SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Italy squad flies out of South Africa after World Cup exit

Record ID: 455871

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Italy squad flies out of South Africa after World Cup exit
  • Date: 26th June 2010
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 25, 2010) (REUTERS) ITALY TEAM BUS ARRIVING AT AIRPORT/ FANS CHEERING ITALY FAN RUNNING TO GLIMPSE TEAM LEAVING BUS PLAYERS INCLUDING DANIELE DE ROSSI, ANDREA PIRLO, FABIO CANNAVARO, SIMONE PEPE, VINCENZO IAQUINTA AND GIAMPAOLO PAZZINI SIDE OF BUS PLAYERS INSIDE PASSPORT CONTROL ITALIAN FANS CHEERING MORE OF PLAYERS AT AIRPORT CANNAVARO, FABIO QUAGLIARELLA, PAZZINI AND PEPE PLACING BAGGAGE THROUGH SCREENING MACHINE ITALY FANS SHOUTING IN ENGLISH: "IT DOESN'T MATTER, WE WON, WE LOVE THEM"
  • Embargoed: 11th July 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAAWNC36V01DC5E8RTB8US20444
  • Story Text: Italy's national soccer team left South Africa on Friday (June 25) after their poorest ever performance at a World Cup finals.
    The world champions finished bottom of Group F, drawing with Paraguay and New Zealand and losing a thrilling final game against Slovakia 3-2.
    Coach Marcello Lippi, who accepted full responsibility for the performance of his team, was heavily criticised for selecting an ageing squad, many of whom helped win the tournament in 2006.
    The Italian federation said before the World Cup that Cesare Prandelli would take over as coach after the tournament.
    His appointment is set to be offciially announced on July 1 and the Italian soccer federation said on Friday that Prandelli was expected to lead the team through the next World Cup.
    Italy's exit from what was considered arguably the easiest group in the tournament will bring back painful memories of the 1966 World Cup, when the Azzurri were beaten by North Korea in the group stage and eliminated.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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