SPORTS

The Heartbreak of Italy’s Disastrous Euro 2004 Group Stage Exit

Published

6 months ago

June 22, 2024

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In the last round of the group stage of the 2004 Euro Cup, Italy was not in a delicate position to the point of despair. The Azzurri were coming off two disappointing draws, against Denmarkin a poor match, and another against Swedenin which she was punished for a goal Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the final stretch of the confrontation. Still, the men of Giovanni Trapattoni they received last place – and eliminated – Bulgaria as their third commitment. All you had to do was win well and get your passport stamped for the knockout stage.

Several scenarios would put Nazionale in the next phase. If Sweden and Denmark had a winner, any victory for Italy would take them to second place in Group C of the Euros, held in Portugal. In the event of a draw, they would need to guarantee victory by a difference of two goals against a team that had no further chances of qualifying and had their target breached seven times in two games. Easy task? None of that.

The Italians’ main goal scorer, Christian Vieri, was not experiencing his best moment. At the Euros, he failed to score and was also the one who let Ibrahimovic’s shot cross the line in the final minutes of the duel against Sweden. The Inter center forward was exchanged for Bernardo Corradiwho was experiencing the best moment of his career at Lazio. Antonio Cassanoscorer of his country’s only goal at the Euros, remained among the starters, as Francesco Totti was still serving a suspension for spitting in the face of Christian Poulsen, from Denmark.

Draws in the first two games left Italy under pressure to face Bulgaria (Getty)

Trapattoni also made some changes, two of which were mandatory. Stefano Fiore took the place of Gennaro Gattuso, yellowed in Italy’s first two games at the Euros and, therefore, missing in the third. And, also due to suspension, he was forced to change Fabio Cannavaro by Marco Materazzi. In total, four changes compared to the team that started the tournament – and it didn’t work that well.

Bulgaria, technically led by a young Dimitar Bertatov and a good Martin Petrov, created the first chance in Guimarães. Taking risks from afar, the winger demanded the intervention of Gianluigi Buffon, who sent it wide and didn’t want to get involved with the wet ball, in the considerable rain that was falling in the north of Portugal. Next, it was Fiore’s turn to demand a save from Zdravko Zdravkov. The Bulgarian archer avoided the Lazio player’s volley and, on the rebound, Alessandro Del Piero he couldn’t get it inside with his left leg, taking paint off the post.

Fiore appeared well once again, in the 28th minute. With a precise throw, he left Corradi in a good position to finish inside the area, but the big man was stopped. And the game continued back and forth: in his next attack, once again Petrov found freedom on the left, hit hard and Buffon had to palm away for a corner.

Three minutes after this madness, Cassano had a great opportunity one-on-one with Zdravkov. However, as the ball was dripping, the talented striker had difficulty directing the shot, which went over the baseline, missed. Close to half-time, the chances stopped being wasted.

Materazzi committed a penalty in the first half and hurt Italy (Getty)

Practically at 45, Materazzi caught Berbatov inside the area and the attacker ended up on the ground. Referee Valentin Ivanov, from Russia, didn’t want to hear about the Italian complaints: the penalty was awarded for Bulgaria and the nightmare scenario was shaping up for the Azzurri. When charged, Petrov only displaced Buffon and sent Italy to the dressing rooms at a disadvantage.

Italy returned to the second stage hungry for a comeback. On your first descent on the left, Gianluca Zambrotta The ball rolled back and Cassano hit the crossbar in the 48th minute. The ball dripped over the line, goalkeeper Zdravkov got caught up in the ball and Simone Perrotta He was smart enough to send it into the back of the net almost with a kick on the rebound. There was still time to win and avoid a revenge against Bulgaria, who were still suffering from their defeat to the Azzurri in the semi-final of the 1994 World Cup, a decade earlier.

At that time, Sweden and Denmark were tied 1-1. A simple victory by two goals difference would be enough to defeat the Danes. However, if the duel between the Scandinavians ended 2-2, the Italians would need to score four times. The key to understanding the reasons for this was in the regulations.

If there were equality in goal difference, goals scored, and also parity in the direct confrontations of the 2004 Euro Cup groups, the tiebreaker would go to the points coefficient of the last two selection qualifiers, that is, for the 2002 World Cup and for the 2004 Euro, in which Denmark and Sweden had an advantage over Italy. So, the scenario of a draw by many goals from the other two teams in the Azzurri group was the worst possible. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Trapattoni left Vieri on the bench in the decisive game against Bulgaria, but had to put him on the field (AFP/Getty)

On the sodden pitch of the Dom Afonso Henriques Stadium, Cassano was really into the game – enough to score the four goals that might have been necessary. Receiving it in depth, in the 54th minute, Fantantonio lost the time for the shot and tried to shoot completely without an angle, and also without success. The crooked shot was a goal kick.

