurri squad members were heavily criticised for not singing the Italian national anthem. As a result the authorities decided to act to ensure that for this World Cup the players knew the words of the anthem and sang them.

At the first match against Ghana, the coaching seemed to have paid off. All players sang the anthem, with one notable exception - Mauro Camoranesi. Camoranesi is an Argentinean by birth. He liked many other players in this tournament took up citizenship of his adopted country for “professional” reasons. When asked why he did not sing the anthem, Camoranesi left Italians in no doubt where his loyalty lies. He replied that he did not know the words of the Italian anthem and went on to add that “to be honest, I don’t even know the words of my own country’s anthem“.

At footballspectator we have decided to help Camoranesi out and provide him with the words and music (click on the country name) of both the Italian anthem (for when he is playing) and the Argentinean anthem (for when he is watching)…

Italy

Fratelli d’Italia
L’Italia s’è desta,
Dell’elmo di Scipio
S’è cinta la testa.
Dov’è la Vittoria?
Le porga la chioma,
Ché schiava di Roma
Iddio la creò.

Stringiamci a coorte
Siam pronti alla morte
L’Italia chiamò.

Noi siamo da secoli
Calpesti, derisi,
Perché non siam popolo,
Perché siam divisi.
Raccolgaci un’unica
Bandiera, una speme:
Di fonderci insieme
Già l’ora suonò.

Stringiamci a coorte
Siam pronti alla morte
L’Italia chiamò.

Uniamoci, amiamoci,
l’Unione, e l’amore
Rivelano ai Popoli
Le vie del Signore;
Giuriamo far libero
Il suolo natìo:
Uniti per Dio
Chi vincer ci può?

Stringiamci a coorte
Siam pronti alla morte
L’Italia chiamò.

Dall’Alpi a Sicilia
Dovunque è Legnano,
Ogn’uom di Ferruccio
Ha il core, ha la mano,
I bimbi d’Italia
Si chiaman Balilla,
Il suon d’ogni squilla
I Vespri suonò.

Stringiamci a coorte
Siam pronti alla morte
L’Italia chiamò.

Son giunchi che piegano
Le spade vendute:
Già l’Aquila d’Austria
Le penne ha perdute.
Il sangue d’Italia,
Il sangue Polacco,
Bevé, col cosacco,
Ma il cor le bruciò.

Stringiamci a coorte
Siam pronti alla morte
L’Italia chiamò

Argentina

¡Oid mortales! el grito sagrado:
¡Libertad, Libertad, Libertad!
Oid el ruido de rotas cadenas:
Ved en trono a la noble Igualdad.
¡Ya su trono dignísimo abrieron
Las provincias unidas del Sud!
Y los libres del mundo responden:
¡Al Gran Pueblo Argentino Salud!
¡Al Gran Pueblo Argentino Salud!
Y los libres del mundo responden:
¡Al Gran Pueblo Argentino Salud!
Y los libres del mundo responden:
¡Al Gran Pueblo Argentino Salud!

CHORUS (three times)

Sean eternos los laureles
Que supimos conseguir.
Coronados de gloria vivamos
O juremos con gloria morir.

When a picture of Michael Ballack wearing an “Italia” t-shirt appeared in the press, German fans were horrified, seeing it as a lack of commitment to the cause. Ballack defended his actions by saying that he wore it to bring the team luck as Italy was the country in which Germany won their last World Cup in 1990. What next? Will German players wearing brands of boots other than Adidas and Puma be accused of showing a lack of commitment too?

In a frustrating match in Berlin, Sweden edged Paraguay 1-0, thanks to Freddie Ljungberg’s deft header. Sweden were again poor in front of goal with superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic looking slow and unfit and wasting a good chance when he scuffed his shot when clean through. The problem is that Sweden are not Brazil. They not do not have superstars in reserve that they can call on when their first team do not perform. Instead, they have players like Marcus Allback - willing but ultimately useless. His attempt to chip excellent Paraguay goalie Bobadilla was a good example. Allback wheeled away to celebrate but suddenly realised he had not given his shot enough and turned back to try to make amends but it was too late as Caniza cleared off the line. A fit Zlatan would have buried that chance.

