Campione di Toulon!
(Oh hello there, De Silvrestri skin.)
On a sopping wet pitch yesterday, the Auzzirrini beat Chile 1-0 (on a goal by none other than Pablo Daniel Osvaldo) to take home Italy's first-ever Toulon title. WOO HOO! Though the quality of the pitch made it hard for both teams to play as much as they like, there was still a lot of skill on display, as well as a ton of toughness from both teams -- despite the conditions, it was awesome to watch.
CHILE-ITALIA 0-1 (Osvaldo al 25' st)
CHILE (3-3-1-3): Toselli; Caroca, Jara, Rebolledo (27' st Sagredo); Fuenzalida, Meneses, Corvetto; Morales; Orellana, Lorca, Villanueva. (Olivares, Martinez, Vargas). All.: Bielsa.
ITALIA (4-3-2-1): Bassi; Dellafiore, Coda, Bocchetti, De Silvestri; Nocerino, Cigarini (17' st Dessena), Galloppa (12' st Guarente); Osvaldo, Giovinco (24' st Abate), Pellè. (Alfonso, Motta, Marzoratti, Marchisio, Candreva, Lanzafame). All.: Casiraghi.
Much of the third-place match was played in an absolute downpour, so though the rain had stopped by the time the final started, the pitch was awful -- there was standing water everywhere, particularly at one end, around the goal mouth. Until the teams figured out where the puddles were, passes would just stop dead in the water, so the match was a little ragged at the start. Eventually, though, everyone figured out what areas to avoid, and where the ball need to be chipped rather than played on the ground, and both teams were able to periodically really play. (It started raining again before halftime, but that just made for even wetter kits, about which no one in their right mind would complain, and didn't really seem to make the pitch any worse.)
Italy came out on fire and had a ton of chances early, several of them through Osvi, who was easily MOTM and could have three goals with a little more luck. It helped a lot that Casiraghi finally played the system we've I've been waiting for, with Pelle up top alone, supporter by Giovinco and Osvaldo. Given more freedom, Osvi was everywhere, defending like crazy (and, also, kicking a Chilean player right in front of the fourth official; it was a miracle he wasn't sent off for it), and sliding in puddles like he was afraid they were going to dry up. Giovinco, of course, was wonderful as usual -- Chile clearly came out determined to deny him space and the conditions and the number of matches in his legs made life a bit harder on him, he still created a ton and was always dangerous (though his free kicks are still sucking).
The game was chippy, but in sort of an awesome way -- the conditions made it impossible to stop on tackles, so people were clattering into one another all over the place, and no one backed down from anyone else. There were a lot of late (and bad) tackles from both teams, and a lot of very hot confrontations, the best of which might have been between a soaking wet Casiraghi and a very pissed-off Chilean coach after the match. (Yes. It was good. And no, there are no pictures.) It was cool to see Captain Nocerino running around trying to calm down his aggro teammates rather than getting into it with Chile himself -- he really had a great match, both in terms of football and leadership.
ANYWAY. It always seemed like if there was a goal, it would come from a mistake -- probably a slip, there were a lot of those -- but instead, it came out of good football, and a ton of skill. Dessena came on at about the hour mark and played out wide on the right, which really opened the game up, and he played a gorgeous, curling pass on the ground in front of Osvi, who slid to meet it and pushed the ball past the keeper for his first goal of the tournament (he likes to score the big goals, does the Sleazy One). It was awesome, as was the moment in the celebration where someone came flying up to glomp him just as Osvi turned away, and the poor boy slid by so fast I was worried he hurt himself clattering into the boards. (Still not sure who it was, I hope he survived.)
After that, Chile threw everything forward, which opened things up at the back for Italy -- Osvi was in alone from a bad angle and wasn't able to finish, and then Guarente hit the base of the post from about 40 yards after chipping the keeper. It was still 1-0, though, going into the three minutes of injury time, which made it TERRIFYING when Chile's captain came flying up the pitch from his CB position and crushed the ball off the post with about a minute left. (I think their keeper started to cry when that didn't go in. It was heartbreaking.) But that, thankfully, was as close as they would get, and it was the Azzurri who got the big trophy.
In addition to the title, Giovinco got two different MVP awards, and Bassi, who was excellent yesterday, was named Best Keeper of the tournament.
After being rested in the semifinal, Sienaboy Galloppa got the start and did he usual scampering all over the pitch and throwing people on the ground.
Most importantly, though, he was rocking a new hairstyle.
Look familiar?
Yes, Osvi has a mini-me!
Coda was in his usual spot in the middle of the defense; apparently he's one of the few CBs on this team who has a legit chance to go to Beijing.
For those of you who missed him somehow, this is Bocchetti, my new favorite Serie B player. He started four of the five matches in Toulon and made a PK against Japan. He should get to go to the Olypmics, dammit!
(There he is again! Bocchetti!back!) *ahem* This is Toroboy Hernan Dellafiore, Osvi's partner in deserting his Argentine homeland for the Azzurri.
He plays in the middle of the back for Toro, usually, but he's been all over the place for the babies -- he was a wingback yesterday.
The other wingback was De Silvrestri.
I'm pretty sure he's sort of a dick, but holy crap does he look good in a wet kit. His arms. *tries not to make inappropriate sounds*
Pocket Rocket!
He was basically the only one not involved in any of the handbags moments, for obvious reasons.
(Captain Nocerino was afraid he'd get hurt, so he picked him up and hid him in his kit until the trouble was over.)
Iguana!Giovinco and Galloppa's new hair.
What up, Cappy?
I am a bad person and generally am not in favor of Juve players, but he was great yesterday -- an awesome leader and a great source of stability, winning everything in the midfield and slowing things down when people get hyper.
Pelle was his usual self -- working hard, winning the ball in the air, not doing too much else.
(This the only picture I can find of Osvi!squee. WHY, GOD, WHY!?!? (I will keep looking, don't worry.)
Please notice the instinctive posing, no matter the situation. (Mr. Chile has so much to learn.)
Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiighs.
He did this about 100 times during the match. *drools everywhere*
Then there was the joyous piling during which, sadly, everyone kept their clothes on.
(Because it's always good to look @ LDS again.)
Osvi loves the camera just as much as it does him. That's why the relationship works, see.
(The boy with the arms, jumping in the back? That's Bocchetti. Hands off, he's MINE!)
Osvi still looking @ the camera, totally not noticing Giovinco's imminent demise.
This guy got so much love from the players -- NO idea who he is. I do love, though, that he's wearing studs with his suit. (Also, notice the stealth Osvi-Bocchetti cuddle taking shape in the foreground.)
Forget Nocerino's dorkitude and questionable tat, would you look at LDS's arm!?!? Fucking hell.
WINNARS!