Trapattoni sent on Corradi in the 53rd minute to put on Vieri – practically six for half a dozen, but a half dozen with much more quality. In his first appearance, Bobo deflected a cross too high and Del Piero almost managed to complete the ball, finishing weakly and seeing the opposing defense clear the danger.

In the 66th minute, a goal for Italy. Actually goal for Denmark over Sweden. Jon Dahl Tomasson scored his second in the Scandinavian classic and, with that result, Nazionale only needed a simple victory to advance to the stage. Shortly after this information, another change on the Italian side: Perotta left to join the winger Massimo Oddo.

Vieri had the chance to fire a clean header, practically from the penalty spot, but he couldn’t direct it as he wanted. The ball went wide of the post, while Cassano got his hands on his head. It wasn’t Bobo’s Euro, definitely. After all, with 15 minutes left in the match, the number 9 also made a dangerous attempt, which went through the baseline. Shortly afterwards, Fantantonio suffered a strong challenge from Kiril Kotev on the edge of the penalty area and referee Ivanov did not notice anything. It was a clear penalty.

Cassano celebrated a goal against Bulgaria, but his joy only lasted a few seconds: Italy were eliminated (Getty)

Needing goals, the Azzurri intensified the pressure. Zambrotta took a long shot and Zdrakvov sent it wide. Buffon also had to work on a free kick taken with force by Berbatov and a counterattack pulled by Petrov, who finished face to face with the archer, exposed at that point in the confrontation. The Italians, on the other hand, were in danger from Nesta: the defender headed the ball and the Bulgarian archer, with the help of the crossbar, sent it back for a corner.

In the midst of this madness, in additions, a brilliant light screen Andrea Pirlo resulted in the outcome of the match. Oddo advanced towards the baseline, crossed low and the regista let the ball pass to Cassano, who shot the ball into the net. There were brief seconds of joy for Fantantonio: he ran away in ecstasy, thinking that the goal would qualify Italy for the quarter-finals, but, arriving in midfield, he received information from the Azzurro bench that Sweden had drawn with Denmark, minutes earlier. Thus, despite the victory, Nazionale was eliminated from Euro 2004 in the group stage.

The fact that the duel between Denmark and Sweden ended precisely 2-2 has negative repercussions in Italy to this day. Football lovers in the country understood that the two Scandinavian teams, with a long rivalry in the sport, decided to call a truce to play a “game of bedpans”, already announced by the demonstrations of several fans from the two Nordic nations – with flags and faces painted with the 2-2 that eliminated the Azzurri.

In Italy, the situation was responsible for popularizing the term “biscotto”, which became synonymous with fraud and never left the football vocabulary. But why biscuit? The expression is derived from equestrianism: when opponents of a team or the owners of a horse themselves intended to harm the animal’s performance and manipulate the result of a race, in order to obtain financial gains from this, a “christened” treat was offered. for the horse. In the end, with or without a backroom deal, the result was as bitter as possible for the Azzurri. And the difficult truth to digest is that the Nazionale was caught up in its own mistakes during that Euro.

Italy 2-1 Bulgaria

Italy: Buffon; Panucci, Nesta, Materazzi (Di Vaio), Zambrotta; Perrotta (Oddo), Pirlo, Fiore; Cassano, Del Piero; Corradi (Vieri). Coach: Giovanni Trapattoni. Bulgaria: Zdravkov; Borimirov, Zagorcic, Pazin (Kotev), Stoyanov; M. Petkov, Hristov (Dimitrov); Lazarov, Jankovic (Bojinov), M. Petrov; Berbatov. Technician: Plamen Markov. Goals: Perrotta (48′) and Cassano (90 + 4′); M. Petrov (45′) Referee: Valentin Ivanov (Russia) Local e data: Rei Dom Afonso Henriques stadium, Guimarães (Portugal), on June 22, 2004

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SPORTS

The Truth About the India Vs Nigeria 99-1 Match

Published

4 days ago

December 21, 2024

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In one way or the other, almost every Nigerian has heard of the mythical match between India Vs. Nigeria that ended with 99 goals to 1 with India being victorious.

Before the advent of the internet, this story successfully thrived among Nigerians, but with the emergence of the internet and easy access to social media, the truth behind the India Vs Nigeria 99-1 match was revealed.

Though there are different accounts of the match, but they all have the following in common:

That the match ended with India scoring 99 goals and Nigeria scoring just one goal.
That Nigerians were unable to kick the ball because the football kept turning to a lion which scared them away…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>
2. That Indians later agreed that if Nigeria could score one goal, they would concede defeat.
3. That Samuel Okwaraji scored the winning goal and lost his life in the process because the ball turned into stone as he was about to kick it.
4. That FIFA banned India from soccer because they used juju (black magic) in that match.
Why did people believe the India Vs Nigeria 99-1 match story?

