Chow Italia

Vic seems to think that I'm xenophobic when it comes to football. She uses words like "hate" -- as in "Why do you hate the Germans / French / Italians [delete as appropriate] so much?"

Last night it was the turn of the Italian dream to crumble, and when I expressed my pleasure at seeing them go out of the tournament, Vic asked the above question. I'm not xenophobic of course, but football's a funny old game, and I do have some deep-seated, jingoistic, views on the above three nationalities when it comes to football (e.g. all three of the above teams have misplaced arrogance). But the bottom line is that there's nothing better than seeing the once mighty struck low. Who cannot appreciate the bitterness of seeing the celebrations of the Italians at their last-gasp winning goal being immediately cut short by the news that it was irrelevant and they were going home on the next plane out. They deserved it, just as Spain deserved it two nights before. A team of poncy reputations playing without respect for their opponents or the game --either playing for the draw or playing without drive or ambition. I'm pleased for Sweden and Denmark -- they deserved to progress, unlike the dire Italians. All the Italians can do is wave about wild accusations of collusion. It's got nothing to do with xenophobia -- it's all about merit.

However, I can't wait to see the TV coverage of the tomato-throwing Italian public welcoming their heroes home. Hopefully they'll have a crate ready for spitmeister Totti.