Minicucci marvels after Azzurrini follow blueprint
Friday 12 December 2008
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Italy celebrate at the final whistle (©sportsfile)
Suspended Italy coach Paolo Minicucci watched his team defeat Spain 1-0 in the UEFA European Under-21 Futsal Tournament semi-finals from behind the Azzurrini goal and congratulated his "alter-ego" assistant Giorgio Zito on masterminding "the perfect game". Jordi García, whose Spain side had been widely tipped to win Sunday's final, admitted that Italy were rewarded for their passionate display and bemoaned the absence throughout the tournament of regular captain Sergio Lozano.
Paolo Minicucci, Italy coach
We knew we had to produce the perfect game and as a joke we said that 1-0 had to be the score and that was indeed the case. Our game was simple: strong and careful defence, great pressure, swift moves and counterattacks, and keeping the ball when possible. All this happened, I have no words; the lads had one of the most beautiful matches since I became coach of this team. In this sport the team that doesn't concede win, therefore we looked to the defence because we knew that Spain are better on the ball than us. Both Italy or Spain lack a pivot, that is a rarer and rarer role and in this discipline it is a great problem. I always thought, since the time I played, that in this sport there should be one coach next to the pitch and one coach away from the pitch, therefore I did not suffer because I have around me people who I chose, and I'm totally convinced they know how to carry out their job. Therefore I was very calm. I would want to praise Giorgio Zito, he is someone who I can trust and is competent and serene: he is my alter-ego.
Jordi García, Spain coach
I always told my players that Italy were the favourites to win the tourmament. We had problems in attack because our best player [Sergio Lozano] was injured before the tournament, and that had a negative impact on the final score. I congratulate Italy on their win. This was the hardest game we have ever had to play, maybe I was not able to motivate my players enough. Italy are always very highly motivated against us as our nations have a history of being rivals, and this was the key to their victory today. Several of these players are playing in the first and second division in Spain and are already good enough for the senior national squad.
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