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Free Interview Pod - EURO 2024 Switzerland Vs Italy Preview With Paulie Malignaggi (Ep. 430)
1.6k Plays1 year ago
The Italian Football Podcast is delighted to sit down and preview the upcoming Last 16 EURO 2024 Switzerland Vs Italy clash with former boxing welterweight world champions Paulie Malignaggi.
Every Monday episode of The Italian Football Podcast + extra interview episodes are free for all.
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Transcript
Italy's Euro 2024 Qualification Drama
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian Football Podcast. Hello everybody and welcome to another episode of the Italian Football Podcast. I'm Carlo Garganese. Euro 2024 is really hot in up. Italy are still in the Euros just after that that dramatic ending against Croatia on Monday. Our next game is on Saturday. We play against Switzerland in the in the last
Azzurri's Euro Performance: Fan Perspective
00:00:27
Speaker
16. And to talk about that game and Italy, I'm i'm delighted to to welcome back onto the show a huge fan of the Azuri, its former Italian-American boxing world champion, Pauli, the magic man, Malinaji. Pauli, thank you so much for for joining us. ah How are you? and And are you enjoying the Euros so far? Carlo, I'm well, man. Thanks for having me on on the podcast.
00:00:51
Speaker
um Yeah, I've been joined. I'm enjoying the action. I'm enjoying the to watching the Euros a little bit. um You know, it wouldn't be a Italy if they didn't give us a few heart attacks. You know, it's definitely been a ah tougher group stage than the than the Euro three years ago where ah Italy breeze through that through that group stage. You know, I wasn't so confident. Obviously with Italy having won the last Euro, it's already a blessing to have been able to watch it. So you know, you you'd be kind of spoiled if you think you're going to win back to back. I was just kind of tried praying for a ah respectable performance and in this year's ah Euro tournament. Getting out of the group certainly helps. But, you know, I'm i'm born in 1980, so I've seen a lot of very good Italy teams. Definitely. ah If i I start comparing this one, then I'm going to be disappointed. So I'll take what I can get out of this one. Getting out of the first round, it was nice to see, even though it was just just just by the skin of their teeth.
00:01:46
Speaker
Yeah, just by the skin of the teeth, tell us as a passion, it's like man, how did you, how did you react to to to that goal and so can you code the um I'll be honest, I'll be honest. i When I was a kid, every tournament you walk you go into international tournament you think Italy has a chance to win it you know they there but they were that good every time they were among the favorites every time you you think You know, oh we could win it. Maybe we can win it. Maybe we can win. Obviously, most of them you're not going to win, but it's always you're thinking that that was the kind of team I grew up watching the kind of a duty team I grew up watching. Now like you you got to worry if you even qualify for the tournament. So it's certainly the standard of diminished and it's sort of disappointing. So I can't say I I jump and go crazy the same way. I did three years ago because I was that was actually a a randomly very good team after ah missing the world previous World Cup and then missing the World Cup after. but
00:02:37
Speaker
but I didn't come into this tournament expecting too much. um i thought people I thought the Spain game really ah was sort of sad to see just how many levels below we are of teams like that when we used to we used to be on those levels. um I can't even say, I was so disgusted by the time we got to the 98th minute, I didn't even react. but which this yeah i I'll be honest, I was already thinking, you know, 24 teams is too much for a Euro in my opinion. Honestly, I preferred a 16-team Euro a 2014 World Cup. For me, that was the best times, you know? um So for me, um I was thinking to myself, as we're watching, as a disgusted Italy fan, because we always get disgusted when we're watching.
