Oof. After all the action in Vienna between Austria and Germany, we have another potential cracker in our hands. Though for the two nations, their Euro 2008 fates also lies in the result of the Holland-Romania match.
It's really intriguing. France and Italy were the 2006 World Cup finalists with the latter beating the former on penalties. France coach Raymond Domenech stayed on, while his Italian counterpart has changed from Marcello Lippi to Roberto Donadoni. The two national teams also met during the Euro 2008 qualifying stages. The first time the two met, France got the better of Italy and the second and last time round, a draw.
During the qualifying stages, France lost home and away to Scotland. Italy managed to end Scotland's hopes of qualifying by beating them in Glasgow. France qualified with a match to go (same as Italy). And during the Euro 2008 draw in Lucerne, both in the 'Group of Death'. With the 'enmity' sort of went back during the Euro 2000 tournament which France won by a golden goal, the match in Zurich has so much at stake. By right both are the favourites to survive the 'Group of Death'. But both saw their hopes kind of dented by Holland's demolition of them and Romania's draws.
Even a win for either side will still do no good (if the Holland-Romania match don't go in their way, in short, both hoping Holland beating Romania). So watch out, it's France versus Italy...again! And it will be more than just make-or-break time. It's going to be Italy's 'match of our lives', as according to goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. For France's Thierry Henry, he sought an unlikely inspiration in the form of during his time in Arsenal. As according to Franck Ribery (who will be meeting his fellow Bayern Munich colleague Luca Toni who's playing for Italy), the match is going to be hot.
With France in such a state at the moment, Franck Ribery and goalkeeper Gregory Coupet are saying that the squad has missed Zinedine Zidane. Other than that, in-fighting in the France camp? Oh well, 2002 is looming again given of Patrick Vieira's fitness (given he's an influential person on the Les Bleus). So while Italy's all-time top-scorer Luigi Riva hope that the Azzuri can finally break their Euro jinx (since winning it in 1968, and the only time on the European level for the Azzuri), according to former France international Emmanuel Petit...France coach Raymond Domenech must be replaced by World Cup winning captain Didier Deschamps. In short for Petit, Domenech has to go.
In the wake of France coach Raymond Domenech's future, he got the vote of confidence from the French Football Federation (FFF) president Jean-Pierre Escalettes. Domenech has a contract that runs till 2010 and Jean-Pierre Escalettes told Le Monde on Monday (which is yesterday) that he would support him till the end, though, he added rather menacingly that other things might come into play which could change the scenario. As for Domenech's counterpart, Roberto Donadoni has swatted away suggestions that Holland would allow Romania an easy ride (given he himself knows how his former AC Milan teammate and current Holland coach Marco van Basten is like).
While the Italian insists his side are ready for their clash against France (or AFP has call it 'Le Crunch'), his France counterpart has gone on a charm offensive. With France coach Raymond Domenech also saying they must take their tiny chance to qualify.
On the team news front...what I can gather is that France captain Patrick Vieira admitted that it's out of the question on facing Italy. On the Italy front, rumours has been flying around that Antonio Cassano could start but coach Roberto Donadoni is not saying anything.
The two national teams have know each other so well to the extent that...they are sick and tired of each other? In a span of two years, they had met like three times. Whoever can get lucky this time...only Zurich can provide the answers.
If Italy chose to be superstitious this time, even the date of the crucial match is going against them. 17 June (Central European Time, that is). In Italy, 17 is an unlucky number...not 13 as Christians have always believe. It goes back to history as to why 17 is the unlucky number in Italian society, but I rather stop here now.
