Fair Play, Law 5, and Thierry Henry

"I will be honest. It was a handball."

According to the Castrol Index, Thierry Henry was the highest rated player in world football during 2009. The elegant, sublime, and prolific French striker has played and entertained at the highest levels for many years.

After watching Irish hearts around the world crushed last night in Paris, several issues need to be addressed.

1. Thierry Henry, according to Richard Dunne of the Republic, admitted to handling the ball after the game in what will become an iconic photograph. Mr. Henry apparently also told the match referee, Martin Hansson of Sweden, after the game.

"Asked if he considered telling the referee, he replied: 'I did. At the end.'

Pressed as to why he didn't inform officials at the time, Henry said: 'Do I stop, tell the referee and then cross? Very funny.' "

Source: Irish Times, 19 November 2009.

Please watch the video a few times. The trajectory of the ball, along with how Henry cradled it, should have been clear indicators. Not to mention the dual offside position preceding the controversial play. There were many factors in this situation that were missed by the match officials and/or not interpreted correctly.

2. In his own words: Thierry Henry.

“I will be honest,” said the Frenchman, without a hint of irony, “it was a handball. I played it, the ref allowed it. It would have been better to do it another way, but I am not the ref.”

Source: The Telegraph, 19 November 2009.

"I told Dunne," Henry said. "He said the same to me, 'you're not the ref'. That's why the players did not come to me, that's why they went to the referee.

"You can clearly see the opportunity. Sebastien Squillaci went to jump for the ball with two Irish players and I'm behind him. The next thing I know the ball hit my hand, my arm even. It was right in front of me, I played it.

"The ref allowed it and that's a question you should ask him."

Source: BBC Sport, 19 November 2009.

3. Law 5 and the Match Referee

"The Authority of the Referee

Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed."

Source: Law 5- The Referee.

If the player admitted to the infraction, if his body language and that of his teammates indicated the same thing that millions of people around the world saw, why can't the three match officials admit that they missed something? Because Law 5 absolves FIFA and/or UEFA from doing anything about the situation. Calls for match replays can come from politicians, the Irish FA, and millions of fans. But according to Law 5, nobody except Mr. Hansson has any power in the situation.

4. The Concept of Fair Play

We hear it all the time from FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, along with UEFA President, Michel Platini. Before most international games, young children carry out banners with "Fair Play" boldly emblazoned for all to see. After the World Cup final in Berlin, Marco Materazzi of the Azzurri was suspended for 2 games for apparent inflammatory language as interpreted by a lip reader. He later was awarded a public apology from a British tabloid in the matter. But his suspension marked the first time a player was ever punished for an apparent verbal provocation that was not heard or seen by the match official.

What really is Fair Play?

Giovanni Trapattoni, manager of the Republic, on Fair Play:

"I would prefer to have gone out on penalties. The referee had time to ask the linesman and then after to ask Henry. It would not have been the first time a player would have asked and it would not have been out of turn.

I am upset for fair play. We talk many times about fair play, I go to schools and talk to young children about the importance of fair play, and this happens. I spoke to the referee and I told him he may have made a great mistake. Everybody saw the game. You know what happened.

We played a great game. We deserved to win."

Source: BBC Sport, 19 November 2009.

This begs the obvious question?

Marco Materazzi after his successful day in court.

What will UEFA or FIFA do about Thierry Henry after the most blatant display of cheating in recent memory?

My suggestions:

1. Mr. Hansson, as the match referee, should replay the game from the moment the double hand ball occurred in the first extra time with the score 0 x 1. One can argue that this would set a tremendous precedent for future matches; however, this was a key fixture with millions of dollars/euros/pounds on the line. Soccer is a big business; not making the World Cup will cost the Irish FA dearly.

2. Red card Thierry Henry and make France play with 10 men.

3. Suspend Thierry Henry for the next 2 international fixtures. To his credit, Mr. Henry has admitted to the handling offense. But Fair Play should have been displayed during the game. Why didn't he tell Mr. Hansson about his offense after the goal was scored? That would have been in the true spirit of fair play. His response above was somewhat ironic. Nobody would expect him to stop at that exact moment. Now he wants us to believe that Mr. Hansson owns the problem? Surely, if Henry told him during the game, and Mr. Hansson decided to allow the goal by William Gallas, the French captain's perspective would be correct.

The other issue is one of legacy. Does Thierry Henry want an entire career to be defined by this one moment? As Warren Buffett said, "It can take 20 years to earn a good reputation, and only 5 minutes to lose it."

4. FIFA and UEFA, along with other regional authorities, need to allow match officials to talk to the press and the public. We never hear their side of the story. They are human and make mistakes. It might also help fans to understand the unique pressures placed upon referees in such important matches. They should not be protected from the same questions as players and managers. Don't you want to hear Mr. Hansson's perspective on the matter, along with his assistants?