Italy's Tournament Journey: Challenges and History
00:03:18
Speaker
um I was thinking to myself, you know what, with three points and a minus one goal differential, we may still get out of that's our place to i always thinking it the the Euros are so watered down with 24 teams that you might still get out of the first round with such a ah really,
00:03:34
Speaker
pitiful performances, you know, and that's what I was thinking, honestly. And honestly, I was in a room full of Italians. They all reacted like crazy. I didn't really react. I felt bad for Modric. Is that normal? I felt bad for Modric. I was to the point where I realized, you know what, Italy's gonna get by anyway. Italy's gonna get by anyway, you know? I saw Modric biting on his shirt. That's not so bad. What a finish. What if what a run-in by Caulifiori. What a finish by Takanyi. After a game where you're just, a game, a last couple of games where you're just so disgusted with them. So here we are. I mean, this is Italy, right? i And now we're up against Switzerland. Switzerland is a team that can beat anybody, but also lose to anybody. So if you put in a good game in Switzerland, you could get by them, you know? There are there are certain kinds of teams that are like that, you know? therere They're not among the best. like
00:04:27
Speaker
like Like, for example, the Dutch or or the French or whatever. Actually, the Dutch got beat by Austria, who actually looked pretty good this year as well. But for the most part, you know, there are teams that don't lose to mid-range or low-level teams. And then there's teams like Switzerland and and um even like the old Czech Republic and maybe even Portugal, who could beat anybody and then lose to anybody, but they typically don't win a tournament, even though Portugal did win 16. um And I feel like the Swiss are one of those teams. So I feel like if Italy puts together a good game and and and and a solid ah ah solid performance, you could get by the Swiss, even though the Swiss are that kind of team where one day they look great and one day they they don't look so good, you know?
00:05:04
Speaker
um So it's not the worst draw to wind up with Switzerland. Let's just hope Giorgino has not taken any penalty kicks. That's exactly what I said in the preview of the game. If we get a penalty, do not let Giorgino
Analyzing Italy's Offensive Struggles
00:05:17
Speaker
take it. Okay, well, you've told us your impressions there at the tournament and the biggest problem for Italy so far, I think everybody, most people would agree. is the attack. um I mean, Zakani scored that great goal, of course, beautiful goal, but Skamaka, Reza, Gira, Spadore, Kieza as well, he's not the same player since the ACL, and Shirawi hasn't played. I mean, who would who would you play up front?
00:05:39
Speaker
i like elhialway ought to could he i like elharaway he takes guys on I don't like guys who can't take guys on. We have nobody who takes guys on anymore. We'll take guys on. It's funny, you can see the the limit limitations of this team. when you're When you're passing the ball, if you look at the way that passes, you can tell from the first touch of Gazer that it's Gazer. You don't even have to realize it's Gazer. If they were all in a shadow, You can tell by the first touch that it's case. He's the only one with the solid first touch consistently. um He's the only one that will take guys on, but even him since the ACL tear, he's not as competent taking guys on. We have nobody takes guys on. I know look, I tell you didn't have a great year. Well, can I ask you a question, Carlo? Why does Italy?
00:06:16
Speaker
Refuse to take a guy who was in Saudi Arabia, like Virati, even though Portugal will take Ronaldo, even though there are other other players that play for better national teams in this Europe that have tapped and taken players that play in Saudi Arabia. But because Virati played in Saudi Arabia, we make like we're too good to take Virati, even though there is absolutely no midfielder that you have right now but that will be as as creative as that guy, or set up playmaking as that guy. And like I said, I understand what but they we didn't have the didn't have the great year, but but him on the bench. You put him, bring them in and put them on the bench. At least he's a guy who takes guys on even on the bench. You know, um you got Cheryl, Cheryl, we takes guys on. They leave him on the bench. I don't know. Maybe it's a Spaletti thing. I think he's too, he's too loyal to the Lorenzo who was, who honestly, I've never rated that much. Even the England goal three years ago in the final was on the Lorenzo. If you remember, he was, that was his man that, that's cool with the goal. Um, I've never really thought much of the Lorenzo to begin with. I just think the fact that he plays is more of a,
00:07:07
Speaker
of how far we've fallen. And then there's not really anybody in that at that at the position that you could play consistently. But I mean, hes he's among the worst defenders I've ever seen starting consistently for an Italian national team. I don't know, man. And i like I said, I mean, Italy have sort of scampered through and gotten through this next round. But the attack the attack was already not good before the Euros. I mean, you had a 1-0 win over Bosnia. You had a 0-0 draw with Turkey. An anemic attack. i was i was at I was at the friendly when they played Venezuela. um in Florida. They didn't look so great then either, you know. um I don't know, man. you know i don't I don't blame the attacking full because the midfielders have to be able to feed these guys as well. And there's really no midfield creativity. you know I mean, there's nothing there that, you know, I don't think Shamaka is that bad. You know what I mean? Like, ah he's not producing red taggy. A Spadari can be okay too. you've got You've got to put your forwards in position where they can be dangerous as well. And you've got to do that with a dangerous midfield.
