Italy 0 - USA 1: Historic Win for the Americans in Genoa

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Clint Dempsey scores against Gigi Buffon.
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History

Clint Dempsey and his teammates celebrate the goal.
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The Azzurri faced the USA for the 11th official time (according to RSSSF) from the Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa. Italy had won seven and drawn three. Tonight was the first-ever loss against the United States of America at the senior level.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the last time that the Azzurri lost in Genoa was in January 1920 (0-4 vs. Austria). Italy had won 15 games and drawn five times since that time before the US loss.

Post-Match Quote on RAI Sports from the Pitch Reporter

Cesare Prandelli

"It wasn't a deserved loss but with this spirit, we'll do well at Euro. We were a little indecisive. The problem we had was too many long balls at the wrong times that produced too many offsides."

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Other Post-Match Quotes

US Ambassador, the Honorable David Thorne.
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Cesare Prandelli

«Ho visto una grande voglia dei ragazzi, siamo stati un po' più incisivi nella ripresa ma abbiamo fatto l'errore di attaccare la profondità con i tempi sbagliati, finendo spesso in fuorigioco comunque a 100 giorni dall'Europeo, non sono per nulla preoccupato. {Tuttosport, 29 Feb. 2012}

"Con questo spirito faremo un grande europeo. La squadra mi è piaciuta, possiamo fare un grande Europeo. Siamo stati un po' più incisivi nella ripresa. Giovinco nell'uno contro uno è sempre pericoloso. Borini? Ha grinta e personalità, è molto interessante. Preoccupato? Assolutamente no". {Gazzetta dello Sport, 29 Feb. 2012}

"I saw a great desire from the boys. We were a little more incisive in the second half, but we made a mistake to attack with long balls at the wrong times frequently ending up in an offside position. Even at 100 days to the start of Euro 12, I'm not at all worried."

"With this spirit, we will have a great Euro 2012. I liked the team. We can have a great European Nations Cup (this summer). We were a little more incisive in the second half. Sebastian Giovinco, in the one-on-ones, is always dangerous. Fabio Borini? He has toughness and personality. He's very interesting.

Am I worried? Absolutely not."

Fabio Borini (Who made his Azzurri debut)

Fabio Borini.
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"Ho dato tutto e non sono contento perchè potevamo fare gol. Ma non è facile entrare a partita in corso: il gol mi è mancato in un paio di occasioni, forse anche per l'emozione. De Rossi mi ha dato una mano anche in campo, mi suggeriva le cose da fare, mi incitava. Far parte del gruppo è motivo di grande soddisfazione, e ora gli Europei sono un obiettivo da raggiungere, che darebbe una svolta a me come persona". Sulla necessità di avere in Nazionale Balotelli il giallorosso dice che "Mario è un grandissimo giocatore ha tanta qualità da offrire alla squadra"{Tuttosport, 29 Feb. 2012}

"I gave everything and am not happy because we could have scored. But it is not easy to come into a game off the bench. I missed scoring a goal on two occasions. Perhaps also due to emotion. Daniele De Rossi (his AS Roma teammate) gave me a hand also on the pitch. He suggested things to do and cheered me on.

To be part of the group is a motive of great satisfaction. And now the Euro is an objective to reach. It would be the next step for me as a person."

On the necessity to have Mario Balotelli on the national team, he said, "Mario is a great player that has such quality to offer to the team."

Italian sources of quotes: As listed above and were taken from RAI Sports interviews post-match.

(More to follow when quotes become available at maor Italian sports dailies.)

Related Articles

• Historical Analysis of Italy vs. USA from 1934 to 2012 at the Senior Level (Historic Videos and Lineups)

• Jurgen Klinsmann's Press Conference from Genoa

• Cesare Prandelli: "We can't arrive at the Euro with a technical or psychological fragility."

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• Daniele De Rossi: "The Error Caused Me to Grow Up." (Re: 2006 elbow on Brian McBride).
• Not Your Ordinary Joe: The Rise of Giuseppe Rossi
• The Michelangelo of Goalkeepers: Gigi Buffon
• Interview with Alexi Lalas, President and General Manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy (Conducted in 2006 for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio)
• Jurgen Klinsmann: Translating a Career of Emotions
• Two Unlikely Trailblazers: Bob and Michael Bradley

Please click the images to see a wide selection
of Azzurri and US team gear at SoccerPro.

