UDINE. In the shadow of the terrorist attacks, at the foot of the Alps.
Here begins Italy its EM trip, meeting with Spain.
In a time when football may seem insignificant, but maybe never been more important.
“I heard that UEFA said that the European Championship will be played with the audience and I am delighted. Because it means that we do not accept these inhuman acts. We will continue to defend our freedom. “
Gianluigi Buffon’s words, after the terror in Brussels and the European Championships in France. Italy’s captain and leading players right now took the podium at the press conference and did not hesitate. He and coach Antonio Conte came in dark suits with Italian emblem on the chest and severe responded to the question. Get initially focused on football, the greater the threat to the European Championship, fears and concerns.
We had driven from Florence and the Italian national team’s base in Coverciano, north. Outside the sun and on the car radio a stream of news reports about terror in Brussels, on the threat to Europe, against the free world and our way of life. Mil after mil on the motorway while the Italian colleagues and I discussed the European Championships in France; security risks, but also the vital in implementing the championship. When innocent people are murdered a football game feels completely pointless but it’s like Antonio Conte said at the press podium at the Stadio Friuli.
“Fear must not win. We will play against Spain and we will play the European Championship. I think it is the right way to answer those who want to frighten us. EM is a festival, with people from all over Europe and the world. We will give pleasure “.
Moment of Silence for the Spain match
We had arrived in Udine just as the Alps began throwing long shadows but its snowy peaks still shimmered in the evening sun. The Italian Football Federation began by announcing that there will be a minute’s silence before the game. For terror victims and for the young students, many Italian, who died in a bus crash in Spain on Monday morning.
Then, finally, after setting camp in February, Italy can begin to focus on the European Championships which are just two and a half months away. 22,000 tickets have been sold to Spain match and although it is not possible to speak of any direct azzurri fever begins expectation feel, especially with the increased pulse in the media.
Coach Conte has little time to make their choices, but two really good workout matches in meetings with Spain and Germany. The team has had time to train together three days after a four-month hiatus. Big players like Juventus defender Chiellini and Barzagli missing like Marchisio and Immobile and Marco Verratti, which PSG has grown to become one of Italy’s most important players.
The Italian Football styckarna is rather harsh in their advance tips and
There is a great desire to EM
The meeting with Spain learns not say much about what will be the starting line-up in the European Championships. Conte will see many, many matches in the spring, even in the US and other league than Serie A, before he nails his European Championship squad.
As a Swedish journalist in the middle of the azzurri group I have ever late arrival to the Coverciano showered with questions and been a guest on television broadcasts, as the Mediaset Premium. It is striking that Italy sees Sweden as a difficult opponent, especially because of / due to a certain Zlatan Ibrahimovic in his best form.
It is clear that, in the midst of all the excitement, worry and the mood of the evil that has taken place and the shadow of threats, there is a growing desire to EM. And it was liberating the press conference at the end dissolved in jokes and laughter, both from our reporters at the scene and team Conte Buffon.
On the basis of the concern is great but internally, the group, says Sweden’s azure group opponents more united than for a long time.
Italy-Spain starting 20:45 tonight
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