00:08:03
Speaker
If you i remember, three years ago, you have Locatelli at first and and then beginning with Rocky with 30. He takes guys on. He draws. He takes guys on. He beats a man. You beat the first man when you take guys on. Now you're another defender as the cheat to you. Once all the extra defenders of the cheat to you, you open up passing lanes for the forwards to have more space. The strikers have more space. There's nobody doing that. You know, nobody, but we're we're passing back to Donnarumo in like the 90th minute. You're still making back passes to Donnarumo when you need a goal. Almost creative players have been too sensitive about so far, which says, oh, Califuri and Bastoli. I mean, Califuri's the one that brought the ball up for that last goal, you know? what I don't know. I don't know. As I said, switchs the Swiss, the good thing about the Swiss is they could lose to anybody, but they could they could beat anybody, but they could also lose to anybody. You know, they're that kind of team.
Switzerland: An Unpredictable Foe
00:08:45
Speaker
They've always been that kind of team.
00:08:46
Speaker
So, you know, you'd rather wind up with a team like that than say a Germany, which we almost wound up with, you know, Germany, if it hadn't not been for the LA goal, we'd have wound up against Germany. You know, I'd rather not because I don't want to, I don't want to be in a position where you get far enough in the tournament and then you got to get beat four or five new. I don't want to be in that position. Honestly, like I understand you can get England in the quarterfinals and England are an atrocious tournament team. They did they always look better than tournament wise. They always, they always wind up choking, but Italy could get England in the quarters if they beat Switzerland. Those were not pretty games in the qualifying. Those were not pretty games at all during the qualifying process of the Euro against England. England were far superior to Italy in the qualifying process. I can't believe they don't look good either. They don't look good at all. They don't look good either. I'll tell you another thing. I'll tell you another thing. England should have had a draw with Serbia. There was a clear penalty not given by the Italian referee. you saw that game the push behind over the Serbian striker when the push from behind the breath didn't even go to bar if that penalty kick is given every team in that group winds up at four points instead it winds up five three three and two and then two for Serbia it would have been everybody would have been at four points had that penalty justifiably been given to Serbia so England are not looking good at all they actually got some help there
00:10:00
Speaker
as well, but they've still got the talent and they they can still be dangerous. And honestly, that side of the bracket winds up being sort of the weaker side. You know, you've got an Austria team that looks very, very good on it. So, you know, I can't underrate Austria. Um, they were tough, funny to leave in three.
00:10:17
Speaker
Sorry. Sorry. yeah a when um and england england England can wake up at any given point, you know, with the talent that they have. Um, the Swiss are hot and cold always, you know, listen, At this point, you're just happy they're still in the tournament. I will always think it to myself as we were losing the career, because I'm very pessimistic.
Critiquing Coach Spaletti's Choices
00:10:33
Speaker
i'm I'm one of those old, I'm cursing up a storm during the game. And then by the end, I don't have no emotion. But I'll tell you what, I was thinking maybe it's better to be embarrassed by not getting out of the first round than it is to advance and get beat for nothing. That's what I was saying. But then, you know what, we got the Zakanya goal. In the end, like I was saying also, it probably would have advanced anyway. So we'll see where this, ah we'll we'll see this where this Euro takes ah like us. but
00:10:57
Speaker
I don't think that the the problem of the attack will be solved very soon. I don't think i've spell i don't understand why Spaletti doesn't play a sure hour. I personally like him. I like guys who take guys on. yeah We need guys that will take guys on. The fact that Gallifieri is the one taking guys on more, it's kind of sad to see. we need guys that can take guys on. Because again, when you take guys on and you beat guys, you end up discombobulating the defense a little bit. Look, look at what Nico Williams is doing to DeLaurento. I mean, by the DeLaurento, everybody's son at this point, because the guy who came in, what did Nico Williams get replaced by? He got subbed out. And then the guy that replaced Nico was also burning DeLaurento. That's how bad that was. you know I wasn't even um don't even think it was a it was ah ah Nico Williams performance. It was just DeLaurento's lower level, you know? Because the guy who subbed in for Nico Williams in the Spain game was also
00:11:45
Speaker
