All good things come to an end. Can Nath bow out with the 2010 World Cup?
Hello and welcome back. We are in Argentina for the 2010 World Cup. We have won the previous 2 World Cups but have had 2 dismal Euros so i honestly have no idea where this current Italy team is. I’m not confident but i wasn’t last time and we won so you never know. Here is the squad.
We lose Braglia a day after the squads are submitted which is so annoying! Lots of new faces with Totti and Pistone the elder statesmen.
It’s a group we should be getting through but i said that in the Euros and we crashed out. Hopefully not the same here.
Absolutely terrible. The first half is fairly even and we have a goal chalked off by the ref. The 2nd half we chase the game and USA hit us with 2 goals on the break.
To be honest if we had lost this one I’d have been done with this blog. Fortunately Di Venanzio rips the Bolivia defence apart with a hattrick. We have to beat Scotland to be sure of going through.
Another crap performance upfront. It’s like the game has decided I’ve scored enough goals throughout the season and we can’t have anymore! Scotland score from kickoff in the second half. We leave it until 83rd minute to equalise from a corner. We need Bolivia to beat USA.
They do! We scrape through with 4 points. 1 behind Scotland who top the group. As a side note, the hosts losing to Slovenia can’t have gone down well!
Confirmation of us sneaking through. Scotland have got England next (Tasty!). We have been drawn against Brazil!! We beat them en route to winning the previous World Cups so let’s hope for a repeat here.
The hosts are knocked out as Slovenia and Zambia progress. Massive shock!
Spain look scary good! South Africa another surprise package.
Ghana bow out with just a single goal.
France breeze through.
Holland and the Czechs progress
Germany and China see off Nigeria and T & T.
Finally, Brazil and England get through. Egypt actual beat Brazil 1-0!
Scotland absolutely destroy England! That will live long in the memory. Slovenia win a thriller against China.
No surprises in these 2 fixtures.
France surprisingly knocked out on penalties against Belgium!
Get in!! Much better here. Sbrizzo comes in for Stellone, who’s been poor in the group stages, and it pays off. 2 first half goals and an assist for Di Venanzio see us into the Quarters.
Germany do the business against Zambia.
Germany next then. Another massive clash!
Scotland ease into the Semi Finals. Denmark knock Spain out which is a surprise as Spain looked really good.
Germany score 4 in the first 30 minutes and it’s game over. Di Venanzio scores in the 31st minute but we are shell shocked and never recover.
Belgium crush Holland to get through as well.
An odd Semi Final line-up. I genuinely can’t call it. I’ll go for Germany to beat Denmark in the final on penalties.
Denmark win a nervy contest to see off Scotland.
Germany showing class to get past Belgium. So i’ve called the finalists right. Can i get the result as well?
Well it’s Germany who win in normal time. They’ve been fantastic throughout the tournament and are deserved winners. Belgium finish 3rd beating Scotland 1-0 in the playoff. Germany are announced as hosts of the 2014 World Cup but I won’t be there as I resign as Italy manager. Also Mr Roma – The Last Roman – lays down his sword.
He has been an absolute pleasure to manage and has carried this team from season 1. Only 1 league title but there was 3 UEFA Cups and 2 World Cups back to back as well as 2 European Footballer of the year awards as well. I hope you enjoyed the blog. Hopefully Dave will have me back soon.