For the second time in a row, as in the case of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Italian football fans are faced with enormous dilemmas, and for many the word World Cup has become a real taboo. The Italians do not want to hear about the world championships in Qatar, which will take place without them, the current European champions.
On the sites of football fans, one can often read questions, how is it possible that the champions of the continent cannot “automatically” participate in the World Cup? There are even calls to change the rules to ensure such qualification for the winning team.
“It’s going to be a difficult month for us. It’s been hurting for a long time,” Italy coach Roberto Mancini said.
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Thus, during a press conference a few days before the inauguration of the event, he expressed the feelings of millions of football fans. Mancini also said everything must be done to ensure this never happens again.
Fans’ nerves are further strained, as on RAI television they constantly see advertisements urging them to watch shows from Qatar.
Sports commentators note that for the second time in a row, the Italians are facing a situation that previous generations have not experienced since 1958 – their team is absent from the World Cup. For several decades, the “Azzurri” vying for the championship seemed to go without saying; it was a long-awaited and fixed point. And the appetite was growing after winning four World Cups; last time in 2006.
Adding fuel to the fire was added by RAI TV star presenter Fiorello, who said bluntly: “Everyone should pull out of this World Cup.” He pointed out that “human rights are violated in Qatar”. There, he noted, there are no footballing traditions.
“When was there a championship there? They played football in the oil wells there?” Fiorello asked sarcastically.
While some fans in street polls shown in TV and radio stations state that they will not watch a single game out of anger and disappointment, as they are not at all interested in these games, since the “Azzurri” stay at home, others wonder who to applaud.
Poland is sometimes mentioned in this context; mainly because of the admiration for Robert Lewandowski and because so many Poles play in Serie A. Wojciech Szczęsny, Piotr Zieliński, Arkadiusz Milik and Krzysztof Piątek.
“It will be hard, we will have to avoid the broadcasts of matches”, “It is terribly sad that ours is not there”, “I think I will choose a team to support” – these are the opinions of Roma fans , collected by PAP. Some admit that they hoped that after such an embarrassment, coach Mancini would be fired immediately. They also point out that what happened bleakly illustrates the state of Italian football and too little energy is being invested in finding young talent.
The sports press avoids tones of despair and bitterness. ‘La Gazzetta dello Sport’ wonder if this time anyone can stop Brazil on their way to the coveted sixth World Cup, which they have been waiting for 20 years.
KN, PAP
Go to Polsatsport.pl
