OfMonica Colombo
The head of the national delegation participated with president Gravina in the first Serie A Festival organized by the League. «Since Spalletti has been here, no one has been late to the table anymore»
The superstition of the federal president Gabriele Gravina and the enthusiasm of the neophyte manager Gigi Buffon: there is a little piece of blue in the center of Parma, between the Teatro Regio and the Governor’s Palace. In the symbolic places of the city, where the League organized its first Serie A Festival, the federal leaders approach the upcoming European Championship with a mixture of anxiety and curiosity. «I’m a little worried about the conditions Stretcher» the number one of the FIGC lets slip, betraying pessimism for the imminent tests that the Inter midfielder (who has become a father for the fourth time) must undergo. «He will do them today» announces Gigi, head of the delegation from Spalletti’s Italy. «But as I already stated in a meeting in Coverciano, we must not get caught up in the frenzy. In 2006 there were those who wanted to send him home Gattuso, slightly injured. Instead, starting from the second match of the World Cup he proved decisive.”
Gravina’s caution
President Gravina realistically does not want to set objectives in view of the upcoming event. «I will be happy if the national team has nourished and preserved the growing passion of the fans but, it must be said, the path depends on many variables.” Buffon, an optimist by nature, even though he recognizes greater values than other national teams, goes unbalanced. «We are a team with the ambition of get to the bottom and excel. It must be admitted that France, England and Spain have something more than us, but the will is to act a tournament as protagonists». He has collected the legacy of two monuments, such as Gigi Riva And Luca Vialli, but he doesn’t agree with their plan: «If I thought about competing with them, I would start already defeated». He points to Gigio Donnarumma as one of the top players in the world (“I struggle to find better ones, he’s on same levels as Courtois and Neuer») and crowns Spalletti. «He is the top leader of the group».
Buffon’s stories
Italy is waiting for a bomber who will make them dream. «The fittest considering the crescendo of the season is Scamacca, I hope that he represents the new Pablito Rossi in the next tournament. I hope that he can have an exploit like Totò Schillaci.” Buffon says that since Spalletti took office in Coverciano no one is late to the table anymore. “Whoever wasn’t punctual is now no longer on the list of 26.” In fact, Gravina says: «Now there is a competition among the players to see who gets there first». It’s a shame that the man who par excellence kept the group’s spirit high has now returned home. «It was Orsolini» admits Buffon who then adds: «The most anxious is Chiesa, the competitive is Barella». The last reference from Gigione, the boy who lived the best years of his career in Turin, is to his friend Antonio Conte: «With him next year if Napoli don’t win, they will finish second».
June 8, 2024
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