SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Patrick Vieira surprised by Italy's World Cup failure

Record ID: 454887

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Patrick Vieira surprised by Italy's World Cup failure
  • Date: 26th June 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 25, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS NEWS CONFERENCE WITH FIFA REPRESENTATIVES AND FORMER FRANCE CAPTAIN PATRICK VIEIRA CAMERAMEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER FRANCE CAPTAIN PATRICK VIEIRA, SAYING: "The weight is on the pitch, I think being in the final or winning the World Cup four years ago is the past. And this is a new competition, a new start. And when you won the World Cup and you play the first game, everybody will want to beat the World Champions. I think it's a big surprise for everybody to see Italy going out in the first round." CAMERAPERSON NEWS CONFERENCE ENDING
  • Embargoed: 11th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA7G2U60YZJ6XQA9PSP99SDGSI1
  • Story Text: Patrick Vieira, part of France's 1998 World Cup winning side, said that he was surprised by world champion's Italy's shock exit from the competition after they lost 3-2 to Slovakia on Thursday (June 24).
    Vieira was also part of the French team that lost on penalties to Italy in the 2006 final in Germany. At a FIFA media briefing in Johannesburg on Friday (June 25), he said:
    "The weight is on the pitch, I think being in the final or winning the World Cup four years ago is the past. And this is a new competition, a new start. And when you won the World Cup and you play the first game, everybody will want to beat the World Champions. I think it's a big surprise for everybody to see Italy going out in the first round."
    Italy finished bottom of the section with just two points in what was widely regarded as one of the easiest groups at the competition.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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