Ever since i was small i seem to have the feeling for Italia. Hey, don't ask me why cause' when you like something you don't have to have a reason. It's like liking someone, you don't need to have a reason to like a person right? So the same applies. My love for Italy is something that i can't really describe , the passion for it. I just like everything bout' Italy.
When i was small, up to the time when i was in secondary school, i used to have this thinking. I've always look forward to go over to Italy, change citizenship and become Italian. I love the food and always wanted to learn the language. The people are beautiful, they have the city of fashion, Milan. It's just so kewl. I even thought of marrying an Italian girl and have pretty kids. During my days in school, all my friends know how hardcore am i for Italy. It has always been that way.
From what i can recall during the previous world cup
World Cup 94' United States
Italy managed to get through to the finals but unfortunately they lost on Penalties 3-2, quite a hard breaking moment. At that time i started to support Italy, partly cause' of my sisters influence. One of my first favourite players is Roberto Baggio, he was a great player unfortunately he's miss during the world cup finals is bit of pity.
Euro 96' England
Italy was a bit of a dissapointment during this tournament. Failed to qualified to the second round. Germany actually won it, so there's nothing much to cheer bout'.
World Cup 98' France
During this year i thought Italy played horribly, total catenaccio football as usual. They only manage till quater-finals and lost to France 4-3 on penalties. Another dissapointing performance.
Euro 2000, Benelux
Well, this tournament has been really eventful. I can still recall cleary. Italy and France met again and this time is during the finals. This two countries has really become real nemesis is world football. Italy was leading 1-0 up to the last 30 secs of the game when France equalize, i felt something really wrong and during extra time france scored a goal to win 2-1. Sux big time. I remember goin to school that day without saying a word at all. Just go school and come back. When i came back my dog who was really ill died. She suffered from some liver disease. I didn't even get to see her for the last time. Mom paid someone to bury her. Kinda sums up my day really...
World Cup 2002, South Korea-Japan
During this world cup i was in MMU Melaka doing my foundation course. I still remember the day when Italy played their last match in the tournament. It was againts South Korea, second round. I was a bit pissed at that time even before the match started cause' i had to take a dumb English test. I really wanted to watch the match. As soon as i finished the test, i quickly checked my hp cause i felt the vibration during the test and i knew my sis had updated me bout' the match. When i saw the sms it was written somethin like 'Italy is out...' , i couldn't believe myself, i was hoping that my sis is with her usual attitude of teasing me. I went back to Emerald park and checked online, so screwed up... Italy really got eliminated, controversial exit and i still felt the match was fixed. Another dissapointing year for Italy, after all the hype and all the thrash talk.
Euro 2004, Portugal
This year, yet again high expectations for Italy, and as usual they were one of the favourites to win the tournament. Unfortunately, they fail miserably, failing to qualify past the group stages narrowly. It was sucha big dissapointment. I was speechless and had to endure the taunts as usual. Nothing can be said as the team played poorly and crashed out so early in the tournment which eventually Greece won it out of nothing. One of the last team u'll put your money on. Once again the theory of the ball is around is never wrong.
World Cup 2006, Germany
After a long time supporting Italy, i still haven't witness them winning anything. Although they came close, but then again, so close yet so far. I did not have any high expectations on them this year and i keep my mouth shut, no thrash talking for a change though my heart is always with the Azzuri's. I sort of miss out the opening match of them playing Ghana cause' i was busy with Orientation and it's a bit hard to catch the match cause it was a bit tiring at that time and i'm not too sure whether they did show it on TV. After watching Italy go past the 2nd round and although they faced smaller teams i thought they did go strength to strength and showed their character. The semi-final match againts Germany was one of the best ever , where the Italians played superbly and it really makes you proud to be supporting them. After that match i really felt that this time there's something special bout' the team and they can actually win the whole thing.
One of the things that annoyed me was that after the qualified to finals, it's like all of a sudden there were so many people supporting Italy. These band wagon people exist everywhere i guess, just like kiasu people. There're everywhere no matter where you are.
During the finals, i was so hyped out for the matc. I was at Ikano/The curve there catching the match, there weren't as much people as i thought but it was OK generally. But i felt it could have been better cause' the bunch of people i was watching with weren't that fun, there were gurls and guys but none are actually pure Italian fans like me. I thought of goin to simply join any bunch of Italian fans but then again it doesnt feel right to leave my group of frens. So it was like a bit of syiok sendiri. It was bit of nail-biting match especially during the 2nd half cause' from there onwards it was all France. When it actually came to the penalties i wasn't that confident cause' the Italians had never won on penalties. But deep in my heart i felt that such jinx are just mend to be broken. In the end they really won~!!! WHEEEEE i actually felt like crying but i was close to tears actually, just that like i say i just lacked the feeling cause i wasn't watching with a bunch of Italian supporters.
One of the kewl part is having my face painted. It was a free service provided at the place. The funny thing is i actually left the painting throughout the day. Was walking around it in campus and almost everyone stared but who cares anyway. Not usually an attention seeker kinda person but i'm just doin it for the love of the country. FOrza Italliaaa , Sempree Italiaaaa~!!!!
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