Italy's captain Fabio Cannavaro has responded to the publication in the German news weekly Der Spiegel of a satirical World Cup-related column on its website about the AzzurriEntitled `Oiled up and greasy,' the article referred to Italians as 'parasitical forms of life'.
Although the article was later withdrawn and an apology posted on the website, it caused outrage in Italy, where the daily newspaper, La Stampa, declared: "Italian parasites - that is how Der Spiegel prepares for the semi-final."
Replying exclusively through his official website www.fabiocannavaro.com, produced by Goal.com, the Italy and Juventus skipper said:
“As an Italian and captain of the national team, I feel offended by the way the German newspapers have described the players of our nation. I believe that the stereotypes with which we are represented are part of an old culture and too abused, which instead should be removed once and for all. And I’m surprised that all of this occurs in such a civilized country like Germany.
“Italy is a very nice country, made of serious, clean and honest people, who have always carried our flag with honour our flag in the world. And in all of this, Italian footballers are no less professional than their German colleagues, as we have shown with our behaviour in this competition, on and off the pitch.
“I hope, as an Italian, that I will not have to be outraged by the declarations of someone who thinks he’s funny, or in search of a bit of publicity at low cost, and who dares to offend a national team that has made serious professionalism one of its main cardinal elements.â€
It has been a difficult few weeks for the Italian World Cup squad. Many of the players are connected to the clubs being investigated by the calciopoli for alleged wrongdoing, and they have been representing their country at the World Cup in Germany against that background of scandal and suspicion. But they have shown unity and determination in progresing to the quarter-finals.
However, their mental toughness has been further tested by this week's shocking news of Gianluca Pessotto's serious injuries following what appears to have been a suicide attempt in Turin. Cannavaro and his Juventus colleagues have been particularly distressed by what has happened to their friend.
Then came the Der Spiegel article.
Another member of the Italian squad, Milan defender Alessandro Nesta said when asked about the offending article: "They criticise us for how we are but then they want to dress and eat like us. There is a bit of envy."
The disparaging tone of the article and the reaction to it have raised the temperature ahead of a possible semi-final meeting between the two nations. That meeting will become reality if Italy beat Ukraine and Germany beat Argentina in Friday's quarter-finals.
If it does, it will be a replay of the 1982 World Cup final in Spain - when Italy beat West Germany 3-1 to lift the trophy for the third time.
Goal.com