Forza Italia Redux!

Italy beat France and are moving onwards! On the 22nd at 20:45 they meet Spain in the quarter-finals. This is getting exciting--has Gli Azzurri recaptured their fighting spirit? I sure hope so! Unfortunately, I missed most of the France-Italy match but I am still pleased as punch that they're in the quarter-finals and I hope they win against Spain.

Last night, the Swedes lost to the Russians. I have no clue what is wrong with Lagerback and the Swedish football team. The only player who even shows real inspiration is Zlatan. I still remember that gorgeous goal he made against Greece...now that was sheer poetry. If only the rest of the team could have gotten it together enough to push Sweden forward. Remember back in 1994 when the World Cup tournament was held in the US for the first time and Sweden won the bronze medal? The team played so well together and instead of just passing, passing, passing and trying to be democratic all the time, they took risks--they shot even when they weren't sure if it would secure a goal. Maybe they need to review footage from back then and try to remember how good they were.

Maybe Sweden needs a new coach. Can't we lure Marco van Basten to Sweden? Look what he's done with the Dutch team? They are so fast, so superior--it's...well, Sweden's just not even in the same category.

But now...if Italy meets Holland again in the finals... shiver... now that would make for a nail biter of a game...