Il capitano della nazionale
Because my one and only favourite footballer of 8 years (until recently, circa Italy-Czech Rep match, when Pirlo came into the picture, during which I smsed Fatma about his underlying hotness hee!) has FINALLY been recognised worldwide for his amazing abilities and talent in defending, I am going to include this article for your viewing, or rather, reading pleasure! AHH I'm SO SO SO proud of him! Going on 33 and not displaying any signs of age-related physical limits yet :) [Must be from the healthy, no drinking & smoking diet and ALL THAT SEX! hahaha]
Hehe I still remember him as the 24 year-old player who played in WC98, with a netting around his face to hold the bandage from an injury he picked up in that match. Gah! I had cut out that tiny picture of him the next day and I just HAD to lose my wallet a couple of years ago, and that's that :(:( I wonder if I can ever find that picture online. Boo! But anyway, here's a full article on the fabulous man himself, Fabio Cannavaro! :D
Cannavaro leading by example
7 July 2006
by FIFAworldcup.com
The setting could not be more fitting. Italy’s inspirational captain Fabio Cannavaro is set to lead his side out in the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ Final on his 100th appearance in the famous blue shirt.
The Neapolitan central defender, who has experienced the full gamut of emotions during his long and varied international career, appears to have reached his physical and mental peak at Germany 2006. Leading from the back with skill and determination, Marcello Lippi’s entire Italy squad appears to have been infused with their inspirational skipper’s boundless energy and will to win.
In the shadow of Mount Vesuvius
Fabio Cannavaro was born in Naples on 13 September 1973. His talent was quickly spotted by scouts from local club Napoli, who were enjoying the most successful period of their history. The Napoli of Diego Maradona and Ciro Ferrara had just been crowned champions of Italy and the young Cannavaro, a ball boy at the Stadio San Paolo, was delighted to be sharing a club with such genuine legends of the modern game. Such was his progress; it was not long before he was learning the tricks of the trade alongside his idols as part of the Napoli first-team.
Cannavaro’s Serie A debut came on 7 March 1993. Fate decreed that it should take place at Turin’s Stadio Delle Alpi against Italian superpowers Juventus, his current club. Unfortunately, post-Maradona Napoli were in desperate need of funds and were soon forced to sell their precociously talented young star.
From Parma to Turin via Milan
It would be an ambitious Parma side that won the race for Cannavaro’s services and the defender went on to form one of the finest rearguards in the world alongside Lilian Thuram and Gianluigi Buffon. Between 1995 and 2002, Cannavaro and his Parma team-mates won the Italian Cup, the UEFA Cup, the Italian Supercup, and came within a whisker of the league title.
After a brief and unspectacular period at Inter Milan, 2004 saw Cannavaro enticed northwards by the Vecchia Signora’s considerable charms. It would turn out to be a match made in heaven. The world-class defender finally added the Scudetto to his medal collection, winning back-to-back league titles in the colours of the bianconeri.
Class will out
Cannavaro’s superlative performances for the Nazionale have seen his reputation soar around the globe. His first taste of international success came under coach Cesare Maldini for Italy’s U-21 side, winning consecutive UEFA European U-21 Championship titles in 1994 and 1996.
After his senior debut against Northern Ireland on 22 January 1997 came Cannavaro's first major international tournament, the 1998 FIFA World Cup France, with his mentor Maldini once again in charge. With Cannavaro and Co at the back, Italy boasted one of the meanest defences in the competition, only going out to eventual champions France after a penalty shoot-out.
Fast forward to UEFA EURO 2000 and it was Les Bleus who once again shattered Italy’s dreams in the cruellest possible fashion. Another superb tournament by defensive stalwart Cannavaro had helped the Azzurri reach the Final, where they led the then world champions 1-0 going into injury-time. Suddenly, with only seconds remaining, up popped Sylvain Wiltord to level the scores, the French taking the trophy thanks to an extra-time golden goal from David Trezeguet.
The powerful defender also endured Italy’s ill-fated expeditions to Korea/Japan 2002 and UEFA EURO 2004 in Portugal. In the wake of Paolo Maldini’s retirement from the international game, Cannavaro was the man chosen to help lead the three-time world champions out of one of the lowest points in their history. His vast experience made him the ideal choice, allied to the class and charisma that have pervaded his every appearance in an Italy shirt.
Germany 2006: Azzurri do it their way
Critical acclaim has been widespread after the Nazionale’s six games on German soil. Former Juventus coach Lippi has forged an unbreakable team spirit within his squad, which is packed with top-class players. Head and shoulders above them all has been one man set to cement his status as an all-time footballing great: Fabio Cannavaro.
Italy fans will be hoping that the man born in Fuorigrotta can pull off the crowning achievement of his glittering career on Sunday in Berlin. At 20:00, the Azzurri’s proud captain will stride on to the pitch to represent his country for the 100th time in the biggest game in world football. The battle-hardened stopper is determined to make the most of the opportunity: “I knew that this could my last World Cup, so I asked my team-mates to help me go all the way.” A model professional, the day after his side’s dramatic victory over host nation Germany, Cannavaro was already focused on Sunday’s opponents: “When I think of France it brings back terrible nightmares of the penalty shoot-out in Paris during France 1998 and the EURO 2000 Final in Rotterdam. We’re going to have to sweat, scrap and suffer, but we cannot even contemplate defeat.” Spoken like a true captain…
Click here for the article!
