An Historic Event
This Sunday evening (1800 local kick-off) will be an historic event in Italian calcio. For the first-time ever, the Coppa Italia (Italian Cup) final will be a Roman derby played at Stadio Olimpico in Rome. AS Roma may also make history: no Italian club has ever won 10 Italian Cups (Juventus also has nine). Should Roma win, they, and US international, Michael Bradley, will add a silver star to their shirt.
SS Lazio has won five of their six previous Italian Cup finals in which they have participated. This derby, perhaps next to River Plate v. Boca Juniors and Rangers v. Celtic, likely involves more of a cultural, historical, political and social aspect than any other in world football.
Daniele De Rossi, a native son of Rome and star of AS Roma, provided a few comments that were transcribed by Corriere dello Sport on 24 May 2012. (He also provided video remarks to Gazzetta dello Sport TV which is shown above.) He spoke with maturity and wisdom about the need for the players themselves to set a proper example for both sets of supporters.
Let's see what Daniele had to say.
Discussion Items
* On the beauty of the historic Roman derby.
* On the aspect of tension and the need for maturity.
* On the playing responsibility of AS Roma.
* On worries about potential problems given the mutual history.
* On his meeting with Italian President Napolitano ahead of the Cup final.
ROMA - "Per il derby sono fiducioso. Sarà una bella festa: c'è tanta gente che vuol venire allo stadio sperando di festeggiare ma che lascerà tutte le armi e i coltelli a casa". Lo ha detto Daniele De Rossi uscendo dal Quirinale. "In campo dobbiamo essere i primi a non esagerare, sentiamo la responsabilità di non surriscaldare gli animi". "Non c'è bisogno di ricordare sempre quello che è successo in passato. Sarà una bella festa, sicuramente più grande per chi vincerà, ma sono sicuro che ci sarà grande maturità".
On the beauty of the historic Roman derby:
"I'm confident about the derby. It will be a beautiful party. There are so many people who want to come to the stadium hoping to celebrate but who will leave all of their weapons and knives at home. We have to be the first ones on the pitch not to exaggerate. We feel the responsibility of not overheating the emotions.
There is no need to always recall what happened in the past. It will be a great party. Surely, better for the one who will win, but I'm certain that there will be a great deal of maturity."
TENSIONE - "Sappiamo che la tensione è alta e noi in campo dobbiamo essere i primi a non esagerare perchè potrebbe innescare qualcosa di spiacevole e non deve essere assolutamente così - ha aggiunto De Rossi - Tutti, ma soprattutto per me che sono romano, vorremmo vedere una grande prova di maturità da parte della città".
On the aspect of tension and the need for maturity:
"We know that the tension level is high and we who are on the pitch have to be the first ones not to exaggerate because it could ignite something unpleasant. And it absolutely must not be this way. Everyone, but above all, for me as a Roman, would like to see a great display of maturity on behalf of the city."
Francesco Totti and Michael Bradley et al at Disneyworld Winter Break Training in 2013. Bradley could become the first American to win an Italian Cup final.
RESPONSABILITA' - "Quanta responsabilità sentiamo? Molta, anche dal punto di vista campanilistico. Vogliamo vincere, fare una bella partita perchè sappiamo quanto è importante. Ma c'è anche molta responsabilità perchè non si surriscaldino ulteriormente gli animi".
On the playing responsibility of AS Roma:
"How much responsibility do we feel? A great deal and also from a parochial point of view. We want to win, play a good game but we know how important it is. But there's also much responsibility because you don't want to ultimately ramp up emotions."
PREOCCUPAZIONE - "La preoccupazione c'è sempre quando viene giocata una partita importante e nei derby è successo qualche volta qualcosa di spiacevole, ma è successo anche in altre partite e non solo qui a Roma".
On worries about potential problems given the mutual history:
"The worry is always there when you play an important game and in the derby, a few times unpleasant things have happened. But it has also happened in other games and not only here in Rome."
LA CITTA' - "Tutti quanti, e il Presidente per primo, ci auguriamo che la partita sia bella, agonisticamente parlando leale sia in campo sia sugli spalti - ha concluso - Napolitano ha parlato un pò della situazione in generale del calcio italiano spiegando che questa partita può essere non un motivo per peggiorarlo ma per far vedere che una città come Roma e il calcio italiano in generale migliorino la propria immagine. Non so per chi fa il tifo Napolitano ma è stato neutrale come consigli e come volontà".
On his meeting with Italian President Napolitano ahead of the Cup final:
"All of us, and the President as the first one, hope that it will be a great game. Speaking from an honest playing level on the pitch and in the stands. Napolitano spoke a little about the situation in general about Italian football explaining that this game can't be a reason to worsen it. But to make it seen that in a city such as Rome and that Italian football in general can improve their respective images. I don't know who Napolitano cheers for but he was neutral in his advice and desires."
Related Articles
Book Review: "E' Mo Te Spiego Roma" by Francesco Totti
Daniele De Rossi: "The error caused me to grow up." (On his 2006 elbow at Brian McBride of the USA during the World Cup.)
- Steve Amoia is a freelance writer and translator from Washington, D.C. He is the publisher of World Football Commentaries and The Soccer Translator. You can follow Steve @worldfootballcm on Twitter.
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