Maldini Monday
By: Gianfranco | February 2nd, 2009On this Maldini Monday I want to discuss this potential farewell Azzurri match for Paolo against Brazil. Please understand the intentions of this match are all in the right place, but I myself have never been a fan of national team farewell. I don’t like the idea of rolling out the geezer for one final meaningless performance and when I consider the type of player Il Capitano is and his humble personality as well, I am willing bet to that Paolo politely declines.
Again, I am not saying that Paolo doesn’t deserve it; if anyone does it is him. The problem is Paolo in the Azzurri was never quite the same as Paolo in the Rossoneri. His Azzurri career was a bit, how should I say it, unlucky. 90 a loss at home to Argentina, 94 a gut wrenching loss, 96 a useless trip to England, 98 failure in france, 00 france strikes again, and 02 saw South Korea’s captain score over none other than Paolo for the golden goal that ended his National Team Career. What did Paolo do? He walked away; he walked away at the lowest point of his National Team career, why? Because he felt responsible, he also felt he could no longer play at that level, too bad he was wrong on both accounts.
Success on the International Stage is all that is missing from Paolo’s illustrious trophy cabinet, but sometimes I feel it is better that way. He is and always will be AC Milan and though he retired from the national team with the humblest and noblest intentions it opened the door for a successful run in Europe and a the opportunity for the Milan tifosi to enjoy him that much longer. While Nesta retired to focus on Milan and win a CL title or Totti retiring for vanity’s sake (never needed him anyway) don’t ever forget that Maldini left for the good of the squad, plain and simple.
Thanks but no thanks, is what I would say about the farewell and something tells me Paolo will say the same…you always looked the best in Red and Black!
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Comments
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great post gian. love it
Posted from
United States
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ill have to agree with you there gian. though i hope he gets a decent milan farewell game. something like Albertini & Baresi. play against old legends, basically players from the teams of 89-95 and a few from all over.
Posted from
United States -
Bravo Gian!
I got 2b honest tho, i hav had my eye on the Brazil/Italia match since it was announced and should el capitan be given the nod then……….
PS, whats your email addy, got a suggestion i wana send thru?
Posted from
United Kingdom -
you never miss a chance to put totti down dont you,gian. I like that.
Posted from
United States -
whats this marco rossi like? ive heard of him….always thought you wouldhave bought canini from cagliari hes quality a bit injury prone though. very positive though signing promising italian defenders hope to see more from darmian in the future as well
Posted from
United States -
avia, it is acmilan@theoffside.com, and always happy to hear from everyone with sugggestions, Maldini memories, or just plain shooting the shit!
Posted from
United States -
Alex, Marco is a CB, much like Bonera, apparently he has some versatility to him as well. He was capped by the Azzurrini and seems to have some promise behind him. I like the move, but not sure how it shakes out and if he will develop appropriately or not. I too want to see more of Darmian, but he lookes like a boy among men, he is small in stature and doesnt seem to have that CB build. Maybe he gets pushed to the flanks, but right now I can see why doesnt play more, give that boy a mortadella sandwich!
Posted from
United States -
the way things are going with us i wouldnt be suprised to see santacroce in the red and black in the near future…
Posted from
United States -
Alex, it would be nice, or even DeSilvestre who put in an admirable perforamnce against Pato yesterday (Pato didnt score until he shifted more centrall), but Milan likes the calculted risks, so only time will tell.
Posted from
United States -
I really don’t think he should. On top of everything else, he’s just not up to it at 40. At this point we’re desperate for defenders and we really couldn’t stand to have him hurt or fatigued from this, even if it is only a friendly. On top of that, at 40 he’s no match for the young and quick Brazilian squad, and as much as I hate to say it, he would be skinned over and over again.
Posted from
United States -
Come on now, Totti retired because of his injuries. And anyways, about not needing Totti, how come Maldini retires and Italy wins the World Cup? Talk about not needing a player…
Posted from
United States -
Koko, the four years up to the WC 06 were the worst in National team history that I can remember! Euro04 was a disgrace…and no where above do I even say that Maldini is the Azzuri savior, he wasnt then and will never be…
Posted from
United States -
Good post. Made me change my thinking. Like avia, I’d thought of Paolo as soon as the friendly was announced, but you’re right, it just doesn’t mean the same. The newer, lighter Azzurri since 06 just wouldn’t correspond to Paolo’s bitter National career.
Though I disagree about Totti. I know you need to give the man stick every time it’s possible, but I feel the need to defend him, he had just as much right to walk away as Nesta did.
Posted from
Canada -
Bonnie, I agree, the decision was his, but after you make your decision dont “flirt” with a return and say how you wont play for one coach and maybe another, that was innappropriate and unneeded distraction that we could have gone without. You leave, and thats that and that is they way Nesta and Paolo handled, simple and to the point. You can certainly support him, and I admire and value your opinion to do that, but as football fans we always view things a little differently.
Posted from
United States -
kinda surprised, i didn’t know some if not many especially from here are against maldini’s last game with the azzurri.
even when the news first came from goal.com i always looked the other way and just not look at the headline itself, didnt even read the article. though i have to admit i have to give it to goal.com for somewhat succeeding in their campaign.
why the hell are we going to Glasgow!!! dont our players need all the rest they can get, its only gonna get tougher from now. the season is won in the next few stages, we need to stay always fresh & sharp.
Posted from
United States -
did you sign that marco rossi? when does the transfer window close for italy?
Posted from
United States -
Rossi is signed, from the last word I got…
Posted from
United States -
nothing official. probably will be official soon.
Posted from
United States -
I read somewhere that it’s not true that we signed Rossi
btw great post and I whole heartedly agree
Posted from
United States -
did anyone see that beckham and nesta were included in teh uefa cup squad? does that mean beckham is staying on loan until teh end of the year cos i heard the march return was just a gentleman’s agreement and berlusconi is not excatly a gentleman.
Posted from
United States -
ronan, the inclusion only means Milan will take the risk to include Beckham in the UEFA squad and could only play against Werder Bremen if he’ll go back to LA on March 9th. plus, when there’s a will, there’s money and more money from Berlu’s pocket; now thats not not being a gentlemen
just more powerful than others lolPosted from
United States -
I don’t see the point of having a farewell match for arguably the best Italian defender ever outside of Italy, but we shouldn’t discard the idea just because of his official track record with la nazionale, or the fact that he was more successful with Milan. Imo, Maldini looked as good in the azzurri jersey simply because he represented Italy the best way any player could, and while he might have not won trophies, for bad luck mostly, that doesn’t take away from him .He won the love and the respect of azzurri fans and opponents alike. When I think about Maldini in the azzurri, I don’t think about the unfortunate 90, 94 wcs or the disastrous 2002 wc,I think about an era when everyone and their mother feared Italian defenders, an era so unlike the joke we have become. He in fact should be given a testimonial match now more than ever.
Posted from
United States -
Gian – u got mail!
Posted from
United States -
Avia, check the next post, it is all you!
Posted from
United States -
Gian, why do you have to always compare Totti to Maldini, Maldini’s great yeah, but Totti is extremely talented no doubt, just cause he rejected you at the start of his career don’t constantly harp on the guy.
Posted from
Canada
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