Italians and soccer
Here’s what Arianna Criscione, goalkeeper for the Torres Feminile (Italian Women soccer team-Serie A) had to say about Italians and soccer.
Photo: Geneviève Gagné
“For me, there is a direct correlation between how the Italians react to their national sport and how they react to society. Soccer or “calcio” as it is called here, is the common man’s sport. Anyone with a makeshift ball and an area to make a goal can ignite their dreams to be the next Roberto Baggio. However, while the sport promotes dreaming it is also a reflection of what is bad in Italy. The players always argue with the referee never accepting his decision on the field. Similarly, when an Italian is questioned by an authority figure, whether it be a police officer or a teacher, most Italians have a tendency to argue and claim it is not their fault. Nothing is an Italian’s fault it is always the other guy. Just like in soccer there was no foul or it was the other players fault. Everything that happens to an Italian is over dramatized whether it be a little problem or a huge problem it is always something that everyone needs to know about. And they will know because one, the person will tell everyone and two, they will have to yell it so everyone will hear. When an Italian player thinks he/she has been fouled similar to the response on the field they feel it necessary to scream and flail themselves in a dramatic fashion to prove the severity of what has happened even if the case when nothing has happened.”