5. Introduce goal line video replays or another match official behind the goal. Why does the fourth official stand at the center line for the whole game? As play approaches the goal mouth, he could replace the referee's assistant who could be positioned behind the goal.

6. Stop parading children before internationals with "Fair Play" banners. Please reference the quote above by Mister Trapattoni. If we want to set the standard for children, adults must pave the way.

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World Football Commentaries Home Page

Italia 1 x Sweden 0: Friendly from Cesena: "There are 16 to 17 players that are guaranteed a place at the World Cup."

Azzurri captain, Fabio Cannavaro.
"There is a reason we have four stars on our shirt, and
Spain has none."

Image courtesy of Paul Blank and http://www.postproduktie.nl/.

This will be the last friendly in a long year for the Azzurri. It began with a luxury friendly against Brasil in London, was followed by World Cup qualification matches, and endured a miserable summer spell at the 2009 Confederations Cup. But the great maestro, Marcello Lippi, seems to have the Azzurri sails flying in the proper direction.

Lippi's Historic Record: Only 3 Competitive Losses in 48 matches

His record this year has been 9 wins, 3 draws, and 3 losses.

Overall, Mr. Lippi's record during his second stint on the Azzurri bench is 11 wins, 7 draws, and 3 losses with a 55% winning rate.

During his first tenure between 2004 and 2006, his record was 18 wins, 9 draws, and 2 losses with a 62% winning rate.

Historic Record: 29 wins, 16 draws, and 5 losses with a 58% winning rate.

He has only lost 3 competitive games and 5 overall:

• In 2004 during World Cup qualification against Slovenia: 1 x 0.

• In 2009 during the Confederations Cup against Brasil 3 x 0 and Egypt 1 x 0.

• The only other matches that he lost was his first friendly on the bench in August 2004 against Iceland: 2 x 0, and a London friendly against Brazil in February 2009: 0 x 3.
  

Comments Ahead of the Game by Mister Lippi

"Ci saranno tanti cambi. Del resto se devo fare delle verifiche il momento è questo. Buffon, Cannavaro, Zambrotta e Pirlo giocano così tante partite che se posso farli rifiatare lo faccio. Ci sono 16-17 giocatori già sicuri del posto per il Mondiale, il resto va scelto e calibrato anche in base ai ruoli, per avere una rosa omogenea. Candreva per esempio può giocare alla Perrotta. Da mezzala ora avrei solo Marchisio".

"There will be a lot of changes. For the rest, if I have to make evaluations, the time is now. Buffon, Cannavaro, Zambrotta and Pirlo play so many games that if I can rest them, I will do it. There are 16 to 17 players that are guaranteed a place at the World Cup. The rest will be selected and calibrated also in terms of the needed roles to have a homogenous roster. Candreva, for example, can play like Simone Perrotta did. At the inside left or right (he used the old term and not wide or holding midfielder) up to now I have only had Claudio Marchisio."

"Il Brasile favorito per i Mondiali? Da sempre. Adesso sono favorite Brasile e Spagna. Ma sarà importante avere le cose giuste nel mese che conta".

"Is Brasil a favorite for the World Cup? Always. Now the favorites are Brasil and Spain. But it will be important to have the right things in the month that counts."

"Rossi ieri l’ho rivisto bene dopo un periodo difficile, anche per le difficoltà incontrate dal Villarreal. Santon purtroppo sta giocando molto poco. Mi auguro che giochi un pochino di più, compatibilmente con le esigenze dell’Inter".

"Yesterday I saw Giuseppe Rossi again doing well after a difficult spell, also due to the difficulties encountered at Villarreal. Unfortunately, Davide Santon is playing very little. I wish that he played a little more, but in line with the needs of Inter Milan."

Italian source: La Gazzetta dello Sport, 15 November 2009.

Follow the Game Online

• If you would like to discuss the game with other Azzurri fans, please visit Anna Italia at her site: http://italiansoccerseriea.com. She provides a live matchcast in English.

• ESPN MatchTracker (In English)
  

• 

• Radio RAI (Italian commentary link)

• Gazzetta dello Sport MatchView (in Italian)

Azzurri Starting XI: 4-3-3

Marchetti

Maggio, Legrottaglie, Chiellini, Crescito

Montolivo, Biondini, Candreva

Marchionni, Pazzini, Di Natale

Manager: Mr. Lippi

Sweden Starting XI: 4-4-2

Isaksson

Lustig, Mellburg, Majstorovic, Dorsin

V. Elm, Svensson, Larsson, Elmander

Safari, Hysen

Manager: Mr. Hamren

Abbreviated Match Report

Mr. Lippi, as promised, made many changes and fielded an experimental lineup. Most of whom have never played together at this level. The "Senators," Buffon, Cannavaro, and Zambrotta watched the match from their living rooms. ;-)

In what was not more than a training match for both sides, Giorgio Chiellini headed in the winner from a corner kick in 28th minute. The Azzurri showed much enthusiasm; however, their performance was difficult to gauge since this group will not feature again at the national team level.