Oh, and you should read this too! It's soo hilarious!
"I'm Del Piero's lucky mascot" - Noel Gallagher
Hehe I still remember him as the 24 year-old player who played in WC98, with a netting around his face to hold the bandage from an injury he picked up in that match. Gah! I had cut out that tiny picture of him the next day and I just HAD to lose my wallet a couple of years ago, and that's that :(:( I wonder if I can ever find that picture online. Boo! But anyway, here's a full article on the fabulous man himself, Fabio Cannavaro! :D
Cannavaro leading by example
7 July 2006
by FIFAworldcup.com
The setting could not be more fitting. Italy’s inspirational captain Fabio Cannavaro is set to lead his side out in the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ Final on his 100th appearance in the famous blue shirt.
The Neapolitan central defender, who has experienced the full gamut of emotions during his long and varied international career, appears to have reached his physical and mental peak at Germany 2006. Leading from the back with skill and determination, Marcello Lippi’s entire Italy squad appears to have been infused with their inspirational skipper’s boundless energy and will to win.
In the shadow of Mount Vesuvius
Fabio Cannavaro was born in Naples on 13 September 1973. His talent was quickly spotted by scouts from local club Napoli, who were enjoying the most successful period of their history. The Napoli of Diego Maradona and Ciro Ferrara had just been crowned champions of Italy and the young Cannavaro, a ball boy at the Stadio San Paolo, was delighted to be sharing a club with such genuine legends of the modern game. Such was his progress; it was not long before he was learning the tricks of the trade alongside his idols as part of the Napoli first-team.
Cannavaro’s Serie A debut came on 7 March 1993. Fate decreed that it should take place at Turin’s Stadio Delle Alpi against Italian superpowers Juventus, his current club. Unfortunately, post-Maradona Napoli were in desperate need of funds and were soon forced to sell their precociously talented young star.
From Parma to Turin via Milan
It would be an ambitious Parma side that won the race for Cannavaro’s services and the defender went on to form one of the finest rearguards in the world alongside Lilian Thuram and Gianluigi Buffon. Between 1995 and 2002, Cannavaro and his Parma team-mates won the Italian Cup, the UEFA Cup, the Italian Supercup, and came within a whisker of the league title.
After a brief and unspectacular period at Inter Milan, 2004 saw Cannavaro enticed northwards by the Vecchia Signora’s considerable charms. It would turn out to be a match made in heaven. The world-class defender finally added the Scudetto to his medal collection, winning back-to-back league titles in the colours of the bianconeri.
Class will out
Cannavaro’s superlative performances for the Nazionale have seen his reputation soar around the globe. His first taste of international success came under coach Cesare Maldini for Italy’s U-21 side, winning consecutive UEFA European U-21 Championship titles in 1994 and 1996.
After his senior debut against Northern Ireland on 22 January 1997 came Cannavaro's first major international tournament, the 1998 FIFA World Cup France, with his mentor Maldini once again in charge. With Cannavaro and Co at the back, Italy boasted one of the meanest defences in the competition, only going out to eventual champions France after a penalty shoot-out.
Fast forward to UEFA EURO 2000 and it was Les Bleus who once again shattered Italy’s dreams in the cruellest possible fashion. Another superb tournament by defensive stalwart Cannavaro had helped the Azzurri reach the Final, where they led the then world champions 1-0 going into injury-time. Suddenly, with only seconds remaining, up popped Sylvain Wiltord to level the scores, the French taking the trophy thanks to an extra-time golden goal from David Trezeguet.
The powerful defender also endured Italy’s ill-fated expeditions to Korea/Japan 2002 and UEFA EURO 2004 in Portugal. In the wake of Paolo Maldini’s retirement from the international game, Cannavaro was the man chosen to help lead the three-time world champions out of one of the lowest points in their history. His vast experience made him the ideal choice, allied to the class and charisma that have pervaded his every appearance in an Italy shirt.
Germany 2006: Azzurri do it their way
Critical acclaim has been widespread after the Nazionale’s six games on German soil. Former Juventus coach Lippi has forged an unbreakable team spirit within his squad, which is packed with top-class players. Head and shoulders above them all has been one man set to cement his status as an all-time footballing great: Fabio Cannavaro.
Italy fans will be hoping that the man born in Fuorigrotta can pull off the crowning achievement of his glittering career on Sunday in Berlin. At 20:00, the Azzurri’s proud captain will stride on to the pitch to represent his country for the 100th time in the biggest game in world football. The battle-hardened stopper is determined to make the most of the opportunity: “I knew that this could my last World Cup, so I asked my team-mates to help me go all the way.” A model professional, the day after his side’s dramatic victory over host nation Germany, Cannavaro was already focused on Sunday’s opponents: “When I think of France it brings back terrible nightmares of the penalty shoot-out in Paris during France 1998 and the EURO 2000 Final in Rotterdam. We’re going to have to sweat, scrap and suffer, but we cannot even contemplate defeat.” Spoken like a true captain…
Click here for the article!
Oh, and you should read this too! It's soo hilarious!
"I'm Del Piero's lucky mascot" - Noel Gallagher