“We came here to win and Germany are afraid of us, as they know we can cause them problems. There is the same hunger as in 2006 and Germany play the same way, with more fans behind them, but we are on a par with Spain in terms of our midfield."

So,you read only the titles and conclude stuff?Bias is ok unless you're not blinded by it.

So Germany is now afraid of Italy because Pirlo scored his penalty in a shootout?

Juventus star Andrea Pirlo continued to taunt Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart yesterday after his triumphant spotkick for Italy.

Pirlo is happy to talk up his cheeky chip in the Euros semi.

“I saw Hart was practically down on the ground already, so I tried it. I didn’t think about what would happen if I’d got it wrong, it was just a spontaneous thing,” explained Pirlo.

“Hart looked very confident in himself, so I thought we had to bring him down a peg or two.

“The nicest thing about all this was when my football colleagues complimented me for the penalty. That is always pleasing.

“Gigi Buffon reassured us all before the penalties and made us feel calm. He was proved right.

“I do not dedicate it to Juventus President Andrea Agnelli, nor Milan’s Adriano Galliani, but simply to all Italians. I have no desire for revenge on anybody."

I'm surprised the management chose to side with Allegri over Pirlo and that's why I think Pirlo is so bitter.

I would not say he came close this season. I'd say he let it slip.

You said this dru.He never meant it that way.And,it's not wrong to give your team confidence before such an important match,I see nothing wrong really.

"Our approach to the game against Germany will be the same as against England," Pirlo said. "This is the only way we can play. But unlike England, Germany can create many threats to our defence.

"England played a very prudent and careful way. They were sitting back all the match, like Chelsea did in the Champions League final. They tried to keep that same shape. For them going to the penalty shoot-out was a good result.

"There have been many games in the past when I've had as much possession as against England. In football it happens.

"The difference is against Germany, whereas Wayne Rooney stayed further up I expect Mesut Ozil to be a great threat in and around the areas where I am playing, even though he will not necessarily do a man-marking job on me."

the media certainly like to twist words and there's also the language barrier, I don't know how what he says sounds like in Italian.

I've never met anyone, even on the web, with so much hatred, animosity and scorn about a football player. I mean, I admit that even I had my ways with Ronaldinho in the past, but to resort to such spiteful comments again and again and again... I don't know, it doesn't seem normal to me.

the media certainly like to twist words and there's also the language barrier, I don't know how what he says sounds like in Italian.

Thought you and Kurtsimonw blocked me? The way you've been coming at me lately I'm pretty sure it's true
I mean......it's not like you can actually counter any of the points I've made and stay on topic so you need to use personal attacks if only to relieve your apparent frustration.

Hate? I don't hate anyone. Maybe when you master your command of the obvious you could figure out that I hate double standards and unfairness. This is also why we don't get along sweetie

It's true, I can't counter your points, because everything you say is garbage and I don't argue with sleazy individuals like yourself. I gave up on that when I realized what kind of person you really are. Everyone can see your biased, corrupt view on Pirlo, Ibrahimovic and Allegri, so why bother? You'll just keep badmouthing them, calling them names etc. There's a difference between criticism and plain arrogance.

OOOO... X-off is replying.. Can't wait!! Cyber entertainment UFC style!

It's not how you feel, it's the way you express your feelings, full of spite and hatred. I too do dislike Allegri, many people in here think Ibra is a thug, and many others were annoyed at Pirlo's recent attitude. However, you don't see us endlessly mocking them, calling them names, badmouthing them at every single opportunity. The language and irony you use is repulsive and your antics are way overboard, so I'm not surprised that you were kicked out of the Red & Black Forums. You behave more like a troll than a critic in your comments.

I looked back in this thread to read Pirlo's infamous comments and I'm surprised at how people feel about them. I don't think he's said something that bad, he does sound bitter and he could have chosen to stay quiet but it feels normal as I think he was treated unfairly because I don't believe he was as bad as people are saying.

Hehe, I'd like to entertain you a bit longer, but I have a flight to catch tomorrow, so this is my last post for a few days. Take care.

Yes. He was taking cheap shots. But he wasn't being a backstabbing b_tard.

What you don't understand is that you can't make a remotely legitimate point with out sticking your foot in your mouth. We get it, you're tough, you're cool, you're edgy, you can say whatever you want and damn to hell anyone who thinks otherwise. It's a tired and pathetic act. Take a page out of acid's book. I don't always agree with what he says but when he makes a point he does it with class and verve. He is respectful and passionate. You're far lower class than the people you routinely insult. One day, maybe after a little introspection, you'll grow up and realize that bad mouthing and calling names doesn't make you cool it makes you an insufferable prick.

Pirlo: Italy have not done anything yet
The Juventus midfielder compared the spirit in the Azzurri camp to that in the successful 2006 World Cup campaign, but has urged his team-mates to keep their feet on the ground
Jun 29, 2012 12:06:00 AM
By Luis Mira



Italy playmaker Andrea Pirlo has warned his team-mates not to get carried away following their 2-1 victory over Germany in the Euro 2012 semi-finals.
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The Azzurri put in an impressive display on Thursday evening to see off Joachim Low's men - who had been tipped as favourites for the match - and join Spain in the final.

