BELGIUM/FILE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Mexico beat Italy 2-1 in World Cup warm-up / Italians commemorate Heysel Stadium tragedy

Record ID: 253975

  • Title: BELGIUM/FILE: FOOTBALL/SOCCER: Mexico beat Italy 2-1 in World Cup warm-up / Italians commemorate Heysel Stadium tragedy
  • Date: 4th June 2010
  • Summary: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (JUNE 3, 2010) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM WITH ITALY COACH MARCELLO LIPPI TAKING QUESTIONS FROM JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ITALY HEAD COACH MARCELLO LIPPI SAYING: "We suffered. We have seen the difference in physical condition, the speed, they were always one step ahead, we always came second to the goal, we've made a lot of dumb mistakes, a
  • Embargoed: 19th June 2010 13:00
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  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA9P46RZJML5AGVKVBXCIHBXDFD
  • Story Text: Mexico proved too sharp for World Cup holders Italy by beating them 2-1 in a warm-up match on Thursday (June 3) for this month's tournament in South Africa.
    The world champions, whose previous match was a 0-0 draw with Cameroon in March, started brightly with Vincenzo Laquinta heading against the bar in the third minute, but the harrying Mexicans then took over with far neater play.
    "We suffered. We have seen the difference in physical condition, the speed, they were always one step ahead, we always came second to the goal, we've made a lot of dumb mistakes, and we lost because when the physical condition is so different, we lose," said Italian coach Marcello Lippi.
    "We probably have met our opponent that played better than we did. We played against an opponent that was just brilliant," Lippi added.
    The lively Giovani Dos Santos found Carlos Vela unmarked in the Italian penalty area and the Mexican striker comfortably scored in the 16th minute.
    Veteran Cuauhtemoc Blanco chipped over the Italian defence for Alberto Medina to settle the match in the 83rd minute.
    Substitute Leonardo Bonucci pulled one back for Italy in a goalmouth scramble three minutes from time.
    "The result is, don't misunderstand me, isn't important now, just as it wasn't important in the Netherlands, in Wembley, and in Gambia. If the team comes out, they're really calm in the changing room, they are serene, quiet, they are happy with their work. They are proud. They can look you in the eyes and look ahead. They could have won or lost, but whatever. They defended their style, they played as a team with their teammates, and then they won. If they win, even better." said Mexican coach Javier Aguirre.
    Italy, who take on Switzerland in their final friendly on Saturday, start their Group F campaign against Paraguay on June 14. Lippi plans to give the rest of his squad a game against Switzerland.
    Mexico, who lost to England and the Netherlands in friendlies last week before thrashing Gambia 5-1, will play the opening match of the World Cup against hosts South Africa in Group A next Friday.
    "We all can play different positions, we're coming together as a team. It's becoming a very good group. And we hope that everything goes well, and today already, it's going alright." said Mexican centre back Rafael Marquez.
    Mexico coach Javier Aguirre said his team still needed to work on defence, having let in seven goals in four matches, and should not be complacent after beating the World Cup holders.
    The match fell on the 25th anniversary of the Heysel disaster, a deadly riot between football fans that claimed the lives of 39 people, 32 of them Italian fans, in the same Brussels stadium in 1985.
    Lippi led his Italian team in laying a wreath in a brief pre-match ceremony to commemorate the event.
    On May 29, 1985 39 people died at the European Cup final after Liverpool supporters charged towards Juventus fans and as they retreated a wall collapsed.
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