Arindam: - Good Evening, viewers! Just guess who is in our studio tonight. Well, it is none other than a famous Italian player, Paolo Maldini. Mr. Maldini, welcome to our show. But before we start our discussion on football, let us hear from Mr. ARINAN about the matches between Paraguay and New Zealand as well as between Italy and Slovakia.
Mr. ARINAN: - The match between Paraguay and New Zealand was a boring one. Again, the Kiwis ended up in a draw and this time it was a goalless one against Paraguay. In the other encounter, the Romans were attacked from all ends by the Slovakians. The match was the best match of this World Cup till now. Vittek emerged as victorious Vittek to score two valuable goals. Italy played well in the 2nd half to give back 2 goals. The Romans were trying to give the last ant-bites before its death in this World Cup, but, alas, another Slovakian striker scored the third goal for his team, due to the callousness of Italian defenders and goalkeeper. Italy tried their level best to make the match 3-3, but, unfortunately the score line remained 3-2, which was enough to bid goodbye to the Romans from this World Cup venue. Slovakia after a stunning win is now second in the group after Paraguay and qualified for the round of 16.
Arindam: - Mr. Maldini, Italy has been defeated by 3-2 by a weaker team like Slovakia. The whole world knows that you were an icon of traditional Italian defensive football. But, in this World Cup, what went wrong with the Italian defense? They conceded 3 goals.
Maldini: - This Italian team was not playing their traditional Italian football. They were playing attacking football in every match. But, side by side, they also gave little focus on their defense line-up. If you see the 3rd goal scored by Slovakia, it was just a nightmare. Somebody threw the ball from the sideline and it entered the penalty area of Italy very safely. Then with a little touch, a Slovakian striker scored that goal. I mean that is just horrible. There was complete lack of co-ordination between the Italian goalkeeper and the defenders. The Italian defenders were not complementary to each other. If you want to make a strong defense, then first of all you need to create a virtual wall or maze, through which the ball cannot pass. In our times, we used to trap any opponent striker inside our penalty area. When a opponent striker used to enter our penalty area with the ball, two defenders used to run along with that striker and the other three defenders used to block the other opponent strikers diagonally so that the former opponent striker cannot give pass to his teammates. But, in this Italy team, I find that all the defenders were getting clustered at that region where the ball is. That’s not defense; that is just a childish game of chasing the ball rather than guarding or tackling the opponent strikers. I am really disappointed to hear that Italy is out of this World Cup in the 1st round itself. I don’t remember also when it happened last time that Italy is not in the 2nd round of the World Cup.
Arindam: - Hmm…European football is in great mess, but the small European countries like Slovakia, Slovenia and Serbia have impressed with their new attacking styles. Anyway, let us hear about the other matches from Mr. ARINAN.
Mr. ARINAN: - Cameroon as usual proved themselves as one of the weakest African teams in this World Cup. Even South Africa played better football than Cameroon. In the clash between Cameroon and Netherlands, the Orange people have dominated the entire match with their counter-attacking football. Unlike the African footballers, the Dutch footballers know how to finish any opportunity in the form of a winning goal. Etoo scored a goal in the penalty, but that was not enough as Cameroon lost to Netherlands by 2-1. In another do-or-die battle, the people from the land of the rising sun rose to their extreme height of respectable football playing capability. Honda gifted a ‘Roberto-Carlos’ type free-kick to Denmark and after few minutes, another Japanese striker displayed the ‘David-Beckham’ style free-kick to score the 2nd goal for Japan. The Danish goalkeeper had nothing to utter but to stare at the rising Japanese strikers. Maybe, the Danish goalkeeper would have asked the question, ‘Where from these Japanese footballers learnt the art of swinging free-kicks and that too with this Jabulani ball?’ Denmark was not leaving any stone unturned. They gave their best efforts and even got some good opportunities, but, the Japanese goalkeeper was as sharp as Oliver Kahn. The Japanese goalkeeper denied at least 3 sure-shot goals for Denmark. Denmark got a fake penalty. There also, Tomassen luckily scored a goal in a rebound from the Japanese goalkeeper. In respect to Japan, Denmark played poor football. Japan scored another goal also and made the final score line as 3-1 against Denmark. Japan has qualified from its group along with Netherlands. Netherlands will clash against Slovakia and Japan will clash against Paraguay in the Round of 16.
Arindam: - Wow! What a match it will be between Slovakia and Netherlands! You never know! This Slovakian team is now a very confident side, but we hope that they don’t become complacent also, because the Dutch footballers can attack from anywhere.
Maldini: - I don’t think that Slovakia can stun the Dutch people, because Netherlands team doesn’t need to care about their defense line up because they always play ‘all out-attacking’ football. In this match between Cameroon and Netherlands, I found many a times, Cameroon strikers were in the ‘off-side’ trap because all the Dutch Defenders were standing near the center line only, he he he…
Arindam: - What is your opinion about the Asian sides in this World Cup?
Maldini: - Yeah, the Asian sides are playing impressive football. The way, South Korea and Japan played their last encounter, really, hats off to them. Everyone was talking about African nations, but, I think the Asian nations have improved their football playing strategies. Asian teams are looking expert in playing mind game better than any European team. Even North Korea was playing the mind game against Brazil in their first match. Brazilian team luckily got a goal from Maicon, otherwise, North Koreans were frustrating the Brazilian footballers from all ends.
Arindam: - Well, there will be clash between Ivory Coast and North Korea a few hours from now. After a humiliating defeat in the hands of Portugal, can the North Koreans produce some stunning results?
Maldini: - Don’t underestimate Drogba’s Ivory Coast. The biggest challenge for Ivory Coast is that they are in the ‘Group of Death’ with Brazil and Portugal.
Arindam: - Yeah, yeah, Brazil and Portugal are the two great monsters and everyone is also eager to watch the fight of the monsters. Mr. Maldini, thanks for coming to our show. Viewers, we will wrap up our show here. Take care and goodnight.
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