Who’s following Italian soccer? The national team faces Slovenia this evening in Florence in a qualifying match for the 2012 European Cup. Forza Azzuri! Italy last won the Euro Cup in 1968. Here’s to Italy quality this round! If Italy qualifies, we’ll update the community as matches continue through the fall and into next summer. The Euro Cup itself takes place next June in Poland, the final game is slated for July 1.
As for other Italian soccer, we’d planning on calling attention to the first round of matches, but the 2011 – 2012 season, which was to have started a week or so ago, was delayed by a strike. Sports Illustrated is reporting that the Seria A clubs proposed an agreement last Thursday. We’re waiting on an update to see if games start later this week.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter criticized the Italian strike while attending the beach football World Cup in Ravenna. “Out of respect for fans who follow football throughout the world, it shouldn’t get to a situation where a season can’t start,” Blatter told the ANSA news agency. “It’s like going to La Scala in Milan to await the start of a great opera and then it doesn’t been. Football also has a social and cultural aspect. Football is more than a game, it’s a religion.”
Amen to that! But yikes in that the Italian national team will be playing tonight with no season games as warmups.
Let us know what you think of Italian soccer!
Ciao,
Barbara Fellini