Italy have performed well above expectations in Poland and Ukraine, but Pirlo insists it will count for nothing if they fail to go on and win the tournament.

"We have not won anything yet," Pirlo told reporters. "[Not to win] would be like going to Rome and not seeing the Pope.

"We are convinced that we will have a great match against Spain. But if we want to have a chance to win, we will need to show the same spirit and desire we showed tonight and in the match against England.

"After the 2006 World Cup, we had some problems in the national team because successes were not coming. Now, we have reached the final."

The 33-year-old midfielder also drew parallels between Italy's campaign in Poland and Ukraine and the 2006 World Cup - where they defeated France in the final.

"The feelings are more or less the same," he explained. "There is the same desire to win and also some youngsters who were not in the squad in 2006."

Douchey pedo. You know who you are.

Andrea Pirlo has written an autobiography, which covers his Milan leaving gift, how he nearly returned to Inter and dodging bottles thrown by ‘viper’ Antonio Conte.

The midfielder is set to publish his book, titled ‘I think, therefore I play,’ and La Gazzetta dello Sport published some extracts today.

Pirlo reveals he was less than impressed with his parting gift from Milan – a Cartier pen with the club symbol on it.

“A lovely pen, but still a pen. Filled with banal blue ink. Adriano Galliani told me ‘Make sure you don’t use that to sign a new contract with Juventus.’ At least he got the joke right.

“As a goodbye gift I expected something more than that perfect comic timing. My 10 years of Milan, gone like that. I smiled anyway.

“It was a mutual decision to leave, as I did not want to risk suffering from boredom. That is why I was disappointed at the end of that final meeting, but only to the right degree. So was Galliani.”

Pirlo also wrote about the fact Massimiliano Allegri wanted to move him to the left side of midfield rather than in front of the defence.

“I still thought I could give my best there. A fish breathes when it is in deep water. It makes do when near the surface, but it’s not the same thing.

“We never discussed money that afternoon in the spring of 2011. Never. In those 30 minutes, we didn’t broach the subject of economics with Galliani. I just wanted to be considered important, at the centre of a project and not a player heading for the scrap yard.”

He had joined Inter as an Under-21 international, but reveals then-Coach Leonardo tried to bring him back there when his contract expired with Milan in 2011.

“He told me great things about Inter, how happy and fired up he was. It could’ve been a great challenge to go back where I had already been, to cross the city after 10 consecutive years at Milan, nine of which had been extraordinary.

“Leonardo could’ve helped me with that, if he hadn’t gone to Paris Saint-Germain a few weeks later. I couldn’t do it, though. It would’ve been really too much and the Milan fans did not deserve an affront like that.”

Pirlo also considered an offer from Roma, but was “suspicious” when the new American owners wouldn’t go into detail about the kind of team they were building.

“I have dealt with many Coaches in my career, but Conte is the one who surprised me the most. He needed just one speech, with many simple words, to conquer both me and Juventus. We arrived together on the Planet Juventus.

“He presented himself to us on the first day of pre-season training in the gym at Bardonecchia. He already had fire running through his veins and moved like a viper. ‘This squad, dear lads, is coming off two consecutive seventh-place finishes. It’s crazy. Shocking. I am not here for this, so it’s time to stop being crap.’

“If Arrigo Sacchi was a genius, then what is he? I expected him to be great, but not that great. I thought of a Coach with a lot of grit and charisma, but instead I discovered he has much to teach his colleagues in terms of tactics and technique.

“Going back, there is one thing I wouldn’t do again – choose the locker right next to Gigi Buffon at the Juventus Stadium, the one in front of the door,” wrote Pirlo.

“It is the most dangerous spot in Turin, especially at half-time. Conte storms in and – even when we are winning – throws anything he can get his hands on towards the wall, which is my spot. He’ll throw anything he can find, almost always plastic bottles full of water. Very fizzy water.

“He becomes a beast and is never happy, as there is always some detail that isn’t perfect and he can see in advance what could happen over the next 45 minutes.

“One time we were losing to Milan and he couldn’t get over it. ‘Against them! I can’t understand how we can’t be beating them! They even play badly.’”

What does that have to do with anything? Every single f@cking interview this guy is rambling on and on about Milan... Just get off our balls already...

Sooooooooo butthurt this guy...

What does that have to do with anything? Every single f@cking interview this guy is rambling on and on about Milan... Just get off our balls already...

Butthurt? I don't think so. If anything, we're the ones who should be butthurt for letting him go.

It's his autobiography, what did you expect? Not talk about Milan at all, where he spent 10 years of his career? C'mon now!

Maybe it's because he did not want to leave in the first place and was hurt by the way things were left with Milan??

Those are ten years of his career we're talking about. Pirlo has won far more important things than the Scudetto. Those are not the point but it's clear he was p!ssed off about how he was treated because Allegri couldn't fit him into his team because he's too small minded to make that work.

Two small details:

1) Why is it important to dwell over a parting gift? I mean, what did he expect? A cake?

2) It's interesting how 1 miserable year can destroy 9 great years. That's the thing with people. You can help them and be generally good and compassionate. Then you make a mistake, and now suddenly all of your good work in the past vanishes.