KEEP TALKING SCHOOL

SPECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST: The Definite Article  Articles from VOLUME 32 MAY 2010 football-lovers.

 Articles from football-haters!

 The winning arti- cle—page 2. Kip Talking  An interview with The World Cup? Yes, I’m land, Wales, Argentina, Fiji ers drink Sir Stanley Mat- thews. definitely going to watch and Samoa. The sad thing is gallons of every game involving Eng- that if you want to see a beer but never get violent  A World Cup land, Ireland and and World Cup where real men and where the referee’s quiz—with answers most of the other matches go head to head, where play- word is final, you will have  The solution to featuring France, New Zea- ers don’t keep pretending to to wait until September next last edition’s cross- land, Australia. And Scot- be hurt, where the support- year! word puzzle.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: The Beautiful Game? By Davide Torassa The Beautiful 1 Game? In Italy football is a religion. in a team, get to know their Every four years there is the The True Spirit of 2 In fact during the day, when limits and learn to win and World Cup and this champi- Football people meet in the street or lose. onship always holds a great in bars, they either talk While I loved this sport fascination. When the Italian Crowd Mentality 2 about football matches or when I was a child, nowa- football team plays, the Life Without 3 politicians. days I hate it. Everywhere whole country shuts down Football I have a special relationship especially in Italy, this sport and everyone watches TV to with football. When I was a has a lot of negative aspects. root for their team and re- Love It or Hate 3 child, this sport helped me On Sundays the stadium is joice over a victory. It’s It? to fight my shyness and be- often dangerous because strange but these are magic Oh No! Not More 3 come more sociable and there is violence and hatred moments, everyone loves Football!! friendly. among the fans of several football and the whole coun- I started to play in a small teams. try is united. My Family Love 4 team in my village when I Football players earn too Soccer was ten years old. After much and are bad examples The Extra Man 4 three years a team in Udine for the younger generation. asked me to play at a higher I also hate football because Impossible Inter- 5 level. We won the regional sport magazines always talk views: Stanley championship and then we only about football events Matthews played in the national tour- and very little about other World Cup 6 nament against other Italian sports. For example, if the Memories teams. In those years I loved Italian volleyball team wins The World Cup 6 football because I enjoyed the World Cup, sports Atmosphere playing with other players. I magazines will talk about this The Best Match 6 also liked it because I trained event only in a small section I’ve Seen three times a week so it was after the football news. a good physical exercise. I think that if foreigners Memories of 1982 7 I think football is very useful watch Italian sports on TV, A Game of Two 8 in helping children to im- they will think that there is Halves prove their character and to only one sport in It- become more sociable. For aly….football! others it’s important to play PAGE 2 The True Spirit of Football by Flavio Lorenzon

Football today is blighted and so they know each tutes him. They simply by an endless stream of other very well. It’s a enjoy playing and being scandals. The players often group of friends, really. Of together. It is the ideal behave unfairly during the course, they still have to combination of sport and matches and so-called sup- improve their ability to friendship, as long as it porters shout annoying kick, trap, pass and cross lasts. racist chants and taunts in the ball, but they are Even in my late forties I the stadium. pretty talented, I must say. am still playing amateur But in spite of all this I still However, what I like most five-a-side football. Every love the game, and that’s is that they are learning to Wednesday evening I go why I hope that we can respect and to help each to a pitch in Cussignacco “When the children’s build a better future for it. other as well. Actually, with a group of friends coach teaches them This will be possible only when their coach teaches who I have played with rules for a clean game by changing our general them rules for a clean since school. This is one of they pick up some attitude towards sports, game they pick up some the best moments in my which should be played simple rules of life too. For week. I forget my prob- simple rules of life with pure passion, respect, example, they all celebrate lems at work, I do physical too.” fairness and loyalty. together when somebody activity and, last but not My son Nicola is ten years scores a goal and they least, I relax by playing and old but he has played for a always greet their oppo- spending time with my local football team nents before and after the friends. Unsurprisingly, (Atletico Libero Rizzi) for match. Nobody complains these “tough” matches over four years now. He when the referee gives a often end with a good and his team mates started foul against his team or glass of beer. this “adventure” together when the coach substi-

Prize Crowd Mentality by Lea Del Ponte Article!

