Italians voice disgust at robbery of 'Mr Hope'
Friday November 20 2009
The Italian media yesterday joined the global chorus of indignation about the manner in which France eliminated Ireland from the World Cup on Wednesday night.
Condemnation of the Swedish match officials, who failed to spot Thierry Henry's blatant handball, was mixed with sympathy for Ireland's Italian coach Giovanni Trapattoni.
After a night when the Italian national team had also been in action -- albeit in a friendly -- the country's main sports paper, 'La Gazzetta dello Sport', reserved its front page for the France-Ireland game. 'Trap -- what a robbery!' roared the headline.
In the accompanying editorial, Alessandro de Calo summed up Italian sympathy for Trapattoni, who once again had been denied in a key World Cup match by dodgy decisions. At the 2002 World Cup finals, Trapattoni had seen his Italy side eliminated by joint hosts South Korea after a night of highly eccentric refereeing by the Ecuadorian, Byron Moreno.
"A cowardly goal," De Calo said, "laid on by Henry, with a piece of play worthy of (the sport) handball, deep into extra-time, snatched South Africa 2010 away from old Trap.
"A theft rubber-stamped by the ref (Martin) Hansson. Another Moreno, another world scandal, this time for Michel Platini's France."
The paper awarded Hansson an almost unprecedented three out of 10 for his performance, despite the fact that he got pretty much every other major call right on the night.
Even Hansson's correct interpretation of the contact -- or lack thereof -- between Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given and France forward Nicolas Anelka in the penalty area was met with disdain. "Anelka tried to con the referee over a non-existent contact with Given in the area. The striker deserved to be booked for diving."
praised
The same newspaper's match reporter, Luca Calamai, was in no doubt about which was the better team on the night. In awarding Ireland seven out of 10 -- against France's five -- he praised the team's "high back line and suffocating pressing".
In the first half, he said, "Ireland bossed it, there was no trace of France. Ireland's only fault on the night was to miss two golden opportunities to kill the game off."
Ireland's stirring performance was to be in vain, however. "Giovanni Trapattoni, as a national team coach, continues to be the victim of sensational injustices at the hands of referees," Calamai said.
"Henry twice controlled the ball with his hand. The offence was clear but neither the ref nor his assistants managed to see it."
The 'Corriere della Sera' also took up the theme of Trap and Ireland as victims. "A double handball by Thierry Henry sends France to the World Cup. Ireland stay at home because often, in football, there is no justice. This is the only way to explain the fact that, after one of the greatest performances of his 35 years as a coach, Giovanni Trapattoni won't be needing a visa for South Africa."
Their match reporter, Fabio Monti, was lavish in his praise for Ireland. "Ireland gave the vice-champions of the world and their coach, Raymond Domenech, a lesson in football, before and after the goal by (Robbie) Keane, the captain who never gave up. In the second half, Ireland created three clear chances. France produced slightly more than they did in the first half but they continued to suffer the pressing, application and spirit of the Irish."
Trapattoni will not be joining his compatriots Marcello Lippi, coach of Italy, and England manager Fabio Capello in South Africa after all. But, as several commentators suggested, when the sound and fury die down, Trap's reputation will have been enhanced by Wednesday night.
As Gianni Mura in 'La Repubblica' put it: "A round of applause, please, for 'Mr Hope' (in reference to the Obama-style T-shirts bearing Trap's image). He deserved to be there."
- Frank Dunne
Irish Independent
