Soccer: Italy undaunted by chance of tough WC draw
(By Paul Virgo) (ANSA) – Rome, December 4 – Coach Cesare Prandelli said Wednesday that he was not scared of Italy being put in a tough group at next year’s World Cup ahead of Friday’s draw.
The run-up to the draw has been hit by controversy over the decision by international soccer’s governing body FIFA to change the rules in a way that seems to make it less likely for France to find themselves in the same group as Argentina or hosts Brazil.
As the lowest-ranked of nine unseeded European qualifiers, France had been expected to go in the Africa-dominated draw pot – meaning they had more chance of being in a ‘group of death’.
But instead of following the procedure of the 2006 World Cup, FIFA decided that all nine unseeded European teams will enter an open ballot to decide who will be in the prevalently African pot.
Four-time world champions Italy are also among the unseeded European teams after their ranking was hit by them being held 2-2 in their last two World Cup qualifiers, against Denmark and Armenia, in October.
“Maybe they should have changed the rules beforehand, not just before the draw,” said Prandelli at an event for an anti-doping project organised by the Italian Soccer Federation (FIGC) and Unicef. “The World Cup has already started. There is already the World Cup spirit. “We aren’t afraid to face big teams, we are ready. We hope to do well”. The coach is taking heart from the experience of Euro 2012, which saw Italy reach the final after being drawn in the same group as world and European champions Spain.
Prandelli took over a national team in disarray after Italy’s embarrassing group-stage exit at the 2010 World Cup.
The 56-year-old rejuvenated the side and managed to get them playing an attractive offensive style, even though the current squad has fewer stars than teams of the past.
He still has several top players to count on though, including goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, playmaker Andrea Pirlo and star striker Mario Balotelli. Prandelli also took time on Wednesday to blast the decision to fine Serie A leaders Juventus for offensive chants by child supporters in Sunday’s 1-0 win over Udinese. The Turin club had allowed the children to take the seats usually occupied by hardcore ‘ultra fans after the league had ruled their stadium’s end stands be shut off to them for Udinese game because of anti-Neapolitan chants previously.
The kids chanted “you’re sh*t” at Udinese keeper Zeljko Brkic every time he took a goal kick, copying a ritual performed by grown-up fans and prompting the league to give Juve a 5,000-euro fine. “A few days ago the children did wrong by imitating adults, but it’s not right that Juventus have to pay,” Prandelli said.
“Taking 18,000 children to the stadium is a wonderful initiative and it should be repeated. “Obviously, children have to be educated and soccer needs ethics and morality. “We all have to do something to improve it, but the fine on Juventus seemed excessive to me”.