Who Wants To Party?

The status of Roberto Donadoni, particularly his contract, has been a huge talking point in Italy recently. Some people are for an extension, leading the team into World Cup qualifying, but many more, or so it seems, would be pleased if he left the national scene and never returned. Partly because the man waves his wand from the sidelines with an air of “I don’t know what the fuck I’m doing”, but mostly because he had the oh-so-simple task of following directly behind Marcello Lippi and his merry band of world champions. That’s like asking Matthew McConaughey to reprise the role of Terry Malloy - it’s going to be a disaster no matter what unconscionable magic immerses from his sleeve. In all fairness, he was never going to look good.

Making matters worse has been Signore Lippi himself, who is still unemployed (lazy bum - at least that’s what his mother says) and is forced to answer questions about his status with each and every major club in Europe and la nazionale rather than what tactics he plans on concocting for the game against Empoli over the weekend (it doesn’t matter, they suck). So when he’s asked said questions about the Azzurri, he answers them honestly. And when he answers them honestly, he says “never say never“, which in media speak is “ZOMG!!! Lipp! 2 retern 2 AZZRRO!!!!!” - or something like that. Safe to say his name is constantly lurking in the same area whenever “Azzurri” and “coach” are mashed together in the same sentence.

So now, as we approach the eve of the European Championships in Swissaustria, Lippi has done gone and linked himself with the Azzurri post again, by inviting the entire 23 man World Cup winning squad to his 60th birthday bonanza sometime soon (his birthday is April 11th). Undoubtedly an intent without malice, but one brimming with controversy.

Hardly a reason for concern, were it not for the status of Roberto Donadoni’s contract extension. And the status of Donadoni’s contract status might not be that big a deal were it not for his approval rating in Italy slumming somewhere between George Bush’s and that of used car salesmen. The Azzurri are in the Euros, but only by the hair on their chinny chin chins, certainly not what was expected from the reigning world champions, despite the losses of Francesco Totti and Alessandro Nesta.

Does this mean anything? Probably not. I’m sure there was a helluva bond formed in Germany between the 23 man squad and the coaching staff, one which only strengthened after returning home. But could there be something more to it? Could a few too many glasses of vino lead to the remaining members dropping their guard and telling Marcello how desperately they miss his pre-game speeches and the pleasantly pungent odor of Cuban cigars? Perhaps.

Donadoni, confident as he’ll be when asked in the press, surely can’t like this. In the end, he knows he’s just the girl filling the gap until her man’s true love returns.