Italy’s Bad Boys to do it once more?
Italy's Mario Balotelli (centre) celebrates with his team-mates after scoring his side's second goal of the game
Italy beat Ireland, go through
Few would have foreseen the fate which was to be handed to Italy in 2006 and above all Marco Materazzi.
The notorious bad boy’s inclusion, while he fell second in line below the elegant Alessandro Nesta, may have been seen more a forced option and liability to the squad than the classic and even temperament stereotype latched onto Italian defenders.
But as Nesta’s unlucky and injury plagued fortune would have it, it became a whirl wind of exultation and admiration for Materazzi as he headed home the goal that ensured a spot in the final 16 of the World Cup, as well as netting in the final match against France before being dealt a head-butt to his chest, to eventually converting his kick from the penalty spot – the tattooed 32-year-old proved instrumental in the Azzurri’s successful World Cup campaign.
In 1982, another bad boy in Paolo Rossi, was thrust into the Azzurri system for the ’82 World Cup after being investigated and handed a ban for match betting allegations.
Nevertheless, his inclusion proved crucial to the team and to the detriment of his opponents as he converted six strikes to finish as the tournament’s top goalscorer, but above all help Italy pick up their third World Cup triumph.
Once again Italy find themselves competing for yet another trophy on the international stage, this time in the 2012 Euro tournament in Ukraine and Poland and the underlying question is: Will fate play a similar role to Cesare Prandelli’s bad boys?
Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano are two of “calcio’s” misunderstood, or perhaps misinterpreted, bad boys.
Coming from troubled childhoods Balotelli, 21, and Cassano, 29, are carrying the weight of the whole country’s expectations on their troubled shoulders.
With two egos ready to keep afloat a sinking ship, the duo managed to turn over the criticism aimed at their partnership against Spain and Croatia and show that they can provide for their country.
On Monday evening against the Republic of Ireland, there was no more of a fitting scenario than the pair scoring two goals to secure Italy’s spot in the final eight of the tournament.
Cassano, the heartbeat of every attack and instrumental to the fluidity of the Italian’s play managed to break the deadlock to put the four times World Champions in the lead.
Fatigue may have settled in after endless running, forcing him into being substituted, but that didn’t stop the built up anger waiting to be unleashed by Balotelli.
What was even more appropriate was the Manchester City star’s replacing of Italian football’s ‘good boy’ and veteran Antonio Di Natale in the final stages of the game and like many before have learned; don’t make Balotelli angry, or else, feel his wrath.
Often the focal point of unnecessary racial abuse during the tournament, ‘Balo’ was jeered onto the field once more, but this time he let the football do the talking.
A 90th minute overhead bicycle kick, rounded John O’shea and fluttered past Shay Given to go into the back of the net, 2-0 to Italy.
A typical cocksure and Balotelli-esque type goal – Mario silenced his critics to bring back the form and attitude which saw him dubbed ‘SuperMario’.
While they are yet to produce the action at the same time on the field, there is little doubt over the quality, and resilience to never give up, that the two rebels possess.
Like their insurgents before them, and their hunger and anger to prove others wrong, they could just very well follow in the footsteps of Rossi and Materazzi to bring home the much awaited Euro title.
The notorious bad boy’s inclusion, while he fell second in line below the elegant Alessandro Nesta, may have been seen more a forced option and liability to the squad than the classic and even temperament stereotype latched onto Italian defenders.
But as Nesta’s unlucky and injury plagued fortune would have it, it became a whirl wind of exultation and admiration for Materazzi as he headed home the goal that ensured a spot in the final 16 of the World Cup, as well as netting in the final match against France before being dealt a head-butt to his chest, to eventually converting his kick from the penalty spot – the tattooed 32-year-old proved instrumental in the Azzurri’s successful World Cup campaign.
In 1982, another bad boy in Paolo Rossi, was thrust into the Azzurri system for the ’82 World Cup after being investigated and handed a ban for match betting allegations.
Nevertheless, his inclusion proved crucial to the team and to the detriment of his opponents as he converted six strikes to finish as the tournament’s top goalscorer, but above all help Italy pick up their third World Cup triumph.
Once again Italy find themselves competing for yet another trophy on the international stage, this time in the 2012 Euro tournament in Ukraine and Poland and the underlying question is: Will fate play a similar role to Cesare Prandelli’s bad boys?
Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano are two of “calcio’s” misunderstood, or perhaps misinterpreted, bad boys.
Coming from troubled childhoods Balotelli, 21, and Cassano, 29, are carrying the weight of the whole country’s expectations on their troubled shoulders.
With two egos ready to keep afloat a sinking ship, the duo managed to turn over the criticism aimed at their partnership against Spain and Croatia and show that they can provide for their country.
On Monday evening against the Republic of Ireland, there was no more of a fitting scenario than the pair scoring two goals to secure Italy’s spot in the final eight of the tournament.
Cassano, the heartbeat of every attack and instrumental to the fluidity of the Italian’s play managed to break the deadlock to put the four times World Champions in the lead.
Fatigue may have settled in after endless running, forcing him into being substituted, but that didn’t stop the built up anger waiting to be unleashed by Balotelli.
What was even more appropriate was the Manchester City star’s replacing of Italian football’s ‘good boy’ and veteran Antonio Di Natale in the final stages of the game and like many before have learned; don’t make Balotelli angry, or else, feel his wrath.
Often the focal point of unnecessary racial abuse during the tournament, ‘Balo’ was jeered onto the field once more, but this time he let the football do the talking.
A 90th minute overhead bicycle kick, rounded John O’shea and fluttered past Shay Given to go into the back of the net, 2-0 to Italy.
A typical cocksure and Balotelli-esque type goal – Mario silenced his critics to bring back the form and attitude which saw him dubbed ‘SuperMario’.
While they are yet to produce the action at the same time on the field, there is little doubt over the quality, and resilience to never give up, that the two rebels possess.
Like their insurgents before them, and their hunger and anger to prove others wrong, they could just very well follow in the footsteps of Rossi and Materazzi to bring home the much awaited Euro title.
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