Italy media talks up conspiracy of Spain-Croatia tie
Source: Agencies |
June 16, 2012, Saturday
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GIVEN their league is mired in another match-fixing scandal, Italians assume others indulge in underhand tactics and fear that Spain and Croatia will contrive a 2-2 draw to knock the Azzurri out of Euro 2012.
Not among the players and coach Cesare Prandelli, it must be added, but in a media obsessed with soccer conspiracy theories which they bizarrely call "biscuits".
A win over eliminated whipping boys Ireland and its Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni in the final Group C game on Monday would be enough for Italy to make the quarterfinals in second place if Spain or Croatia wins the other match. However, a draw makes the situation complicated because all three teams would be level on five points and head-to-head record is the deciding factor, with Italy having drawn 1-1 with both.
All three would have the same points in the mini-league so goals scored becomes all important. A 0-0 stalemate between Spain and Croatia means Italy is through with a win against the Irish while a 1-1 draw brings goal difference in the entire group into the equation.
A 2-2 or higher scoring draw between Spain and Croatia, though, and Italy can do absolutely nothing as on the head-to-heads the other two will have scored more goals.
Almost every player was asked by reporters about the chances of a fix after Thursday's draw with Croatia, even before Spain had even beaten Ireland to set up the possibility, which both teams deny could ever happen.
"I don't fear the biscuit," goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said, while Thiago Motta added: "They are professionals. It won't happen, everyone will do their own jobs."
Italy's paranoia over conspiracy theories stems from the 2002 World Cup when, ironically bossed by Trapattoni, it was eliminated in the second round after a defeat by co-hosts South Korea. The Azzurri were certain that the referee favored the hosts as part of a FIFA campaign to get the home side through, all denied by the authorities.
At Euro 2004, Trapattoni's Italy went out in the group stage in exactly the same sort of scenario it fears now, when a 2-2 draw between Denmark and Sweden prompted its exit.
Croatian defender Vedran Corluka says the Italians are in no position to be casting aspersions at others.
"Who has a betting scandal in their country?" asked Corluka.
Croatia coach Slaven Blic was not even considering such a possibility and simply believes that the draw with Italy has given his side a good chance of reaching the last eight.
"Four points is great. Before this match I would have been really satisfied with four points (at this stage)," he said.
"No-one in the whole nation was expecting this, we still have a really good chance to progress and that's a great success."
Not among the players and coach Cesare Prandelli, it must be added, but in a media obsessed with soccer conspiracy theories which they bizarrely call "biscuits".
A win over eliminated whipping boys Ireland and its Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni in the final Group C game on Monday would be enough for Italy to make the quarterfinals in second place if Spain or Croatia wins the other match. However, a draw makes the situation complicated because all three teams would be level on five points and head-to-head record is the deciding factor, with Italy having drawn 1-1 with both.
All three would have the same points in the mini-league so goals scored becomes all important. A 0-0 stalemate between Spain and Croatia means Italy is through with a win against the Irish while a 1-1 draw brings goal difference in the entire group into the equation.
A 2-2 or higher scoring draw between Spain and Croatia, though, and Italy can do absolutely nothing as on the head-to-heads the other two will have scored more goals.
Almost every player was asked by reporters about the chances of a fix after Thursday's draw with Croatia, even before Spain had even beaten Ireland to set up the possibility, which both teams deny could ever happen.
"I don't fear the biscuit," goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon said, while Thiago Motta added: "They are professionals. It won't happen, everyone will do their own jobs."
Italy's paranoia over conspiracy theories stems from the 2002 World Cup when, ironically bossed by Trapattoni, it was eliminated in the second round after a defeat by co-hosts South Korea. The Azzurri were certain that the referee favored the hosts as part of a FIFA campaign to get the home side through, all denied by the authorities.
At Euro 2004, Trapattoni's Italy went out in the group stage in exactly the same sort of scenario it fears now, when a 2-2 draw between Denmark and Sweden prompted its exit.
Croatian defender Vedran Corluka says the Italians are in no position to be casting aspersions at others.
"Who has a betting scandal in their country?" asked Corluka.
Croatia coach Slaven Blic was not even considering such a possibility and simply believes that the draw with Italy has given his side a good chance of reaching the last eight.
"Four points is great. Before this match I would have been really satisfied with four points (at this stage)," he said.
"No-one in the whole nation was expecting this, we still have a really good chance to progress and that's a great success."
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