Zoff: Platini was with ItalyWednesday 18 April, 2007Italian legend Dino Zoff has insisted that UEFA President Michel Platini was in support of Italy’s failed Euro 2012 bid.
The peninsula was surprisingly beaten by outsiders Poland and Ukraine in the race to stage the competition today, but the former Azzurri boss insists Platini was on their side.
“Platini was one of our supporters and I am sure about it,†said Zoff after the shock announcement.
“I know Platini very well as we used to play together. I have no doubts that he wanted us to win this race.â€
UEFA’s executive committee handed eight votes to the winners, Italy got four while the Croatia-Hungary effort convinced nobody on the panel.
“Other factors were probably decisive,†added Zoff, given Italy’s problems with Calciopoli and football-related violence in recent times.
“I don’t know who voted against us, even if we didn’t do anything to deserve what has happened to us over past months.
“This is certainly a massive disappointment as I was sure that we would have won the bid,†concluded the 1982 World Cup winner.
Giovanna Melandri, the Italian Minister for Sport, could not hide her disappointment after the defeat.
“It was a politically motivated sporting decision,†she said. “It gives new countries a chance on the European stage.
“We must sportingly accept the judgement even if I still think that our dossier was a strong one and I think it was tough for the executive committee to vote. We congratulate the victors.
“It’s sad, but now we must focus on just winning the next European Championships on the field of play.â€
channel4 Lippi leads Italian disappointmentWednesday 18 April, 2007World Cup winning Coach Marcello Lippi is one of numerous Italian footballing figures dismayed with the decision to hand Euro 2012 to Poland and Ukraine.
“I am very disappointed, especially because we presented our bid with great enthusiasm,†said Lippi after Italy’s defeat in Cardiff today. “There is really nothing more I can say…
“I don’t know the parameters used to take this decision. UEFA simply might have wanted to involve new countries in the world of football.â€
Italian Football Federation President Giancarlo Abete has defended the peninsula’s bid by insisting the outcome was mainly motivated by political reasons.
“We have to accept the executive committee’s decision. In life you win and you lose, it is important to compete fairly,†said the FIGC chief.
“It is a political decision and I hope it is due to the fact that UEFA want sporting competition to expand.
“We had all we needed to win, but in the end they preferred to choose Eastern Europe, which had never hosted a European Championship at this level.
“Now we must continue the battle to bring Italian football back to its original values. We must also renovate the stadiums even if we will not host the Finals – it is a challenge we must face.â€
Lega Calcio chief Antonio Matarrese took UEFA’s snubbing to simply launch a fresh attack on European football’s governing body.
“This is yet another blow for our football,†he noted. “This is the effect of UEFA, who elected Michel Platini as its chief.
“I am sure nothing would have changed, even if our Federation had been stronger.
“UEFA’s philosophy has altered, we cannot forget that we have lived through one of the worst tragedies in Italian football.â€
Cagliari and Azzurri legend Gigi Riva believes Italy did all they could to win the bid and has no regrets.
“Poland and Ukraine are countries that need to develop from a footballing point of view,†said Rombo di Tuono. “We have a clear conscience and did all we could.
“We have many matches to win in Italy, some even more important than Euro 2012. The past few months have not been easy for us and we have had to face some embarrassing situations.
“We won the World Cup and that is an excellent medicine, but there are still many things that need to be healed.â€
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