So burning the Lorenzo. So it's just, whoever gets the Lorenzo gets to have a good time during the game. It's kind of, it's annoying to watch actually. But again, who do you have? Who do you have? You know, I don't know. Can you put Damián on that side? I'm not sure. I don't know. Can Beasso, Damián and Damián wasn't good either. So they're the options, isn't it? We don't, we don't have. Cristante, Cristante, he's an eyesore. I don't know, man. You know, Spaletti's typically been a good, ah tactical coach, you know, but I think sometimes he's and even in even in his own head too, you know, you can have a team that's not so talented with a
Promising Players Amidst Italian Struggles
00:12:19
Speaker
good tactical to coach still play well. I thought in 2016 content did a good job with at the Euro with a, with a team that really, I mean, 2000 out, yeah,
00:12:28
Speaker
the team that wasn't super great, you know, like Tokante's tactics really helped them a lot, you know, I think Spoletti can be a good tactical coach, he's got the experience, but I think it's it's it's almost like he's in his own head, you know, and he's a bit too loyal to the Napoli guys, because he won a Scudetto-Wenapoli, Raspedori and Di Lorenzo, Like I said, I'd like to see how we get a shot up front. ah shira we to hear a show If we look at the positives, though, I mean, Calafuri, I mean, he has been on a rumor. Calafuri are the positives. yeah but aoma call fury Really, really, Calafuri is an ascending guy. I think he's going to become very, very popular. He's got a Maldenia scheme and features, you know,
00:13:06
Speaker
um just doesn't play for a national team that Maldini played for. You know, Maldini had ah and an unbelievable national team that he played for and he was part of a very strong team. Tela Fiore, I think can develop into ah a very, very good player. He shows a lot of promise. Dona Ruma, I tell you what, Dona Ruma sometimes when he's at PSG makes some mistakes that you wonder what what's going on with it. But then with the national team in tournaments, he he is ah is really a tournament played national team. He's on best keeper in the tournament for me, you know. um Saved yet another penalty kick off Modrić, even though they ended up getting there. They're not putting it in 30 seconds later, but, you know, Therum has made some excellent, excellent saves. I think the goal differential was even saying, not that it ended up mattering once you beat Croatia, but he really preserved our goal differential in this fan game, because that fan game had potential to really go right.
00:13:54
Speaker
No, I did do. I mean, the draw has opened up though. If we look at it from a positive point of view, the draw has opened up a bit for Italy. I mean, Spain, Germany, France are all on the other side. So there's only England on our side from the big nations. And there, as we said, they're playing as bad as us. Right now, Austria looks better than England. Right now, Austria looked good. I mean, Austria, if you don't remember Austria three years ago, they gave him they gave Italy a ah real headache and then then they took it took extra time. It took care of the ball in extra time. And if you remember, a goal by Arnautovic was disallowed. He was maybe a two millimeters offside. Otherwise, we'd fall behind in that game. you know So Austria has probably the strongest Austria team I've ever seen in my life. I've but i've never seen Austria really be that good. you know and They've got a good team. And I'll be honest, the way everything looks right now, Austria looked the best on that side of the bracket, on our side
Italian Community's Enthusiasm for Euros
00:14:43
Speaker
of the bracket. Maybe the Swiss looked pretty good, too. But again, the Swiss are always a team that
00:14:47
Speaker
you know You can beat anybody and lose anybody. I've always seen them that way. There are certain teams that are that way, you know? um But, you know, Australia can be kind of scary. We'll see. What's your prediction? How far do you think we can we can go if you're given a prediction with your head rather than your heart? um um I don't know. My head tells me we lose Saturday, but my heart tells me maybe we can get to the record and see and see ah with with ah with this draw. but just I just don't know how you're going to deal with the anemic offense. If we had even a decent team,
00:15:18
Speaker
uh, offensively and attack. I think with this draw could be a blessing and they would, they would really go far, maybe even to the semis, you know, or even to the finals, you know, you know, but with this, this team is so bad that I don't know. Honestly, you could lose Saturday. Honestly, you could lose Saturday to the Swiss. Um, you take every game and then you just enjoy it. That's the way I look at it. You take every game and it, you know what? The funny, the good thing about Italians when they watch together, it's always fun to, it's always fun and it's always an event. And, uh, you know, that's, that's basically what I, what I, what I see it as, you know, as long as Italy's alive in the tournament, the Italian, the Italian, uh, uh, establishments of businesses, they, they do very well. Um, everybody's always got a lot, a lot of support.