The Azzurri end the year on a positive note.

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World Football Commentaries Home Page

Product Review: Juventus Full Zip Jacket by Nike for SoccerPro.com

Image courtesy of SoccerPro.com.

The Juventus Full Zip Jacket by Nike is part of an extensive collection of soccer apparel at US based online retailer, SoccerPro.com.

This black and white jacket proudly displays the traditional "bianconero" colors of Juventus, and is a great complement to an official Juventus jersey. The Juventus team emblem, along with a golden "J," are featured on the left side of the jacket. The upper right side features a golden Nike swoosh symbol.

Available Sizes

• Small
• Medium
• Large
• Extra Large
• Extra Extra Large

Comfort, Quality, and Good Looks

As a Juventus fan, I can appreciate the time-tested retro appeal of this beautiful jacket. You can use it as part of your training ensemble, or as a casual fashion statement. While wearing this jacket, you will no doubt be stopped to ask where to buy one.

The garment is manufactured by Nike in Indonesia, and is comprised of a cotton/polyester blend. This is an extremely comfortable and well-fitting training or presentation jacket. It is lightweight but very durable. I liked the fit around the neck, wrists, and waist areas. This jacket is snug without being too restricting, and allows for significant movement. I also liked the inside storage pockets on either side, along with zippered ones outside.

Shipping

Free UPS Ground on deliveries of US $50 or more.

This was a sponsored product review.

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World Football Commentaries Home Page

A Discussion between Grant Wahl and Dan Leo: Part 3: "Personally, I don't think there's a magic bullet when it comes to choosing a coach for the US."

Image courtesy
of Sports Illustrated.

Grant Wahl is a Senior Writer at Sports Illustrated where he covers college and professional basketball, along with international soccer. He has been with the venerable magazine since 1996, and has written 31 cover stories, along with over 200 featured articles.


Image courtesy of Amazon.com
and Crown Books.

A few months ago, he published his first book, "The Beckham Experiment," with Crown Books. It was a New York Times best seller.



Dan Leo is a freelance writer from Miami, Florida. He has written about American and international soccer for Soccerlens and World Football Commentaries.

Dan Leo Archive

Dan and Grant will discuss the following topics:

• The perspective of an American soccer journalist versus someone who grew up in Eastern Europe
  
• Comparing mainstream US sports commentary versus American soccer announcers
  
• Conflicting views about the USSF (United States Soccer Federation)
  
• Foreign versus domestic national team managers for the American project
  
• Analysis about Bruce Arena, Bob Bradley, Ruud Gullit, and Jürgen Klinsmann
  

A Discussion between Grant Wahl and Dan Leo

Grant, welcome to World Football Commentaries. I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak with you. Let's get started.

A global soccer journalist is likely to have been immersed in the game since birth. An American soccer journalist, to the contrary, is far more likely to grow up with other sports.

What perspective does one gain from knowing the finer points of American football or basketball and what bits of knowledge are missing to a relative newcomer?

Grant Wahl

Like a lot of American kids, I actually did grow up with soccer, but I grew up playing and not so much watching the professional game. When you're a 10-year-old soccer player in America, you can get a handle on the offside rule, but it's harder to get immersed in the tactics and culture of the pro game in the way you might be in England or Argentina. I've tried to make up for that over the past 10 to 15 years since I became a soccer journalist.

I don't think there is a lot of overlap between soccer and American football, but I do think there is between soccer and basketball (the other sport I cover for SI). The passing, the creativity, the flow, the triangles: Soccer and basketball have many similarities, which I think is why you often find that fans of one sport also follow the other. I think it's also why soccer and basketball are the world's two most popular sports. I admit that my weak spot in my soccer journalism (and U.S. soccer journalism in general) is writing about tactics and strategy. Realizing that, I have been trying to make up for it by learning as much as possible. There are many ways to do that. I'm currently reading the book "Inverting the Pyramid" by Jonathan Wilson. It's about the history of soccer tactics.

Kobe Bryant grew up playing soccer in Italy. As a child,
he supported AC Milan. He actively supports FC Barcelona
and the Los Angeles Sol.

"She (Marta) plays with such a passion, such a love for the game, so much creativity, I just find myself being glued to the TV set watching her play."

Mr. Bryant was quoted in 2009 at the presentation news conference of Marta Vieira da Silva.

Dan Leo

I grew up on European and International soccer but I assert that most kids worldwide are still clueless on the intricacies of WM vs. 4-2-4 despite having an outstanding grasp of the fundamentals - basic movement, ball trapping, shooting, etc. that comes from playing thousands of hours of pick-up ball before adulthood. In the olden days, televised contests had a single commentator who rarely delved into deep tactics while talking to his audience. Those discussions were reserved for specific magazines with a very limited circulations for the most dedicated fans. Where I was from, the half-time analysis did not exist and a cartoon or a short news feature was shown in between the action on the field.