I really cannot relate to other team. Of course this I do look forward to the groups of people hating behaviour feeds on igno- forthcoming Football each other for any ab- rance and intolerance, World Cup, though, first stract reason. I cannot which would exist none- of all because these are understand their hatred theless, but it seems that the kinds of matches which towards one another if you can get away with any fans attend to actually caused by religion, or kind violence and aggres- watch the game, and not nationality... let alone if siveness, with nothing to channel their anger and it is football-related. more than a slap on the frustration towards the And that's why I don't wrist. opponents, and also be- like football. And don't get me started cause football is the only I know that it is a sport on the expenses sustained thing that manages to mus- and that many people by the State to guarantee a ter ’ feeble sense of follow their team just for semblance of public order, State and patriotism - for “I really cannot relate to the sake of watching a with thousands of police 90 minutes, when the na- groups of people hating good game and having fun, officers used every Sunday tional football team is play- each other for any abstract but what startles me is to keep these people from ing - Italians feel like one that the Sunday match has killing each other. nation, and take some reason.” become an occasion to Shouldn't the companies pride in it. “enter the field” and fight, who profit from these hate, insult and beat the events pay for that? “others”, for the sole rea- Shouldn't such dangerous son of their supporting the events be shut down?

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Life Without Football by Beatrice Campion

To some people it could seem quite a pitiful choice of life, and here in Italy it could even appear an impossible undertaking, but in fact it’s rather simple. Here is my own special ‘recipe’:

Ingredients: - one TV - absolutely without satellite dish; - a swimming costume with accessories and swimming pool in the surroundings (for autumn and winter usage); Beatrice’s recipe for a life - a bicycle - any make or type available is acceptable for this recipe (for spring and sum- without football — delicious! mer usage); - enough passion for reading and a good quantity of books at home, which have been demanding your attention for months; - last but not least: a partner who regularly plays (and watches) basketball (the fonder the partner is of this sport, the better the result we can aim for).

Method: Step one: combine each ingredient with the others to taste, mixing them as much as you like. Step two: enjoy your life without football!

Love it or Hate it? by Marina Pascolo “It’s only 22 players July 2006, after twenty-four tion? Why do people spend experience. It's fun - fun if you years Italy won its fourth time watching the matches? are a fan or if you play, that is. running after world cup. The World Cup, the Premier For others, on the other hand, a ball. Oh The world championship, an League, the European League, it's boring, or useless, but es- event that millions of people the Italian League, the Italian pecially it's only “22 players sorry, 22 very wait for, an event that some- Cup and so on… Why do running after a ball”! Oh sorry times even attracts the atten- people love football???? “22 very rich players running rich players tion of people who don't like For some people football in- after a ball”. football. All the countries in spires emotions, strong emo- Is that so? Maybe. running after the world broadcast the tions – joy, a sense of belong- But first of all, it's a sport. a ball!” matches and millions of fans ing… It's something that And yes, you can love it or cheer for their team. makes you scream, cheer, you can hate it!!! But why do these kind of laugh, sing, cry, sweat and events attract so much atten- curse. It's something that you

Oh No — Not More Football!! By Enrica Simaz

Oh no! Four years have passed care if Mr. Lippi doesn't play be impossible to avoid already and here we are again, Cassano or Totti or if Can- being caught up in the ready to face another month navaro can't play because of “spirit of the game” es- of football events! the flu? pecially if our national The Italian championship will Maybe some channel hopping team reaches the finals. just have ended and we'll be will help us, but as normally thrown once more into an “Mamma RAI” doesn't give us After all, we are still the intensive period full of football too much choice, I'm afraid we current world champi- matches, slow motions, inter- have to expect the worse from ons! views, scandals…. What this side ... chance to survive for all the In fact, in the end, as the Italian football fans common people who don't matches go on, I think it will celebrating a goal PAGE 4 My Family Love Soccer by Mara Nonis