00:16:00
Speaker
at the restaurant, at the bars, at the cafes, the for the games, you know. So I like to see Italian visitors do well and Italians do getting together. So the Italian national team doing well, it produces that for for local Italian establishments. So, ah said you know, i hope I hope for that reason they can they can they can they can do well as well and get as far as they can as well. But I'd like to Again, personally, me I don't know why, at this point, you don't try elsewhere always. You need guys that take guys on. you you need you need it ah You need guys that will take on defenders. Honestly, if you can't take on the defenders, just pass them back. but You will not create any space for the opponent. Yeah, no highlights. Yeah, it's gotten frustrating.
00:16:39
Speaker
Yeah, for sure. I mean, you mentioned there about the Italian community. I mean, what's the vibe like among the Italian-American ah population in in like New York, and in especially in Bensonhurst, like with regards to the Euros? Is there a big buzz? Is everyone watching and celebrating the Italy matches? yeah Yeah, you know, I'm i'm i'm ah back and forth in Florida and New York, you know? So I'm not always up in New York, but I'll tell you what, the the games that I've seen are, everybody's very, very ah upbeat. And then they're yelling at them, you know? We beat, Italy beat Albania, that was, i but look, even the Albania game, 20 seconds in, you're behind, or whatever. 30 seconds in, they gave you behind, you know? But then you come back and win. Spain, the Spain game didn't really give much, much to cheer about. Honestly, the Croatia game didn't give much cheer much to cheer about until the end. um But of course, you know, Italians are, ah
00:17:26
Speaker
pessimistic optimists. Let's see. so but that pessimistic um but Every, every time, uh, Italy's playing, you know, because you know, the capabilities that Italy has shown in their history, never looking that never really plays the beautiful game for a lot of the, the years that Italy brings a team to tournaments, but always capable, always dangerous. And there's always a threat that Italy could wake up. I don't know, honestly, with the low diminishing levels that we have in Syria and the as among the Italians, what we're capable of in this tournament, but I saw Italy win a Euro three years ago, and I'll be happy to take whatever, however far they get. They get they already got out of the first round, so that's that's already ah a good thing. Yeah, we we saw your celebrations in in Bensonhurst, in in New York, when Italy won Euro 20. I something. I drank more than almost I drank in my life. I haven't drank that much since. so How would you celebrate? The liquor store around the corner from the cafe,
00:18:22
Speaker
We bought all the champagne. they They ran out of champagne. We bought every but every crate. ah We bought them by boxes. It was just awesome in the area wins it it was so much fun. It was so much fun. But by the end, that was completely spent, but well worth it. Well worth it. Yeah, it was definitely, it definitely was worth it. Just before we finish off, um I just want to ask you, Pauli, like a bit of nostalgia, so some quickfire questions here. um over Who's your favorite Italian player of all time? Roberto Badra, Roberto Badra, my favorite player. I think he's the best Italian attacking player, ah Italian attacking player that way, Italy never produced. I think people that, and with all respect to the Piero and Totti and all these guys who are
00:19:02
Speaker
For me, very phenomenal players, and I've been ah a big part of Italian history, even giving us a World Cup.
Admiration for Italian Football Legends
00:19:09
Speaker
Bajo, for me, is is is the top guy. I mean, football was different. The business was different. The sport was different. I know the the Champions League was different. I know people like to judge things on statistics like Champions League or anything. Everything was different in Bajo's day, you know, especially in his prime years. When he won the Ballon d'Or, he was legitimately the best player in the world. Bar none. I mean, that was the best player in the world. um I still don't see a player like Bajo, you know? um It's funny because I thought Cassano had the talent of Bajo. It was the closest thing I saw to Bajo, but he just had no discipline and i know really no really hard desire.