The Swedes now play England to decide first place in the group. If both continue to play as they have so far, this could rival France v Switzerland for the title of most boring match of the tournament. Germany and Ecuador should not be worried.

Best chance of winning the World Cup in 40 years? Give me a break! England were poor throughout today’s match and finally got out of jail courtesy of Peter Crouch’s 82nd minute goal. Steven Gerrard’s vicious drive in injury time only added to the sense of injustice.

The fact that Eriksson was forced to introduce an unfit Wayne Rooney in this game, sums up just how desperate England were - without him they are lost. They struggled to break down an organised but ultimately limited team. Bean pole striker Peter Crouch played as if he believed he was Maradona. Sadly for him, he has neither the touch nor the technique of Diegito. In the first half, Beckham’s cross picked him out unmarked in the 6 yard box. Rather than take his time to control the ball, Crouch attempted an acrobatic flying volley and put the ball 20 metres wide. Then, at the beginning of the second half, receiving the ball with his back to goal, he attempted to flick the ball up in the air and execute an overhead kick. The ball flew 15 metres above the goal. When he finally did score, through a header, it was mainly because he was about 40 cm taller than his marker.

So what of the other England players? Michael Owen must again be disappointed to be substituted. His confidence is clearly not improving. The normally clinical Lampard was also poor, missing several good chances. The only real pluses for England were the performances of substitute Aaron Lennon who made a substantial impact in taking on other players and Beckham’s precise delivery from set pieces.

T&T can take plenty of credit from their first appearance in a World Cup. They have run two of Europe’s football nations very close and owe a lot to the clever coaching of Beenhakker.

Tenorio, Delgado and Kaviedes gave Ecuador a well-deserved win over Costa Rica today. The 3-0 win meant the South Americans are through to the next round while their Caribbean cousins are out of the competition. Ecuador, who are taking part in only their second World Cup, looked solid throughout and appeared in control throughout.

They will face Germany next week in the decider for the top spot in Group A and might play England in the next round. If we were Sven, we’d feel safer playing Germany instead: the Ecuadorians look stronger than Ballack and co, not least as they have a defence worthy of the name… It’s refreshing to see a South American team other than Argentina or Brazil progress in the World Cup: keep it up Ecuador!

The Swiss Oliver Neuville who speaks Italian better than German was the Nationalmannschaft’s hero with his injury time winner over a vastly improved Poland which leaves Germany needing just 1 point to ensure qualification. Germany started well, vreating numerous chances which their forwards failed to put away. Indeed, both Klose and Podolski were guilty of missing the unmissable in the first half. Klose was totally unmarked yet put his free header wide from 2 metres out and Podolski somehow managed to put his shot wide from even closer. The Poles always looked dangerous on the break, but in a much better defensive performance, the Germans managed to keep them at bay.

Even following the sending off of Sobolewski, Germany seemed to be unable to capitalise on their superiority. In a comical sequence, Klose headed Lahm’s cross against the bar and Ballack following up smashed his shot against a near identical spot on the crossbar with just a couple of minutes left. However, it was Klinsmann’s substitutes which helped him out. Surprise squad inclusion David Odonkor crossed from the right and Neuville, sliding in at the near post, made no mistake.

Germany still look nowhere near as strong as the Czechs, Argentineans, Ivorians etc and they will be keen to avoid England in the last 16, especially if Rooney is able to play. The prospect should provide them with sufficient motivation to want to beat Ecuador.

Saudi Arabia are one of those team that are difficult to judge. In 1994 they played some great stuff, qualified for the second round having beaten Belgium and Morocco in the group stages and provided the goal of the tournament through Saeed Al Owairan. In 1998 and 2002 they were poor, suffering humiliating defeats. So the question was whether the 2006 version would be more 1994 or 1998/2002. The answer, following today’s entertaining draw with Tunisia in the battle of the Group H minnows was probably more 1994, although the Tunisians were the better side.

The Tunisians took the lead with a spectacular volley from Toulouse’s Zied Jaziri but the Saudis equalised through Al Kahtani and then took the lead in a dramatic style through veteran of 4 World Cups Sami Al Jaber. But the Tunisians earned a deserved draw through Jaidi’s header in stoppage time. Having watched the Ukrainians play, both teams will be confident of progressing to the second round.

