There are many games in a world cup yet in my opinion the world cup does not truly commence till it enters the round of 16 or the elimination part of the tournament. This being the part of the world cup that allows teams to either move on with one win or be eliminated with one defeat. It being in quarterfinals where the real contenders can be seen as opposed to those teams which merely made up the numbers and perhaps entertained but apart from that; did not have a realistic chance of becoming champion.
This was the second round for the right to progress to the quarters and Italy would be facing Norway. It perhaps might seem like an odd coincidence or fate yet despite what one cared to call it, Italy had played Norway in their only two previous world cup appearances with Italy winning by a goal on both occasions. These Italian victories coming in matches which as far as Italy was concerned had been far from easy. It being back in 38 in the first world cup played in France that Italy defeated Norway by a score of 2-1 in a first round match which in fact required overtime. Italy taking the lead early on a goal by Ferraris, only to have Brustad equalize late in the game. Italy however thanks to a goal by legendary striker Piola would go on to win the match and progress to the quarterfinals in a world cup which they would eventually win.
Norway however despite playing well in France 38 would not qualify to another world cup till USA 94. It being there where they again met and lost to Italy in the first round by a score of 1-0 which one could say was the match which prevented them from going on in to the second round. This a match which I saw live at Giant's Stadium as Dino Baggio scored Italy's game winner. All of which in a way being strange that Norway prior to France 98 had qualified to two world cups and had not only lost to Italy on both occasions but in fact; Italy had been the only team to beat them in a world cup. Italy also having faced them in two of their four world cup matches. As for France 98, it did not seem that this trend would be broken as Norway had played 3 encounters and in fact had not lost a single match and had even beaten Brazil to get to the second even if this had been thanks to a most dubious penalty to say the least. Would Italy beat Norway for a third time and remain as the only team ever to beat them in a world cup? Well this we would soon find out.
Norway for their part did have a solid well disciplined team which did not like to go forward very much yet could manage goals when they needed them thanks to players like Flo. Italy was at this point playing well and even impressing as they had done in their previous two games against Austria and Cameroon.
As for myself, I again as with the match against Cameroon would be watching Italy VS Norway at home. Erico and I having decided that perhaps we should watch this match in our own respective homes instead of going out to places which for the most part would be empty or if they had people in them; they would not be Italian fans.
The match started and as I looked on I was most hopeful of an Italian victory which I knew was not a sure thing but should come. This in spite of Norway's having triumphed over Brazil in their previous encounter. As for the match itself, it was between two teams which were clearly defense minded. This being the case with both Italy and Norway. Italy's head coach, Maldini being known for such tactics while Norway was also not much for going forward though they had scored five goals in their first round encounters.
An Italian goal came relatively early which was most fortunate as this was not going to be the sort of match in which goals would be abundantly scored unless it went in to a penalty shot-out which Italy definitely did not want. Italy scoring when Vieri managed to get to a long pass in the middle of Norway's defense and go between their defenders in to the penalty box. It being from inside the penalty box at an angle to the goal that he shot the ball past Norway's goalkeeper to put Italy up in front by 1-0 just 18 minutes in to the game. A goal was shouted and phone calls were exchanged as Italy was winning yet it was not over.
The half finished with Italy still leading by 1-0 yet the match was hardly one which was being well played with perhaps Italy playing a wise yet boring style of football. Wise given that they were ahead in the scoreboard and were managing to keep their lead with relative ease. As Norway's offense did not really come close to equalizing yet boring since they were hardly coming close to a second goal themselves.
The rest of the match, I must say was most uneventful as to not even bring one memory to mind; apart Del Piero's having played very badly and Italy's having gone on to win it and progress in to the quarterfinals of France 98. Del Piero in fact played so poorly in not only not doing much of anything but having given away so many ball with bad passes that he was replaced by Baggio; who many felt should started instead.
As for Norway, they again lost to Italy; who till this day remains the only team to have beaten them in a world cup. This while Italy went forward with what from a certain point of view could be considered a great game. They had beaten a solid team without having to go in to overtime or exerting themselves too much. This in contrast to France who had to not only played much harder to beat Paraguay but had had to do it in overtime. It being Blanc who got France's goal in overtime as well as the first golden goal ever scored in world cup competition.