In general, American TV coverage with its slew of ex-coaches, super slo-mo replays and telestrators has always been far ahead of its competition. After coming to the US, I was stunned by the concept of a pre-game show (to say nothing of Phyllis George) and the professionalism devoted to the event. Say what you will about the purely entertainment value of the John Maddens, Joe Garagiolas, Ken Venturis and Al McGuires, their commentaries were priceless to a newcomer. They were my teachers.

Legendary coach and commentator, John Madden.

And, having watched far too many Super Bowls and Final Fours, what I quickly noticed was how strong the emphasis was on the individual match-ups in basketball and football, where almost every conceivable variable is addressed to a minute detail. In other words, any weak attribute - be it lack of size, speed or an outside shot - is the target of the game day's scheme. But Madden and McGuire made the complex easy and were able to translate their love for their sports onto others.

Is there a similar fusion of knowledge and personality in the US? Is one needed?

Grant Wahl

You present an interesting discussion. Is your question at the end specifically about U.S. soccer? I would say that U.S. soccer is still looking for a television commentator who can combine a deep knowledge of the sport's intricacies with a big personality that can be picked up by viewers. The people who have that personality (Alexi Lalas, Ray Hudson) tend to shy away from getting too in-depth when discussing the intricacies of the sport itself. Maybe that will change in the future.

You do make a good point that soccer coverage outside the U.S. may not get into hardcore tactical discussions for kids, but I do get the sense that it happens more in some countries than in others. I think it could be increased a bit here in the U.S. as well.

Alexi Lalas is one of the most

recognized faces in American
soccer. He was the first American
to play in the Italian Serie A with
Padova in 1994, and was capped
96 times for the USA.

"If I were a manager in Italy, I would definitely bring a bunch of Americans over.
They’re cheap, they work hard and they learn very quickly."

Mr. Lalas was quoted during an interview with Steve Amoia in 2006.

Dan Leo

You were correct in that a mythical figure I had in mind was someone who could be both an ambassador of the game and its ombudsman; someone who could praise and criticize without an ulterior motive, a hint of self-promotion or a fear for his job due to the pressure from the top. Which segues into the USSF as the governing body of soccer in this country.

As someone who had long term contacts with the top hierarchy of this organization, what can you infer about its goals and ambitions? A corporate bureaucracy tends to maintain a status quo and hire people indebted to it. Bruce Arena, Bob Bradley, Sigi Schmid, Thomas Rongen, et al appear to be such types. An outsider may entail greater risks while presenting an opportunity for greater rewards but inert bodies have trouble gaining momentum.

Is the USSF becoming an end game onto itself or is it capable of stepping out of its comfort zone?

Grant Wahl

I have a hard time understanding why the U.S. Soccer Federation often gets characterized as this all-powerful organization exerting so much pressure on coaches, the media, etc. I have not found that to be the case. When it comes down to it, the USSF is still an American soccer organization that is trying to generate increased exposure (and better results) in a crowded U.S. sports landscape that doesn't pay much attention to soccer.

As a media member I know more about my own experience dealing with the USSF, and I haven't found it to be any different than my experiences covering college basketball for Sports Illustrated. There are times when I have criticized U.S. Soccer for legitimate reasons, and I haven't found that my access for interviews has been limited or threatened. Perhaps people at other media outlets have had different experiences, but those are mine.

As for coaches, U.S. Soccer did hire a non-American coach in Bora Milutinovic before the 1994 World Cup, and for the most part that worked out pretty well. The USSF also pursued a foreign coach in Jürgen Klinsmann in 2006. If Klinsmann had been hired, it was likely that he would have made many changes to player development and other areas. I'm not sure whether he would have been successful, but it would have been fascinating to see what would have taken place.

Personally, I don't think there's a magic bullet when it comes to choosing a coach for the U.S. men's team. The most successful World Cup run in U.S. history came under an American coach (Bruce Arena). Would I love to see how the U.S. would do under, say, Guus Hiddink? Sure. But I also think that Bob Bradley has put the U.S. in a position to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and be successful there.* And I think that he has done it without having to be concerned very much with the political structure of the U.S. Soccer Federation.

Editor's Note

*Mr. Wahl's comment was made before the US qualified for the World Cup.

Jürgen Klinsmann played professionally in Germany,
Monaco, France, Italy, and England. He won the World Cup
with Germany as a player in 1990, and managed "die Mannschaft"
to third place in 2006 (5W-1T-1L.) He also won the European
Cup of Nations in 1996. He was capped 108 times with 47 goals
for his country. Mr. Klinsmann donated the entire proceeds
(US $1.3 million) from his farewell game to charities.
Before his coaching tenure with the German National Team and Bayern
Munich, he was a consultant for the Los Angeles Galaxy.

