Materazzi like Baggio: “Italy had to go right to the World Cup”

Scandalous is a strong word, even for someone like Marco Materazzi who does not like beating around the bush. But that is form, maybe the adjective also escaped Roby Baggio. The substance is there, it remains, and the thought makes us reflect: in November Italy had to be in Qatar by right. He also makes a world champion think, and not a European one, like the Matrix. “It is scandalous that Italy, as European champion, is not automatically admitted, with an invitation, to the World Cup”.

Materazzi, is Baggio right to talk about madness?

“First of all, when Baggio speaks you get up on your feet. First: because he was a legend, and what the legends say must be listened to, and evaluated, regardless. Second: because Roby speaks very little, and in general those who dose the words say things make sense, when he decides to get out of silence “.

Ok, but he didn’t answer: did Italy have to be in the World Cup?

“We must make a distinction between the legislation as such and the rules of common sense. If we look at the” laws “, we did not qualify and stop. Then you can open a hundred brackets. For example: a Champions League victory, which guarantees the next Champions, is it worth more than a victory in the European championship that does not ensure the World Cup? And the victory in the Europa League that opens the doors to the Champions League? But to stay on the subject, the European championship is a huge tournament, objectively they play it the best teams in the world, apart from Brazil and Argentina. And winning it is a feat, a team that is certainly very strong wins it. ”

“So this is why I speak of common sense: guaranteeing the best in Europe to be able to demonstrate at the World Cup that they have deserved that title also has a logic. It is football, almost emotional. I am not talking about a rule made ad hoc for the team. Italy, of course: a rule that should already have existed, as in football there are others similar. Even if it is clear that Baggio spoke like this out of involvement, I would say almost out of love given how much he was tied to that shirt. Only in one thing he did not I agree with him”.

“He said that in a 90 ‘match anything can happen, a bad action is enough to stay at home. We didn’t stay home from the World Cup just because we didn’t beat Macedonia. And nobody, not even Mancini who was very honest. , denied that mistakes were made. “

You who have won the World Cup can say: after such a great triumph, can a sort of fulfillment take over?

“I am the least suitable to say it: the 2006-2007 season was the best of my career, apart from the 10 goals scored in the league. But after the Zidane case I knew I could not make a mistake and I had imposed a fierce concentration on myself. to prove that nothing had happened by chance. Several of my teammates confessed that they had accused, that they felt a little drained. That World Cup had been magic for many things, but magic does not last forever “.

Mancini knows this well, he noticed it from September to March. And also the other night in London.

“The match against Argentina is a separate case. First of all because those are monsters and anyone could have risked a fool. And then Mancini made a choice, also right in my opinion: the Grand Final was a prize for those who had won the ‘European, therefore who was there a year ago played. The problem is that many of them, as it turns out, were “cooked.” But I repeat: if you don’t have phenomena, and Italy does not, ‘Argentina you can concede three goals even if you are the most charged team in the world “.

So can we also take three goals from Germany and England?

“Let’s hope not, but Mancini has raised an alarm. This team is not all to be thrown away, but it needs to be refounded where it is needed, it needs new forces. try, make them part of a project. And if you think that there is no time to rebuild, you have to find it. In the trust in those who a year ago led the team to win a European championship and in a little patience: if ‘it’s just a hurry, you hit the walls “.