Serial underachievers Spain got their World Cup off to a flying start today by beating the Ukraine 4-0. Xabi Alonso score the first via a header and David Villa was lucky to scored the next two. His first was a free kick which took a wicked deflection off the Ukrainian wall to give keeper Shovkovskiy no chance. His second from a “penalty” second was even more fortunate. Fernando Torres was apparently “brought down” by defender Vashchuk; yes Vashchuk had pulled Torres’s shorts momentarily outside the area, but this did not impede Torres from charging on and getting his shot off which was well saved by Shovkovskiy. As he shot, he slipped and upon falling flapped his arm at the referee, who was conned and gave a penalty. From then on it was all one-way traffic and Torres finished the Ukrainians off with a great fourth, volleying in Puyol’s knockdown from the edge of the box.

So what should we make of the Spanish? Are they finally set to deliver? They played well but they also enjoyed considerable luck. In addition the Ukraine were worse than terrible, with Shevchenko isolated and receiving no service. With matches against Saudi Arabia and Tunisia to come Spain should easily qualify for the next stage in from what is the easiest group..mind you Spain have been there before and failed.

Kaká scored a brilliant goal in the 44th minute and was Brazil’s best player as they struggled to beat Croatia. The Selecao were slow and lethargic with rumours of late night partying gaining considerable weight following on the basis of this performance. Ronaldo was the main culprit. He looked fat and was too lazy to run. He expected all passes to be played precisely to his feet otherwise he was not interested. When he was eventually substituted he seemed very eager to get off the pitch, probably in a hurry to get to a basket of hotdogs which awaited him on the bench…His replacement Robinho did more in his first five minutes than Ronaldo did in the whole match.

In defence, Brazil were incredibly suspect and must be thankful that the Croatians either chose the wrong option or shot straight at Dida otherwise they could well have been defeated.

So are they the best team in the tournament? Well, before Germany 2006 began, my belief was that the tournament was their’s to lose and that complacency was their biggest worry. Today’s performance showed just how complacent their preparations had been. Friendlies against New Zealand, Fluminese’s 2nd team and Lucerne did not provide the Brazilians with a stiff enough challenge. They’ll need to pull their socks up quickly (and drop Ronaldo) because Italy or the Czech Republic will not be as generous as Croatia in the knock-out stages.

The average number of goals per game in the World Cup prior to this one was approximately 2.5 but Switzerland and France tried their best to reduce this. There were few chances. Switzerland hit the post through Philippe Senderos’s first-half header and also went close when Barthez saved from Frei in the second-half. France looked like this World Cup was a step too far for Zidane, Vieira, Thuram et al. Thierry Henry, so clinical when playing for Arsenal was again poor and the lone sparks were provided by Ribery. The team needs rebuilding and coach Domenech must realise that the time of the golden generation that won the World Cup in 1998 and Euro 2000 is over. Last 16 for Les bleus maximum on this showing and only because they are in a weak group.

South Korea beat Togo 2-1 to record their first victory on European soil to go 2 points clear after France drew with Switzerland 0-0 in the afternoon kick-off. Despite the turmoil surrounding the resignation and then the return of coach Otto Pfister, the Togolese took the lead through Mohammed Kader’s neat finish in the 31st minute. However, the South Koreans hit back in the second half. Togo captain Abalo was sent off for a second bookable offence following a foul on Park Ji Sung and Lee Chun Soo scored from the resulting free-kick, heavily assisted by Togo goalkeeper Kossi Agassa, who open his arms like a traffic policeman to wave the ball through. Ahn Jung Hwan then scored the winner with a great finish in the 72 minute. Both teams are relatively weak and likely to finish in the bottom two places of the group but mcuh still depends on whether France manage to raise themselves.

They played Greece twice and lost twice, at home and at the European Championships. Yet it seems that Portuguese fans are still having a hard time facing up to the bitter blow of unexpected failure dealt to them by their nemesis, even 2 years on. Hence the poster below, displayed at Sunday’s match against Angola…..