"Whatever vision we have today, Jürgen Klinsmann had a lot to do with it."

Mr. Tim Leiweke, AEG/Los Angeles Galaxy, as quoted on page 146 of "The Beckham Experiment" by Grant Wahl.

"Soccer is a transcendent influence around the world."

--- Jürgen Klinsmann

Mr. Klinsmann's quote, along with the cited donation amount, are courtesy of SoccerSolutions, LLC.

Dan Leo

I agree that the US is in a good position to qualify for the WC 2010.* I would argue, however, that its ability to advance out of its group greatly depends on a favorable draw.

Also, my contention wasn't about the USSF's omnipotence per se but rather of its tolerance of mediocrity. If USSF had managed to cobble together substantial funds for its new manager and his assistants, what criteria should Sunil Gulati and Dan Flynn have been looking for during their coaching interview process?

USSF President Professor Sunil Gulati with Dr. Henry Kissinger,
a consultant for the American World Cup 2018 & 2022 bids.

"Soccer has never taken hold in the United States because neither a national team nor a national style has been encouraged."

Dr. Kissinger was quoted by the Los Angeles Times in 1986.

If Klinsmann was indeed one of the hottest USMNT candidates prior in 2006, why drop from his resume to someone like Bradley's? Granted, there are no guarantees in sport but would a Top 25 NCAA** basketball program be contemplating a Division III*** type of a coach, which is where MLS is rated statistically? Or should the candidate search have included only previously successful international managers? After all, isn't that the general principle that Tim Leiweke tried to follow with the Los Angeles Galaxy?

Editor's Notes

*Mr. Leo's comment was made before the US qualified.
**Top 25 NCAA equals the elite level of American college basketball.
***Division III is the third tier of the American college sports league structure.

Grant Wahl will respond in the fourth installment.

I would like to thank Grant and Dan for this enlightening discussion.

I would also like to thank Caroline Sill of Crown Books for her kind assistance.

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World Football Commentaries Home Page

Italia 0 x The Netherlands 0: Benefit Friendly for the Abruzzo Earthquake Fund

Image of Marcello Lippi courtesy of Paul Blank and http://www.postproduktie.nl/.

With their tickets booked to South Africa, the Azzurri have been training this past week in the Abruzzo region that was afflicted by the earthquake earlier this year. The presence of the Azzurri has provided some solace to the thousands of displaced lives after this tragedy.

Comments Ahead of the Game

"Vi dico subito la formazione, interessa? Buffon, Zambrotta, Cannavaro, Chiellini, Grosso; Pirlo, Palombo, Candreva; Camoranesi, Gilardino, Palladino".

"I'll tell you the starting lineup straight away: (listed above)"

"Mi piace fare giocare due giovani, Candreva e Palladino, nel contesto di altri nove veterani. Quando si inseriscono tutti insieme alcuni nuovi tutto diventa invece più difficile. Il ruolo di Candreva? E’ un centrocampista completo, a tutto campo. Domani farà la mezzala sinistra. Mi ha impressionato quando ho visto Livorno-Milan, ho continuato a seguirlo e l’ho chiamato. Ora gioca".

"I'm glad to play two youngsters, Candreva and Palladino, among nine other veterans. Whenever you insert everyone together at once, a few new ones, everything becomes a little more difficult. The role of Candreva? He is a complete midfielder all over the field. Tomorrow he will feature as an inside left (he used the old term and not midfielder.) He impressed me when I saw Livorno x Milan, and I continued to follow him and I called him up. Now he plays."

"Mi aspetto cose buone, una crescita generale. Ci sono più certezze rispetto al novembre 2005, prima del precedente Mondiale. Ma questa gara non sarà determinante in funzione di giugno. Con la Svezia, poi, cambieranno 7-8 giocatori".

"I expect good things (against Holland), an overall growth. There are more certainties in respect to November 2005 (Italy won convincingly), before the run up to the World Cup. But this game will not determine what happens in June. With Sweden, therefore, 7 or 8 players will be changed."

"Irlanda-Francia? Tifiamo sempre per gli italiani. Trapattoni e Tardelli in questo caso".

"France against Ireland?

I will always cheer for the Italians. In this case, Giovanni Trapattoni and Marco Tardelli."

Marcello Lippi, manager of the Azzurri.

Italian source: La Gazzetta dello Sport, 13 November 2009.

Gigi Reaches the Century Mark

Tonight will be Gianluigi's 100th cap for Italy. Complimenti e auguri, Gigi!

"Cento è una bella cifra, anche se in fondo è un numero come un altro. In ogni caso per la Nazionale è molto importante, e determinerà anche la fine della mia carriera. Quando l'Italia non mi chiamerà più sarò molto, molto vicino a smettere. Gioco con l'Inter e se serve con il Bayern, poi mi opero".