Even with the absence of the internet back then, this kind of claims should be immediately recognized as lies, the kind of lies they call “big fat lies”. But most people like to acknowledge this story as true with the fact that no one has ever seen India play in an International Football Match. Since no one actually saw India participate in most international soccer games, this gave a little credence to the story.

Another reason this lie thrived for long was that credible information was not easily accessible in Nigeria unlike now that even a 4-year-old child can debunk false claims within minutes with the help of Google. This Nigeria Vs India match story would have been fabricated by one community elder to children during an evening gathering; that’s our take at OldNaija.

What Actually Happened!

On the 12th of August 1989, Nigeria lost one of her best footballers, Sam Okwaraji who died during a football match. We wrote about how he died on the pitch and you can read it here. Sam Okwaraji was the player rumoured to have lost his life in that game when in truth he died during a FIFA World Cup qualifying game against Angola in the 77th minute. He collapsed and died of cognitive heart failure. May his soul rest in peace. AMEN!

Samuel Okwaraji (circled)

So, that is the only truthful thing about the India Vs Nigeria 99-1 match story, the fact that a Nigerian player died during a football match. That is what these lies was fabricated around. The match was not against India, Nigeria did not lose the match and as you must have guessed, and there were no lions or ball turning into a stone.

Meme by Campus Bro

Nevertheless, one cannot deny that this kind of story made one’s childhood as a Nigerian. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Before we go,

Why was India Banned by FIFA?

India was never banned by FIFA. It was India that withdrew from the tournament themselves. Here is how it happened.

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) made it clear to India that they would not be allowed to play in the 1950 FIFA World Cup without footwear.

Then something happened. You see, when determining the make-up of the 1950 World Cup, FIFA determined that obviously the two defending finalists, Brazil and Italy, would be guaranteed slots. That left fourteen slots that needed to be filled.

FIFA decided that seven of those slots would come from Europe, six would come from the Americas and one would come from Asia.

The problem was that of the four Asian teams that were invited to the World Cup, three of them (the Philippines, Indonesia and Burma) withdrew from the tournament before the qualification round.

Therefore, India earned an automatic slot within the World Cup. It would be India’s first time appearing in the World Cup but India, too, withdrew from the tournament because FIFA would not allow them to compete barefoot.

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SPORTS

SAD|| 10 Players Who Lost Everything After Divorce, Number 5 Will Shôck You

Published

2 months ago

November 5, 2024

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The Hidden Financial Struggles of Footballers: Divorce’s Costly Toll

The glamorous image of professional footballers, with their luxurious lifestyles and multimillion-dollar contracts, often obscures a harsh reality: the financial devastation many endure through divorce. Behind the fame and fortune, several high-profile players have seen their wealth significantly depleted after parting ways with their spouses, a stark reminder that no amount of money can fully shield one of the financial pitfalls of personal relationships gone awry…Click Here To Continue Reading>> …Click Here To Continue Reading>>

One of the most shocking examples is that of former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboué, who lost not only his properties in England but also custody of his children following a bitter divorce. Despite earning millions during his career, Eboué found himself stripped of almost everything. His situation became a cautionary tale, underscoring that even the wealthiest footballers can fall victim to the financial ruin that divorce can bring.

Eboué is not alone. Football legends such as Thierry Henry and Ryan Giggs have also experienced significant financial losses due to divorce. Henry reportedly paid £10 million to his ex-wife, while Giggs parted with an astonishing £40 million after his marriage ended. Louis Saha and Wes Brown, both former Manchester United players, also suffered substantial financial hits, with Brown declaring bankruptcy despite earning £50,000 per week during his time at the club. His case highlights how even vast earnings can quickly evaporate when faced with legal settlements and financial mismanagement.

David James, the former England goalkeeper, faced a particularly dire situation, losing much of his fortune after divorce and being forced to auction his personal belongings to make ends meet. Similarly, Ray Parlour, another Arsenal great, saw his ex-wife receive half of his £10 million fortune, including a £2.5 million house. Jamie Redknapp, a former Liverpool star, also faced a hefty settlement, parting with half of his estimated £15 million fortune after his marriage ended.

These are just a few of the many footballers who have faced financial disaster due to divorce. Keith Gillespie, once a key figure in the Premier League, lost over £7 million, leading to his bankruptcy in 2010. Despite earning significant wages during his career, his divorce and poor financial decisions left him in financial ruin. READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Perhaps the most shocking case is that of Tendai Ndoro, a Zimbabwean striker who lost everything after registering all his properties in his wife’s name. Following their breakup, she kicked him out of the house, leaving him with nothing. Ndoro’s story serves as a grim reminder of the dangers of not protecting one’s assets, even in relationships where trust is implicit.