00:19:43
Speaker
Um, Bajo made his dream, you know, I don't know, man. And he was such an amazing player and an amazing player in probable situations when you need your start to come out. I mean, you've got, if you look at his history, you know, you've got when you need a goal, I know people like to mention the Del Piero goal in a 2006, again, with all respect to the appear, but we didn't need that goal. It was italy was already up one note and that goal in the 120th minute. I needed the Peter to finish off France of 2000 when he did, you know, by Joe had such a killer instinct. I mean, when you needed a goal, I can remember Late free kicks against PSG and Wafer Cup 93. Late laid free kick against Borussia Dortmund in 995, Wafer Semis. Late goals in the World Cup. Cup winner's cup free kick against Barcelona when you need to make up two goals. In the 1991 Cup winner's cup, you you need to make up two goals. And in the 60th minute, I remember UA got this free kick at the edge of the box. And Bajo, 23 years old, 24 years old, Berries, Azuby Zaretta didn't even move. Again, clutch.
00:20:39
Speaker
Really pressure goals when your team really needs a goal, really the goal. You make that free kicker. You really put that. There was nobody like Bajo in that position, you know, and the best first touch ever. I mean, if you look, you look at Bajo highlights, the first such is unbelievable. The best first touch ever by an Italian player. Um, again, all respect to Totti, the Piero and that generation because they gave us a World Cup and and I'll always love them for it, but nobody like Bajo. Nobody compares to Bajo, honestly. Uh, but my favorite attacking player is Bajo. My favorite defensive player. I'd say ah Maldini, maybe even Baresi. I think Baresi doesn't get talked about enough. I think Pietro Vercolo doesn't get talked about enough. We produce a lot of really great players.
00:21:17
Speaker
yeah um um Pure goal score, pure striker, pure goal score, Christian Vieri for me. He didn't have a long prime because he liked to party too much, but Christian Vieri, a prime Christian Vieri was unstoppable, unstoppable, man. In 1998, if Italy had any kind of creativity in the midfield, because it was basically a great defense, A very, very, very mediocre midfield and then a great attack in 1998. If Italy had a and a decent creative creative midfield in 1998, you can win that World Cup, honestly, you win that one. And that was a strong top World Cup to win because Brazil were good and France were good. But in 1998, if Italy with that defense and that attack um had ah had had a a relatively good midfield instead of the mediocrity they had at the time, I think Italy could could have won the 98 World Cup. That was um and was a very, very good team.
00:22:05
Speaker
goes Again, I mean, you would that's why that's why it's a little bit um nostalgic and then sad to to watch the teams like this. I don't see blue players today. as well as much pride in the national team. I not even just Italy, they're players in general. I don't see. I remember when I was a kid, players would play 75, 80 percent. They wouldn't play it 100 percent for the season leading into a big international tournament like a World Cup because they wanted to save themselves for the World Cup. You would never even think of that now. You know, you'd never even think that Neymar getting eliminated against Croatia in the last World Cup, not even crying. You know, you can remember Zico crying knowing it was the last World Cup in 86 and he wasn't going to win a World Cup for Brazil. Neymar could have very well been his last World Cup in ah like ah ah
00:22:44
Speaker
a couple of years ago. They didn't even shed a tear. They didn't even shed a tear. him you know like this there' no There's not really as much emotion anymore. um i mean the last of money is i mean the but yeah but back can I can't say the money is... It's definitely the money, but the money is but is's still in your mind. It's still in your mind because Cristiano Ronaldo lives and dies by the Portuguese national team and he's made more money than all of them. And he still lives and dies. The Portuguese national team is super important to Cristiano Ronaldo. So you could say it's the money, but I don't want to hear that because a guy like Cristiano makes more money than all of them and still is super, super hyped up than an actual team. It means everything to him.
00:23:19
Speaker
That was the ah the the football I grew up watching. With the national team, you did you did for your call club, you you you played amazing, but what the enact well you did for the national team was really a part in history and it meant everything to you. And that's why the the the heroes of the Italian national team are are more my favorites. um i Obviously, I'm a big Serie A fan. I always hope well for the league, but it's a league where 10 out of 11 guys in some teams that are not even Italian. So you it's not even really, it's not registering as far as ah ah creating new generations of Italian footballers. I want to see, yeah, I want to see the Italian of footballers, you know, coming out, coming out of regeneration, but to be produced with talent the way we always did. And that doesn't happen anymore. So, you know, I don't watch football in with the same hard part in the ah emotional heart anymore. It's more like, you know, I watch it for the entertainment value, but
00:24:11
Speaker
I don't go as crazy. I think 2021 might've been the peak when they Italy won the Euro. What I didn't celebrate for the goal is like I did the other day, I realized something was wrong. I was like, wow, i I was so disgusted that by the time the goal went in, I was like, all right, we got it. now is it then Nobody expected it. I didn't expect it. It came out of nowhere. But favorite it's yeah favoriteite Italy game or Italy moment of all time? Favorite Italy game or Italy moment. Um, obviously winning the world cup, uh, the semi-final 2006 with gross those gold. My favorite Italy team though, is the first one I ever watched the 1990 world cup. I don't know how old you are, car but the 1990 world cup for me was a dream.