Steve Amoia is a freelance writer, book reviewer and translator from Washington, D.C. He is the publisher of World Football Commentaries and The Soccer Translator. He has written and translated for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio (Italian soccer school), Beyond The Pitch, Football Media, Italian Soccer Serie A, JuventiKNOWS (guest writer), Keeper Skool, Serie A Weekly (guest writer), and Soccerlens. You can follow Steve @worldfootballcm on Twitter. He used to maintain a site called Italian Calcio and History of the Azzurri.

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Cesare Prandelli: "We can't arrive at the Euro with a technical or psychological fragility."

Cesare Prandelli leads a training session in Genoa on 27 Feb. 2012.
Photo: Getty Images.

Italy boss, Cesare Prandelli, gave another press conference ahead of the US friendly tomorrow night from Stadio Luigi Ferraris in Genoa:

His Starting Lineup

"Vi ho abituati male, all’Europeo non ve la darò più" chiosa il c.t. Intanto, però, eccola: Buffon; Maggio, Barzagli, Ogbonna, Criscito; Marchisio, Pirlo, Nocerino; Thiago Motta; Matri, Giovinco."

"I've made you accustomed to me (not releasing the lineup before a game) in a bad way. At the Euro, I won't do it anymore. Anyway, here is the lineup:

Buffon; Maggio, Barzagli, Ogbonna, Criscito; Marchisio, Pirlo, Nocerino; Thiago Motta; Matri, Giovinco."

On Italy's Chances at Euro 2012

"Dove può arrivare l’Italia? La pressione aumenta. Dipenderà anche dal clima generale, da tutti. Non possiamo discutere così (come successo ieri, ndr) del modo in cui interpretiamo il codice etico, mi cadono le braccia. Non dobbiamo arrivare a Euro 2012 con fragilità tecniche o psicologiche. Le principali avversarie sono facili da individuare: Spagna, Germania e Olanda. Ma noi dobbiamo anzitutto pensare al nostro girone. La Croazia quindi è temibile quanto la Spagna".

"Where will Italy arrive? The pressure is increasing. It will also depend on the general climate. From everyone. We can't discuss it like this (as happened yesterday) in the way in which we interpret the ethical code. My arms fall down. We can't arrive at the Euro with a technical or psychological fragility. The main opponents are easy to underline: Spain, Germany and Holland. But we have to, above all, think about our own group. Croatia should be feared as much as Spain."

On Upcoming Friendlies

"Ce ne saranno spero altre due, ma a ridosso dell’Europeo. Quello di domani con gli Usa è dunque un test importante. Mi serve capire quanto questa coppia d’attacco può essere interessante. Così come capire se giovani come Ogbonna e Borini possono fare parte del gruppo che andrà all’Europeo. Bisogna valutare le alternative, anche se in testa l’11 per l’Europeo ce l’ho".

"We hope there'll be two more but right before the Euro. The one tomorrow against the USA is therefore an important test. It helps me to understand how interesting this strike partnership can be. Also to understand if young players such as Angelo Ogbonna and Fabio Borini can take part of the group that will go to the Euro. You have to evaluate alternatives even if I have a starting XI in mind already."

On His Azzurri Attack

"E’ da ricostruire. Voglio aspettare sino all’ultimo momento Rossi e Cassano. Questa partita mi può servire, per questo intento. Matri dà profondità, Giovinco è bravo a trovare la posizione tra centrocampo e attacco, e i gol li sa fare. Balotelli ha preso 8 giornate di squalifica, sinora, in Inghilterra. Sono tante. Un grande giocatore deve saper fronteggiare le provocazioni, non devono reagire. Non mi ha chiamato, no. Poi potenzialmente può avere una carriera straordinaria. Ma non ci sono giustificazioni per certi comportamenti. Di Natale? Non mi sembrava giusto convocarlo dopo un infortunio. Non ha bisogno di essere provato. So già dove può giocare. Borriello e Quagliarella già depennati? No, li seguiamo comunque".