"100 is a great figure, even if at the end of the day it is a number like any other. In any case, it is very important for the National Team, and it will also determine the end of my career.

When Italy no longer calls me up, I will be very, very close to quitting.

I will play against Inter Milan and against Bayern Munich. Then I will have an operation." (on his knee)

Gigi Buffon of the Azzurri

Italian source: La Gazzetta dello Sport, 13 November 2009.

Follow the Game Online

• If you would like to discuss the game with other Azzurri fans, please visit Anna Italia at her site: http://italiansoccerseriea.com. She provides a live matchcast in English.

• ESPN MatchTracker (In English)
  

• 

• Radio RAI (Italian commentary link)

• Gazzetta dello Sport MatchView (in Italian)

Azzurri Starting XI: 4-2-1-3

Buffon

Zambrotta, Cannavaro (captain), Chiellini, Grosso

Pirlo, Palombo, Candreva

Camoranesi, Palladino, Gilardino

Manager: Mr. Lippi

The Netherlands Starting XI: 4-2-3-1

Stekelenburg

Van der Weil, Mathijsen, Heitinga, Van Bronckhorst

Van Bommel, De Jong

Kuyt, Van der Vaart, Elia

Van Persie

Manager: Mr. Van Marwijk

Referee: Mr. Circhetta of Switzerland

Game Report

Before the game, the Dutch FA/Players donated €25,000 Euros to the Abruzzo Earthquake Fund. The entire gate receipts of €190,000 Euros were also donated to the same fund. Compliments to the Dutch, the Azzurri, along with the 15,000 spectators.

The game itself began with a lively start for a small but very vocal crowd. Both teams looked to attack. The Azzurri were were quick and incisive. Especially Mauro Camoranesi who was very creative in his wide midfield role. In recent games, Camo has been taking on more of a playmaking or "fantasista," role for the Azzurri. His great work rate, along with the amount of ground that he covers, would be the envy of a much younger player.

Early in the match, Robin Van Persie went to the ground after a fair challenge by Giorgio Chiellini. The Arsenal man was stretchered off the pitch, and replaced by Huntelaar.

The best chance for the Dutch came in the 20th minute by Dirk Kuyt, but his shot sailed wide right. For the Azzurri, Alberto Gilardino had an early chance but slipped as he struck the ball. There were few other chances for either team; however, the quick runs of Elia created problems in the Azzurri box. Of note, Azzurri debutante Candreva played very well and inserted himself into the fray with confidence.

The half ended, 0 x 0.

The match became more contested in the second half. There were many reckless challenges, and the play was not as fluid. Both teams took advantage of the liberal substitution rules for this friendly. Giuseppe Rossi brought some pace to the Italian side, but they could not finish off their opportunities.

The match ended in a scoreless draw; however, the real winners were the people of Abruzzo.

Comments by Mr. Lippi After the Game to RAI

"We did very well. I liked our attitude in the first half, but we lost a lot of passes. We didn't concede anything to the Dutch who are a very important team.

The young players Candreva, Palladino, and Biondini, along with the others, did very well. A scoreless draw isn't a beautiful thing, but overall, I'm satisfied."

Notes

• This was Fabio Cannavaro's 131st cap, and his 74th time as the Azzurri captain.
  
• Gigi Buffon's first cap came against Russia in November 1997 during a World Cup 1998 play-off in Moscow.
  
• The Netherlands has not won in Italy for their last seven visits.
• Daniele de Rossi missed the game due to a broken cheekbone in the last game with Inter Milan.
• Wesley Sneijder was scratched before the game due to a muscular problem. His Inter manager, Jose' Mourinho, created controversy a few days ago when he suggested that the Juventus block of the Azzurri would go after Sneijder ahead of the big Serie A match in a few weeks.
  

A Discussion between Grant Wahl and Dan Leo: Part 2: "(They) tend to shy away from getting too in-depth when discussing the intricacies of the sport."

Image courtesy
of Sports Illustrated.

Grant Wahl is a Senior Writer at Sports Illustrated where he covers college and professional basketball, along with international soccer. He has been with the venerable magazine since 1996, and has written 31 cover stories, along with over 200 featured articles.


Image courtesy of Amazon.com
and Crown Books.

A few months ago, he published his first book, "The Beckham Experiment," with Crown Books. It was a New York Times best seller.



Dan Leo is a freelance writer from Miami, Florida. He has written about American and international soccer for Soccerlens and World Football Commentaries.

Dan Leo Archive

Dan and Grant will discuss the following topics:

• The perspective of an American soccer journalist versus someone who grew up in Eastern Europe
  
• Comparing mainstream US sports commentary versus American soccer announcers
  
• Conflicting views about the USSF (United States Soccer Federation)
  
• Foreign versus domestic national team managers for the American project
  
• Analysis about Bruce Arena, Bob Bradley, Ruud Gullit, and Jürgen Klinsmann
  

A Discussion between Grant Wahl and Dan Leo

Grant, welcome to World Football Commentaries. I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak with you. Let's get started.