Memorable Moments in Italian Football History
00:24:52
Speaker
yeah Um, it was an absolute dream of a team. Uh, you talk about, we talk about creative midfield. We talk about guys taking guys on, taking on defenders. That Italy team was a team like I've never seen since. Honestly, it was, uh, an attack minded team.
00:25:06
Speaker
um It lacked forwards in the beginning of the tournament that that could finish like Bialy and Carnivale. Once they were replaced with Tkilachi and Bajo, I mean, it was all for the races readily, man. It really was. I thought that team would be unstoppable, you know? um Really, still one of the biggest disappointments. What are we talking about? Maybe it's my biggest football disappointment in my life is the 1990 World Cup. bigger than the 1994 miss miss in the final because when Bajo misses that penalty kick honestly the penalty shootout it's pretty much over even if Bajo makes it you need a save from Caluca and the next kicker it's all over so you you're you're pretty much resigned to losing but the 1990 World Cup
00:25:40
Speaker
You're watching that team every single big game, much forward. And you just, as a nine year old for me, I was in awe of what a team, what a fun team to watch. You know, ah dummies taking guys on passing the dummies in the passing lanes, guys making runs. Giuseppe Gianni was an unbelievable midfielder, you know? um things people amazing things yeah i think things people Things people forget, you know, things people forget. um And then for anybody who talks about Bajo missing the 94-pound kick, I just want to remind them, Bajo is the only one that so all took a penalty kick in all three World Cup losses ah ah in the 90s that Italy had in shootouts. He's the only one that took one one in 1994 and 1998. But Reisi took it in 1994. He made a 90 missing 94 as well. um But he's the only one who who took a penalty in all three of those World Cup losses.
00:26:29
Speaker
The only one he missed was the but one against ah Brazil. And honestly, because of Masato's miss, it really doesn't come into as much importance. you know i the The kicks were more important for me. The one he took against ah Argentina in 1990, because nobody had missed yet. That was a pressure penalty kick. He made it to keep the penalty shoot out going. Nobody had missed yet. um And then in 1998, he had the first one against France. He had to take the first one. No, obviously nobody's missed any either. To me, those are more important. When you're already behind, yes, it's important, but honestly, you're going to need a miracle saved by Paul Yuca, the next kick anyway. It's not as big of a deal, um especially when you're the one who's got, who's brought the team there, you know? But yeah, though yeah we now you're just taking me back. You know, we're going mother back and forth. I can talk about these things forever. That's my first football in memory, Paul. He is not in 90. I remember crying, crying. I was only five. i yeah
00:27:19
Speaker
I remember crying when the when we lost the penalty shootout and I still have it. Still when I see Sergio Guercaccia's face, he still yeah gives me like, he still gives me a nightmare. It's funny because watching in 1989, my first World Cup was 86 that I remember, but I didn't know it was a World Cup. I remember, I only remember Italy losing to France in 1986. So I remember, I remember, I lived in Sicily at the time and my father, I remember going crazy. And um I remember my my, asking my mother, you know, cause we were at, we were in the dinner table, we were at the law eating, eating, I think we were in lunch at dinner. you I don't know what time it was, but my father bashing his head on the wall when Italy got scored on. And then when my mother's doing the dishes, my father goes in the bedroom and I remember asking my mother, you know, in Italian, you know, what's wrong with Papa, you know, and she's like, no, Papa, arabiato, peque el italia esta perdendo, you know, like, and I'm like, and I remember asking the question, con qui esta perdendo? And she's like, la Francia.