For footballers, whose careers often peak early, these financial setbacks can be devastating. While their salaries are among the highest in professional sports, the combination of short career spans, legal fees, and divorce settlements can quickly erode their fortunes. Many players also face additional challenges in managing their finances due to a lack of financial education or oversight during their playing years.

These stories underscore the importance of safeguarding personal wealth, especially for high-earning individuals like footballers, who may be more vulnerable to financial upheaval. Proper financial planning, asset protection strategies, and prenups are increasingly necessary tools for protecting one’s earnings and securing a stable future.

In conclusion, while the public sees footballers as insulated by their wealth, the reality is that they are just as susceptible to the financial hardships of divorce as anyone else. The personal struggles behind the scenes reveal that their lives, though glamorous on the surface, are often fraught with the same vulnerabilities and challenges faced by ordinary individuals. These cases serve as sobering reminders that financial security is never guaranteed, even for those at the pinnacle of success.

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SPORTS

NFL | The best was yet to come, and then no

Published

2 months ago

October 12, 2024

1oo9t

In February 2022, the Bengals missed the Super Bowl by three small points, but regardless, the future seemed bright in Cincinnati.

Posted at 1:13 a.m.

Updated at 7:00 a.m.

In any case, that’s what we, the most seasoned experts in American football, believed, capable of seeing the future each season, often in a very impressive way; for example, this column has been predicting since 1970 that the New York Jets are not going to win the Super Bowl, and that’s still exactly what happens.

The Bengals have never won anything, but their presence on the big stage two years ago suggested that, a bit like the Nordiques in 1990, the best was yet to come.

Well, no.

As of this hour, the Bengals are a dismal 1-4, and even then, their only win came against the Carolina Panthers, who are about as bad as they are.

The good news for the Bengals is that this “landing” is fairly easily explained: their defense is pretty awful. The less good news is that it is probably already too late to try to solve this problem.

In five games, the Bengals have allowed a total of 145 points, which gives a pretty staggering average of 29 points per game. No one else in the American Association looks this bad, and in the league as a whole, only the Carolina Panthers are even worse in this regard.

Meanwhile, the Bengals are wasting the best years of Joe Burrow, who turns 28 in December. He wouldn’t be the first quality quarterback to waste his talent in this uniform.

Is it necessary here to remember that in American football, as in life in general, there is never anything certain? This reality reminds us of this sublime quote from Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who once wrote that “supreme happiness is a hundred times sweeter to hope for than to obtain”.

Rousseau must have been a Bengals fan, obviously.

You are probably aware that the New York Jets fired their coachbut that’s not the worst. The worst part is that poor Robert Saleh would have been escorted to the door like a pauper by security agents.

PHOTO MIKE STOBE, ARCHIVES AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE READ FULL STORY HERE>>>CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>

Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh

It’s undoubtedly one of the worst moments in the history of a club that collects the worst moments, from Mark Sanchez dropping a ball on his lineman’s pussy, to a visibly hot Joe Namath trying to to kiss a reporter live on TV (we’re going to move on to the naughty photo of Brett Favre because there are children here).

We can never repeat it enough: in football, as in life, everything starts from the top. The leaders of the Jets, who display a level of competence similar to that of the inventors of Pepsi Crystal, thus opted for the easy way, instead of realizing that their ground game is non-existent, and that their quarterback who hears voices in his head is finished.

In addition, barely installed, new coach Jeff Ulbrich decided to give control of the attack to assistant Todd Downing, who will call the plays from now on. This is not a detail because this task previously fell to offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, close and confidant of Aaron Rodgers.

It’s obvious that this is going to end very badly. As per usual.

Someone whispers in my ear that the inbox is overflowing again, so let’s get to it right away.

First, Luc Girouard from Sept-Îles sends us this timely little comment: “Would Prince Rodgers have plotted to kick Robert Saleh out in order to take his place? »

We all see what you did, Luc.

Then, there is a certain Nicolas B. from Laval who sent this: “Hi Richard. Great weekly column on football. Really entertaining. In addition, you allow my teenagers to read about football in French, which is still a challenge […] If you ever make a reference to my comment, my sports travel gang is buying me a beer on our next trip. »

You will demand a micro beer, Nicolas. Finally, there is Marco Campanozzi who can no longer hear about “mixing” and the right chair: “I can’t do it anymore!!! »

We are Marco.

It will be another great opportunity to lock yourself in front of the TV while pretending to do something constructive, because Sunday’s menu is particularly spicy.

Thus, Commanders in a state of grace will go to Baltimore to prove that they are serious, the Chargers will go to Denver in the hope of recovering after two defeats in a row, and the Cowboys will host the Lions, in a match that they can’t really let slip away, just to build something following the little miracle last Sunday night in Pittsburgh.

Don’t forget to check out the colors during halftime.

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