A global soccer journalist is likely to have been immersed in the game since birth. An American soccer journalist, to the contrary, is far more likely to grow up with other sports.

What perspective does one gain from knowing the finer points of American football or basketball and what bits of knowledge are missing to a relative newcomer?

Grant Wahl

Like a lot of American kids, I actually did grow up with soccer, but I grew up playing and not so much watching the professional game. When you're a 10-year-old soccer player in America, you can get a handle on the offside rule, but it's harder to get immersed in the tactics and culture of the pro game in the way you might be in England or Argentina. I've tried to make up for that over the past 10 to 15 years since I became a soccer journalist.

I don't think there is a lot of overlap between soccer and American football, but I do think there is between soccer and basketball (the other sport I cover for SI). The passing, the creativity, the flow, the triangles: Soccer and basketball have many similarities, which I think is why you often find that fans of one sport also follow the other. I think it's also why soccer and basketball are the world's two most popular sports. I admit that my weak spot in my soccer journalism (and U.S. soccer journalism in general) is writing about tactics and strategy. Realizing that, I have been trying to make up for it by learning as much as possible. There are many ways to do that. I'm currently reading the book "Inverting the Pyramid" by Jonathan Wilson. It's about the history of soccer tactics.

Kobe Bryant grew up playing soccer in Italy. As a child,
he supported AC Milan. He actively supports FC Barcelona
and the Los Angeles Sol.

"She (Marta) plays with such a passion, such a love for the game, so much creativity, I just find myself being glued to the TV set watching her play."

Mr. Bryant was quoted in 2009 at the presentation news conference of Marta Vieira da Silva.

Dan Leo

I grew up on European and International soccer but I assert that most kids worldwide are still clueless on the intricacies of WM vs. 4-2-4 despite having an outstanding grasp of the fundamentals - basic movement, ball trapping, shooting, etc. that comes from playing thousands of hours of pick-up ball before adulthood. In the olden days, televised contests had a single commentator who rarely delved into deep tactics while talking to his audience. Those discussions were reserved for specific magazines with a very limited circulations for the most dedicated fans. Where I was from, the half-time analysis did not exist and a cartoon or a short news feature was shown in between the action on the field.

In general, American TV coverage with its slew of ex-coaches, super slo-mo replays and telestrators has always been far ahead of its competition. After coming to the US, I was stunned by the concept of a pre-game show (to say nothing of Phyllis George) and the professionalism devoted to the event. Say what you will about the purely entertainment value of the John Maddens, Joe Garagiolas, Ken Venturis and Al McGuires, their commentaries were priceless to a newcomer. They were my teachers.

Legendary coach and commentator, John Madden.

And, having watched far too many Super Bowls and Final Fours, what I quickly noticed was how strong the emphasis was on the individual match-ups in basketball and football, where almost every conceivable variable is addressed to a minute detail. In other words, any weak attribute - be it lack of size, speed or an outside shot - is the target of the game day's scheme. But Madden and McGuire made the complex easy and were able to translate their love for their sports onto others.

Is there a similar fusion of knowledge and personality in the US? Is one needed?

Grant Wahl

You present an interesting discussion. Is your question at the end specifically about U.S. soccer? I would say that U.S. soccer is still looking for a television commentator who can combine a deep knowledge of the sport's intricacies with a big personality that can be picked up by viewers. The people who have that personality (Alexi Lalas, Ray Hudson) tend to shy away from getting too in-depth when discussing the intricacies of the sport itself. Maybe that will change in the future.

You do make a good point that soccer coverage outside the U.S. may not get into hardcore tactical discussions for kids, but I do get the sense that it happens more in some countries than in others. I think it could be increased a bit here in the U.S. as well.

Alexi Lalas is one of the most

recognized faces in American
soccer. He was the first American
to play in the Italian Serie A with
Padova in 1994, and was capped
96 times for the USA.

"If I were a manager in Italy, I would definitely bring a bunch of Americans over.
They’re cheap, they work hard and they learn very quickly."

Mr. Lalas was quoted during an interview with Steve Amoia in 2006.

Dan Leo

You were correct in that a mythical figure I had in mind was someone who could be both an ambassador of the game and its ombudsman; someone who could praise and criticize without an ulterior motive, a hint of self-promotion or a fear for his job due to the pressure from the top. Which segues into the USSF as the governing body of soccer in this country.

As someone who had long term contacts with the top hierarchy of this organization, what can you infer about its goals and ambitions? A corporate bureaucracy tends to maintain a status quo and hire people indebted to it. Bruce Arena, Bob Bradley, Sigi Schmid, Thomas Rongen, et al appear to be such types. An outsider may entail greater risks while presenting an opportunity for greater rewards but inert bodies have trouble gaining momentum.