"It has to be rebuilt. I want to wait until the last minute for Giuseppe Rossi and Antonio Cassano. This friendly can help me with this intent. Alessandro Matri gives width, Sebastian Giovinco is very good to find the position between the midfield and the attack. And he knows how to score goals.

Balotelli has had eight games of disqualification, up to now, in England. That's a lot. A great player needs to know how to handle provocations. They can't react. He didn't phone me. No. He can potentially have an extraordinary career. But there are not justifications for certain behaviors. Antonio Di Natale? It didn't seem right to be to call him up after his injury. He doesn't need to be tested. I already know where he can play. Are Marco Borriello and Fabio Quagliarella already out of the mix? No, I'll still continue to follow them."

On De Rossi's Exclusion

"Ho voluto provare altri centrocampisti. I miei sei giocatori di metà campo (i 4 che giocano, più il romanista e Montolivo, ndr) devono considerarsi tutti titolari. Manca un classico trequartista nel nostro progetto tecnico recente. Poi seguiamo giocatori come Diamanti e Cossu".

"I wanted to try out other midfielders. My six midfielders (the four who play, De Rossi and Riccardo Montolivo), have to be considered as starters. A classic 'trequartista' (a creative player such as Roberto Baggio who bridges the midfield and attack) has been missing from our technical project recently. Then, we follow players such as Diamanti and Cossu."

On Leonardo Bonucci of Juventus

Il suo nome è uscito a margine della vicenda calcioscommesse. "Ne abbiamo parlato, gli ho detto di stare tranquillo".

His name came out on the peripheries of the recent sports betting scandal.

"We've spoken. I told him to stay calm."

On the Perception of the Azzurri

"La Nazionale è un po’ sopportata, se penso ai problemi a pianificare gli stage, alle polemiche, mentre la gente la ama".

"The national team is tolerated a litttle, if you think of the problems that are showcased, the public arguments, while the people still love the team."

On Recent Public Discussions

"Abbiamo fatto tanta confusione, parlando di codice etico e comportamenti. Bisogna rispettare le opinioni di tutti. Ma il gruppo è solido, ha affrontato anche argomenti scomodi con maturità. Come ad esempio De Rossi. Io non mi sento integralista. Semplicemente chiedo di rispettare le regole. Anche i genitori impongono delle regole ai figli e io non li considero integralisti".

"We've created so much confusion speaking about the ethical code and how to behave. You need to respect everyone's opinions. But the group is united. They have also faced uncomfortable discussions with maturity. As an example, Daniele De Rossi. I don't feel like one who integrates. I simply ask to respect the rules. Even if parents put rules on their children, I don't consider them as integrators."

Italian Source: Prandelli lancia Matri e Giovinco "L'attacco è da ricostruire"; Ricardo Pratesi, La Gazzetta dello Sport; 28 Feb. 2012.

Related Articles

• Historical Analysis of Italy vs. USA from 1934 to 2012 at the Senior Level (Historic Videos and Lineups)

• Jurgen Klinsmann's Press Conference from Genoa

  ---

• Daniele De Rossi: "The Error Caused Me to Grow Up." (Re: 2006 elbow on Brian McBride).
• Not Your Ordinary Joe: The Rise of Giuseppe Rossi
• The Michelangelo of Goalkeepers: Gigi Buffon
• Interview with Alexi Lalas, President and General Manager of the Los Angeles Galaxy (Conducted in 2006 for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio)
• Jurgen Klinsmann: Translating a Career of Emotions
• Two Unlikely Trailblazers: Bob and Michael Bradley

Please click the images to see a wide selection
of Azzurri and US team gear at SoccerPro.

Steve Amoia is a freelance writer, book reviewer and translator from Washington, D.C. He is the publisher of World Football Commentaries and The Soccer Translator. He has written and translated for AC Cugini Scuola Calcio (Italian soccer school), Beyond The Pitch, Football Media, Italian Soccer Serie A, JuventiKNOWS (guest writer), Keeper Skool, Serie A Weekly (guest writer), and Soccerlens. You can follow Steve @worldfootballcm on Twitter. He used to maintain a site called Italian Calcio and History of the Azzurri.

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