FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
Former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro recalls the historic triumph in Germany, his relationship with Lippi, the final against France, penalties, lifting the trophy and also talks about the crisis in Italian football.
The 2026 World Cup ended quickly for Cannavaro, but his memories of the 2006 World Cup remain eternal.
Twenty years after Italy's triumph in Germany, the former captain of the "Axurres" has recounted in a long interview for Corriere the emotions, behind-the-scenes and secrets of the greatest success of his career.
Cannavaro, who lifted the World Cup trophy as captain and later won the "Ballon d'Or", returns to a period he describes as the peak of a golden generation of Italian football.
What do you remember from the 2006 World Cup?
"An incredible atmosphere was created. We had an incredible group and a great belief that we could achieve something important."
Did the Calciopoli scandal affect your success?
"No. I refuse to think that we needed a scandal to bring out the best in us. The truth is that we were very strong. It was the best generation of Italian football since 1982. A World Cup is not won by chance."
Some say that the Italy of 2002 was even stronger, with Maldini and Vieri.
"It's true. We had a very experienced coach like Trapattoni. But we played more conservatively, alternating between Totti and Del Piero. Against South Korea we missed a lot of chances. It was a disappointment."
After the failure at Euro 2004, Marcello Lippi came to the bench. What did he change?
"From day one he gave us a different kind of conviction. We had exited the European Championship after the matches against Denmark and Sweden, and he told us: 'We will win the World Cup by beating Brazil in the final'. He was only wrong about the opponent in the final."
What was the secret of that team?
"Lippi created a real group of players, with stability in the formations, as Bearzot had done. When we arrived in Germany, the spark was lit."
Italy conceded only two goals in seven matches.
"And yet we were an attacking team. At first I played with Nesta in the centre, with Zaccardo on the right and Zambrotta on the left. Then Lippi changed the positions of Zambrotta and Zaccardo. When Nesta was injured, Materazzi came in. Then came Grosso's day. We found the perfect formula: solidity."
What was the key to Italy's defense?
"The connection between us. We had a midfield that filtered everything, strikers who came back to help and Buffon who gave us security."
The match against the USA was a difficult moment.
"When you're down to 10 men, 99% of the time you lose. We kept our composure. Pirlo and Gattuso kept the ball in check. The US were a good team, but for us that game was a turning point."
What happened after that moment?
“Një grup i fortë nuk shpërbëhet në vështirësi. Ne u bashkuam edhe më shumë. Kuptuam vlerën tonë. Problemet na jepnin forcë.”
Në 1/8 finale ndaj Australisë, Italia vuajti shumë pas kartonit të kuq të Materazzit dhe penalltisë së fituar nga Grosso. Çfarë menduat kur Totti mori topin për penalltinë?
“Na u pre fryma. Mendonim: ‘Tani do bëjë Panenkën si ndaj Holandës në Europianin 2000’. Por Francesco u tregua i qetë dhe gjuajti normalisht.”
Cannavaro kujton edhe një moment me Iaquintën:
“Iaquinta po vuante shumë dhe më shikonte sikur të thoshte: ‘Nuk mundem më’. I thashë: ‘Nëse dorëzohesh, të shkatërroj’. Kur hyri Barzagli i thashë me shaka: ‘Tani fillon argëtimi’. Më pa sikur të thoshte: ‘Je i çmendur’.”
Gjysmëfinalja ndaj Gjermanisë konsiderohet kryevepra juaj.
“Luajta ndeshjen perfekte. Zakonisht vlerësohen më shumë sulmuesit, por unë e fitova Topin e Artë në Dortmund.”
Cannavaro ia dedikoi atë sukses qytetit të tij, Napolit.
“Jam rritur në Fuorigrotta, duke luajtur futboll në rrugë pranë San Paolos. Nuk harroj kurrë nga vij.”