00:28:08
Speaker
And I didn't know it was a World Cup. Years later, when I look at the 1886 World Cup results, it's Italy-France, so I'm like, oh my goodness, that was the Italy-France World Cup game, you know? So that was my memory of it in 1986, but I didn't know it was a World Cup, I didn't know what it was. In 1990, I knew exactly what I was watching, because I watched the entire 88-89 season, and the 89-90 season ah in City Oaks. So I was following football, I was you know i knew the players. um So in 1990, I watched with an amazement the entire tournament. um And when I saw Goykece eliminate Yugoslavia on penalty kicks, I got sick because I was like, we can't go to penalty kicks against this team. I was already saying it because if you remember the Yugoslavia game, Goykece was one kick away from eliminating Argentina. yeah And Goyke saves that one. And then he also saves the next one and eliminates them. You know what I mean? it's He saves back to back kicks. it was They were on kick number five.
00:29:00
Speaker
You can probably just need to bury it and it's over. Goikoche saves it so he makes things even again. Now you're going to sudden death because you're in the sixth round of penalty kicks and what happens? Argentina scores and then Goikoche saves another one and it eliminates Yugoslavia. And I remember thinking, you yo, I cannot cannot go to penalty kicks against this guy. Man, this guy's scary. That's all he was good at. He was a bad goalkeeper, but he was a great penalty. he was He had a very good World Cup. I can't take it away from him. He had a very good World Cup. He made a big save on the free and on a bad Joe free kick late in that game as well in 1990. He had a very good tournament. He was excellent for penalty kicks. um I remember he won the Cup of America for Argentina with a couple of penalty kicks shootout wins as well. Maybe a year or two, a couple of years later after 1990.
00:29:43
Speaker
Um, I remember, you know, he was, uh, he was a presence. He was a, you know, honestly, follow. He almost saved Braemus penalty in the final. If Braemus penalty isn't perfect, he almost gets that one too. If you remember that penalty against West Germany, yeah um, you know, he almost got to that one too. He was a nightmare. He was and honestly, I'll say it till the day I die too. I prefer Takoni to Denga anyway. I think Denga was a ah favorite of Vashini, Azealia Vashini. I prefer Takoni. Takoni had won the inter Intercontinental Cup on a shootout in 1985 against River Plate for Yubei.
00:30:21
Speaker
And Dango is atrocious on penalty kicks. I mean, if you look at Maradona, Maradona was not a good on penalty kicks. If you look at Maradona, he takes the same penalty kick every single time. Left foot, a little bit off center to the goal, he's right. It's never in a good spot. It's the same penalty kick every single time. If you look at him in Serie A, if you look at him, the penalty kick that the Yugoslavia keeper saved in the quarterfinals against Maradona, because the Yugoslavia keeper saved Maradona's penalty kick. probably take everything you but this guy is say yeah how did you dive the wrong way on his phone thinking but that remarkable how did I mean, after the error he made in in letting the game be be be ah ah letting Argentina level the game was his error. I mean, ah his performance in the shootout was also a thing of nightmares, you know. ah
00:31:09
Speaker
I cried. And I cried four years later. And then after that I was done crying friendly. Yeah, well, now you don't care at all. Final question and we'll let you go, Pauli. Thanks again. Which Italy player, past or present, would make the best boxer, do you think? Gattuso. Gattuso, maybe Gentile. oh Yeah, maybe Gentile, definitely Gattuzo. You got to throw it for the for the modern era for Gattuzo. I mean, I think everybody knows Gattuzo, everybody knows that the kind of guy he was in Gattuzo.
Italian Footballers' Tough Spirit
00:31:41
Speaker
Also, I think Christian Vieri, he's a big guy, you know, stout, strong, you know, very physical. um But you think of defenders usually when you think, because they they're the ones who hit the who whi whi guys a lot of times, right? So in terms of defenders, I'd say Gattuzo is a strong stern midfielder and Gentile. Gentile was
00:31:57
Speaker
Maybe it was rough. I don't know how long it would have lasted in today's standards. We'll do some it' do some low low blows for sure. gen yeah yeah Yeah, exactly. OK, well, listen, I'll let you go, Pauli. Thank you so much for for joining us. and you You brought us luck in Euro 2020, so we hope that and coming on again, you you bring us luck. I hope so. How long it lasts is always a dream, every single tournament. you know It's always beautiful to see. but but we'll be home but i on saturday Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it. We wish you all the best. If your family are the best, then we'll see you soon. Thank you, Pauli, mate. it did me ches such a
00:32:52
Speaker
Cheers, mate. Cheers.