For my part, I was glad that Italy had won and was playing well or at least getting by without as many difficulties as they had had in USA 94 though I felt that Baggio should be given the starting position. This something my friend Enrrico, did not fully agree with in his believe that Del Piero would never recover from it yet I felt the needs of the team came before those of the individual. Baggio, after all did play much better than Del Piero in the time he played against Norway. Apart from this, I felt Italy was solid and could beat anybody and though its match against Norway was far from brilliant; it did show that they could win with relative ease over a tough opponent. As for Vieri, he in that game became the first Italian player to score 5 goals in a world cup in the first 4 matches.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XpMC3Pk1hA
This was the second round for the right to progress to the quarters and Italy would be facing Norway. It perhaps might seem like an odd coincidence or fate yet despite what one cared to call it, Italy had played Norway in their only two previous world cup appearances with Italy winning by a goal on both occasions. These Italian victories coming in matches which as far as Italy was concerned had been far from easy. It being back in 38 in the first world cup played in France that Italy defeated Norway by a score of 2-1 in a first round match which in fact required overtime. Italy taking the lead early on a goal by Ferraris, only to have Brustad equalize late in the game. Italy however thanks to a goal by legendary striker Piola would go on to win the match and progress to the quarterfinals in a world cup which they would eventually win.
Norway however despite playing well in France 38 would not qualify to another world cup till USA 94. It being there where they again met and lost to Italy in the first round by a score of 1-0 which one could say was the match which prevented them from going on in to the second round. This a match which I saw live at Giant's Stadium as Dino Baggio scored Italy's game winner. All of which in a way being strange that Norway prior to France 98 had qualified to two world cups and had not only lost to Italy on both occasions but in fact; Italy had been the only team to beat them in a world cup. Italy also having faced them in two of their four world cup matches. As for France 98, it did not seem that this trend would be broken as Norway had played 3 encounters and in fact had not lost a single match and had even beaten Brazil to get to the second even if this had been thanks to a most dubious penalty to say the least. Would Italy beat Norway for a third time and remain as the only team ever to beat them in a world cup? Well this we would soon find out.
Norway for their part did have a solid well disciplined team which did not like to go forward very much yet could manage goals when they needed them thanks to players like Flo. Italy was at this point playing well and even impressing as they had done in their previous two games against Austria and Cameroon.
As for myself, I again as with the match against Cameroon would be watching Italy VS Norway at home. Erico and I having decided that perhaps we should watch this match in our own respective homes instead of going out to places which for the most part would be empty or if they had people in them; they would not be Italian fans.
The match started and as I looked on I was most hopeful of an Italian victory which I knew was not a sure thing but should come. This in spite of Norway's having triumphed over Brazil in their previous encounter. As for the match itself, it was between two teams which were clearly defense minded. This being the case with both Italy and Norway. Italy's head coach, Maldini being known for such tactics while Norway was also not much for going forward though they had scored five goals in their first round encounters.
An Italian goal came relatively early which was most fortunate as this was not going to be the sort of match in which goals would be abundantly scored unless it went in to a penalty shot-out which Italy definitely did not want. Italy scoring when Vieri managed to get to a long pass in the middle of Norway's defense and go between their defenders in to the penalty box. It being from inside the penalty box at an angle to the goal that he shot the ball past Norway's goalkeeper to put Italy up in front by 1-0 just 18 minutes in to the game. A goal was shouted and phone calls were exchanged as Italy was winning yet it was not over.
The half finished with Italy still leading by 1-0 yet the match was hardly one which was being well played with perhaps Italy playing a wise yet boring style of football. Wise given that they were ahead in the scoreboard and were managing to keep their lead with relative ease. As Norway's offense did not really come close to equalizing yet boring since they were hardly coming close to a second goal themselves.
The rest of the match, I must say was most uneventful as to not even bring one memory to mind; apart Del Piero's having played very badly and Italy's having gone on to win it and progress in to the quarterfinals of France 98. Del Piero in fact played so poorly in not only not doing much of anything but having given away so many ball with bad passes that he was replaced by Baggio; who many felt should started instead.
As for Norway, they again lost to Italy; who till this day remains the only team to have beaten them in a world cup. This while Italy went forward with what from a certain point of view could be considered a great game. They had beaten a solid team without having to go in to overtime or exerting themselves too much. This in contrast to France who had to not only played much harder to beat Paraguay but had had to do it in overtime. It being Blanc who got France's goal in overtime as well as the first golden goal ever scored in world cup competition.
For my part, I was glad that Italy had won and was playing well or at least getting by without as many difficulties as they had had in USA 94 though I felt that Baggio should be given the starting position. This something my friend Enrrico, did not fully agree with in his believe that Del Piero would never recover from it yet I felt the needs of the team came before those of the individual. Baggio, after all did play much better than Del Piero in the time he played against Norway. Apart from this, I felt Italy was solid and could beat anybody and though its match against Norway was far from brilliant; it did show that they could win with relative ease over a tough opponent. As for Vieri, he in that game became the first Italian player to score 5 goals in a world cup in the first 4 matches.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XpMC3Pk1hA
My name is Gianni Truvianni, author of many an article to be found on the internet along with the book "New York's Opera Society." My works also include the books "What Should Not Matter", "Love Your Sister" and several others which still remain unpublished though I am presently looking to change this.
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