Ai kujton edhe komentimin legjendar të ndeshjes nga Fabio Caressa: “Cannavaro… Cannavaro… Cannavaro!”
“Ishte më shumë se një fitore. Ishte kënaqësi. Në Gjermani na tallnin me stereotipet: pizza, spaghetti, mandolino. Ne ua dedikuam fitoren të gjithë italianëve që kishin vuajtur atje për vite. Gjermanët kishin fituar në Itali në vitin 1990, ishte koha jonë për të fituar në shtëpinë e tyre.”
Finalja ndaj Francës…
“Për herë të parë hyra në fushë me pak frikë. Jo frikë, por respekt të madh. Franca ishte një skuadër shumë e fortë. Mund ta mposhtnim vetëm me një ndeshje të madhe.”
A ishte penallti për Francën në rastin e Maloudas?
“Për mua jo. I thashë Materazzit: ‘Marco, nëse nuk e prekje Maloudan, do ta kapja unë’. Por edhe australianët thonë sot se nuk ishte penallti ajo ndaj Grossos. Ne bëmë mirë që barazuam menjëherë.”
Çfarë ndodhi mes Zidane dhe Materazzit?
“Ishin gjëra fushe që zakonisht duhet të mbeten në fushë. Nuk e di çfarë i ndodhi Zizou-së, sepse është një person i jashtëzakonshëm. Gaboi.”
Kur e kuptuat se Botërori ishte i juaji?
“Kur menduam për penalltitë. Nuk kishim më energji pas asaj që kishim shpenzuar ndaj Gjermanisë. Edhe unë isha i lodhur. Përjashtimi i Zidane na shpëtoi.”
Italia i shënoi të gjitha penalltitë.
“Lippi kishte listën gati. E dinte kush do të gjuante dhe kur. Grosso e mbylli sepse ishte njeriu i minutave të fundit. Kishte fituar penalltinë ndaj Australisë, kishte shënuar ndaj Gjermanisë dhe realizoi penalltinë vendimtare ndaj Francës.”
Çfarë ndjetë kur ngritët trofeun si kapiten?
“Ishte gëzimi më i madh i jetës sime. Nuk ka titull kampionati apo kupë që krahasohet me një Botëror. Të kalon nga një lojtar i mirë në legjendë.”
Kujt i menduat kur ngritët Kupën?
“Familjes sime. Sakrificave që bënë prindërit e mi që unë të bëja atë që doja. Ishte realizimi i një ëndrre.”
Kriza e Italisë, e cila ka munguar në tre Botërorët e fundit. Si shpjegohet kjo?
"We missed two important moments. After the 1990 World Cup we could have built modern stadiums and invested. Instead we stuck to the model of large families and did not create modern clubs built around their stadiums."
What about after 2006?
"Back then, Serie A was still the most beautiful championship. But we stopped investing in youth and infrastructure. Today, many clubs don't have strong academies. We didn't modernize the sports culture."
Is it your dream to manage the Italian national team?
"My dream is to be a coach. Being Italian, I would prefer to work in Italy. But I have learned a lot working abroad, I have learned English, Spanish and I have grown up with different cultures."
Who will win the World Cup?
"I'm sorry to say it, but I'm thinking of France."
Why?
"They are getting very close. It would be their third Cup, while we have four."
Who is Maradona for you?
"My superhero. Other kids had Superman or Spider-Man, I had Diego. I ran for him as a ball boy in the stadium, I played against him and then we became friends."
Maradona or Messi?
"Messi is extraordinary. A robot, very perfect. Maradona would give more emotions."
The most difficult player you have to mark ?
“The Brazilian Ronaldo.”
What about Cristiano Ronaldo?
"The consummate professional. An extraordinary athlete and a striker who marked an era."
Who is number one today?
"Mbappé. And here he is showing it."
In the end, Cannavaro sums up his journey this way:
"I'm still that boy from Fuorigrotta who realized his dream. The only bad thing is that 20 years have passed."
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