Is the USSF becoming an end game onto itself or is it capable of stepping out of its comfort zone?

Grant Wahl will respond in the third installment.

Editor's Note

I would like to thank Grant and Dan for this enlightening discussion.

I would also like to thank Caroline Sill of Crown Books for her kind assistance.

---

World Football Commentaries Home Page

A Discussion between Grant Wahl and Dan Leo: Part 1: "Like a lot of American kids, I actually did grow up with soccer..."

Image courtesy
of Sports Illustrated.

Grant Wahl is a Senior Writer at Sports Illustrated where he covers college and professional basketball, along with international soccer. He has been with the venerable magazine since 1996, and has written 31 cover stories, along with over 200 featured articles.


Image courtesy of Amazon.com
and Crown Books.

A few months ago, he published his first book, "The Beckham Experiment," with Crown Books. It was a New York Times best seller.



Dan Leo is a freelance writer from Miami, Florida. He has written about American and international soccer for Soccerlens and World Football Commentaries.

Dan Leo Archive

Dan and Grant will discuss the following topics:

• The perspective of an American soccer journalist versus someone who grew up in Eastern Europe
• Comparing mainstream US sports commentary versus American soccer announcers
• Conflicting views about the USSF (United States Soccer Federation)
• Foreign versus domestic national team managers for the American project
  
• Analysis about Bruce Arena, Bob Bradley, Ruud Gullit, and Jürgen Klinsmann

A Discussion between Grant Wahl and Dan Leo

Grant, welcome to World Football Commentaries. I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak with you. Let's get started.

A global soccer journalist is likely to have been immersed in the game since birth. An American soccer journalist, to the contrary, is far more likely to grow up with other sports. What perspective does one gain from knowing the finer points of American football or basketball and what bits of knowledge are missing to a relative newcomer?

Grant Wahl

Like a lot of American kids, I actually did grow up with soccer, but I grew up playing and not so much watching the professional game. When you're a 10-year-old soccer player in America, you can get a handle on the offside rule, but it's harder to get immersed in the tactics and culture of the pro game in the way you might be in England or Argentina. I've tried to make up for that over the past 10 to 15 years since I became a soccer journalist.

I don't think there is a lot of overlap between soccer and American football, but I do think there is between soccer and basketball (the other sport I cover for SI). The passing, the creativity, the flow, the triangles: Soccer and basketball have many similarities, which I think is why you often find that fans of one sport also follow the other. I think it's also why soccer and basketball are the world's two most popular sports. I admit that my weak spot in my soccer journalism (and U.S. soccer journalism in general) is writing about tactics and strategy. Realizing that, I have been trying to make up for it by learning as much as possible. There are many ways to do that. I'm currently reading the book "Inverting the Pyramid" by Jonathan Wilson. It's about the history of soccer tactics.

Kobe Bryant grew up playing soccer in Italy. As a child,
he supported AC Milan. He actively supports FC Barcelona
and the Los Angeles Sol.

"She (Marta) plays with such a passion, such a love for the game, so much creativity, I just find myself being glued to the TV set watching her play."

Mr. Bryant was quoted in 2009 at the presentation news conference of Marta Vieira da Silva.

Dan Leo

I grew up on European and International soccer but I assert that most kids worldwide are still clueless on the intricacies of WM vs. 4-2-4 despite having an outstanding grasp of the fundamentals - basic movement, ball trapping, shooting, etc. that comes from playing thousands of hours of pick-up ball before adulthood. In the olden days, televised contests had a single commentator who rarely delved into deep tactics while talking to his audience. Those discussions were reserved for specific magazines with a very limited circulations for the most dedicated fans. Where I was from, the half-time analysis did not exist and a cartoon or a short news feature was shown in between the action on the field.

In general, American TV coverage with its slew of ex-coaches, super slo-mo replays and telestrators has always been far ahead of its competition. After coming to the US, I was stunned by the concept of a pre-game show (to say nothing of Phyllis George) and the professionalism devoted to the event. Say what you will about the purely entertainment value of the John Maddens, Joe Garagiolas, Ken Venturis and Al McGuires, their commentaries were priceless to a newcomer. They were my teachers.

Legendary coach and commentator, John Madden.

And, having watched far too many Super Bowls and Final Fours, what I quickly noticed was how strong the emphasis was on the individual match-ups in basketball and football, where almost every conceivable variable is addressed to a minute detail. In other words, any weak attribute - be it lack of size, speed or an outside shot - is the target of the game day's scheme. But Madden and McGuire made the complex easy and were able to translate their love for their sports onto others.

Is there a similar fusion of knowledge and personality in the US? Is one needed?

Grant Wahl will respond in our second installment.

Editor's Note

I would like to thank Grant and Dan for this enlightening discussion.

I would also like to thank Caroline Sill of Crown Books for her kind assistance.

---

World Football Commentaries Home Page