The Official Azzurri thread

[Zoff82]

[p_maldini_3]

[Zoff82]

[Totally FRANK]

[marco]

dino, i couldnt see what you were referring to but i stumbbled accross this little juicy tidbit:

1966 & 1974 World Cups Were Fixed - Former FIFA President
Former FIFA President Joao Havelange has made some quite sensational, and potentially damaging, allegations by claiming that the 1966 and 1974 World Cups were fixed so that England and Germany would win respectively.
Print This Story Send To A Friend Contact Us galleria zoom The 1966 World Cup held in England has been the centre of a number of conspiracy theories over the years. These include England’s quarter final victory over Argentina when the hosts won 1-0 after the South Americans had seen their captain Antonio Rattin controversially handed a straight red card for arguing with the referee.

It has been claimed that there was a plot for England to win the World Cup, and the referee from this game was German, while the official in Germany’s quarter final win over Uruguay was English. The controversy continued in the final with Geoff Hurst’s famous ‘was it over the line?’ goal.

Joao Havelange, who was FIFA President from 1974 until 1998 is certain to have further fuelled these conspiracy theories by openly stating that the 1966 and ’74 World Cups were fixed.

"In the three matches that the Brazilian national team played in 1966, of the three referees and six linesmen, seven were British and two were Germans," Havelange told Folha de Sao Paulo.

"Brazil went out, Pele ‘exited’ through injury [following some rough defensive play], and England and Germany entered into the final, just as the Englishman Sir Stanley Rous, who was the President of FIFA at the time, had wanted.

"In Germany in 1974 the same thing happened. During the Brazil-Holland match, the referee was German, we lost 2-0 and Germany won the title," said Havelange.

"We were the best in the world, and had the same team that had won the World Cup in 1962 in Chile and 1970 in Mexico, but it was planned for the host countries to win.â€

[morra10]

[SPqR]

[quote="gladiatoreromano"]dino, i couldnt see what you were referring to but i stumbbled accross this little juicy tidbit:

1966 & 1974 World Cups Were Fixed - Former FIFA President
Former FIFA President Joao Havelange has made some quite sensational, and potentially damaging, allegations by claiming that the 1966 and 1974 World Cups were fixed so that England and Germany would win respectively.
Print This Story Send To A Friend Contact Us galleria zoom The 1966 World Cup held in England has been the centre of a number of conspiracy theories over the years. These include England’s quarter final victory over Argentina when the hosts won 1-0 after the South Americans had seen their captain Antonio Rattin controversially handed a straight red card for arguing with the referee.

It has been claimed that there was a plot for England to win the World Cup, and the referee from this game was German, while the official in Germany’s quarter final win over Uruguay was English. The controversy continued in the final with Geoff Hurst’s famous ‘was it over the line?’ goal.

Joao Havelange, who was FIFA President from 1974 until 1998 is certain to have further fuelled these conspiracy theories by openly stating that the 1966 and ’74 World Cups were fixed.

"In the three matches that the Brazilian national team played in 1966, of the three referees and six linesmen, seven were British and two were Germans," Havelange told Folha de Sao Paulo.

"Brazil went out, Pele ‘exited’ through injury [following some rough defensive play], and England and Germany entered into the final, just as the Englishman Sir Stanley Rous, who was the President of FIFA at the time, had wanted.

"In Germany in 1974 the same thing happened. During the Brazil-Holland match, the referee was German, we lost 2-0 and Germany won the title," said Havelange.

"We were the best in the world, and had the same team that had won the World Cup in 1962 in Chile and 1970 in Mexico, but it was planned for the host countries to win.â€

[morra10]

http://msn.foxsports.com/soccer/pgStory ... to=8247938

the blonde in number 3 and the swede in number 11.... wow....

[marco]

i got that article from goal.com.

[Bagg10]

[quote]Thursday 26 June, 2008
Blog: Never Goin' Back
They say never go back, but should Marcello Lippi listen to that old proverb as he ponders an Azzurri return? Steve Wilson thinks he should“I am never going back,â€

[Bagg10]

I have to say Glad my favorite wife(although they're not married yet) so far has been Alena Seredova. She's been the biggest stand out with her support for the Azzurri, with her jersey and everything, and she's not even Italian!!! She put the other Italian wives to shame.

[edge_xeno]

[arthurfonzarelli]

[p_maldini_3]

[Italiamia]

[juventino_italiano]

I agree with much of what you said Ita.
Despite Donadoni being a clever man, he just didnt have to experience to cut it at this level, at least not yet.
Another thing is, besides his inexperienced tactics and reading of games, and besides his loyalty....he was stubborn.
I respect the fact he gave an honest attempt, he tried out a system, but it failed unfortunately.
However, his inability to acknowledge tha fact that what he was doing was wrong is what put the icing on the cake.

I continue to believe, as i did before the tournament, and as i said much earlier in this thread....

This tournament was Italy's to lose and they did so in fine fashion....they may not have had the better indiviual players man to man when compared to the other teams, but they had a backbone and a strong enough base that had a proper team been built around it, they would have been the best team in the tourney.

You cannot blame the squad, as most of them did the best they could given their scenarios, be it lack of form, or being played out position, or just being in the wrong tactical scheme.

[red]

[Alfio]

refereeing decisions didnt cost us the exit v Spain.
In the end it was him.

At least this way The Waterboy will get a proper sending off.

[Bagg10]

I think with Lippi The Waterboy has a chance to play in both confederations and WC.

[Italiamia]