Soccer, soccer, soccer ... den, the radio and my mosphere of the stadium, my family love soccer! It's grandfather. He didn't like the people screaming with like a family tradition. losing, in fact when the delight when the team My grandfather was a big team lost he didn't eat! wins or a goal is scored. fan. In the 60s he went to My mum was the same... I hope to be screaming at to watch Inter but she has changed be- 11.00pm this Wednesday play every two weeks. cause Inter lost so many when Inter play Barce- Later my mum accompa- times in the past. lona... but in my house NO nied him. This is very My brothers played soccer ONE will watch the game funny - when he stayed at for a of years: on TV! “For 90 minutes on home on Sunday, he they're twins - They love Sundays my twin walked around the garden each other but also they Viva Barcelona!!! for 90 minutes. He always "hate" each other for 90 brothers ‘hate’ each had a "friend" - a little ra- minutes on Sundays - one other—one supports dio so he could listen to supports Juventus, the the games. We had a lot of other supports Inter! Juventus and the pictures of that – the gar- As for me, I love the at- Caption describing picture or graphic. other supports Inter!”

The Extra Man by Caterina Ferri For the last two weeks, I ing it into schools. are at the height of their have been trying to think Football makes me think of success, but suddenly their of something interesting the gladiators during the life’s dreams crumble. about football. It’s not at days of the ancient Roman They have two very differ- all easy! empire. A horrible and ent personalities. They As you can probably tell, I cruel show of which there don’t know each other but don’t like football. In my is nothing to be proud. for a while their lives seem mind the word “football“ to become entwined. The carries lots of negative While I’m thinking about first Antonio, the football Paolo Sorrentino, ideas, opinions and emo- all these disgusting things player, commits suicide Neapolitan film director tions. about football, a movie while the second Antonio, and screenwiter In my opinion football that came out on the big the singer, survives for means eleven not very screen in 2001, entitled both. The movie tells of bright young men, earning “The Extra Man” comes to their downfall from begin- an incredible my mind. It was a very ning to end. They are two amount of interesting movie about victims of the “star sys- money just to football!! An Italian movie tem” and the Mafia. run after a ball directed by a young guy The movie expresses a wearing short called Paolo Sorrentino very bitter view of life and pants. (pictured left). It was his how easily life can turn and Their public is first film. destroy all your dreams. mainly com- The plot was incredibly Life is “’na strunzata” says posed of rude, cruel but tremendously the singer at the end. It’s a vulgar and real. The story is set in trick. Life is like a football sometimes also Naples during the 80s. match and it’s easy to lose. violent men. There are two main char- The setting in Naples in And in the end, acters, both with the same the 80s is very well de- the State gives name, Antonio Pisapia. scribed and the sound- football a lot of The first Antonio Pisapia is track is on the beam. money to build a shy football player and stadiums in- the second Antonio Pisapia stead of pour- is a brilliant singer. They

THE DEFINITE ARTICLE VOLUME 32 PAGE 5 Impossible Interviews: Sir - Keep Talking? Who did he play for? … Chelsea? Mmh, I by Andrea Bertolissi don’t remember him. I picked up the book and I - But? found that, by an unfortunate - To tell the truth we started “Keep coincidence, it concerned the very well and ninety seconds same topic as my interview: after the kick-off, Bentley let Talking? Who England’s defeat against the off a shot that the American did he play USA during the 1950 World goalkeeper only just managed Cup. I plucked up my courage to save. for? and I tried to get on the right - Then? side of him. - In the thirty-seventh minute, Chelsea?” - Sir Stanley, why are you so after we had had more than upset? After all, you didn’t play Stanley Matthews— “the ten shots at goal, two of which in that match. hit the post, their centre for- man who taught us how foot- I saw his face light up. ball should be played” (Pele) ward scored by just touching - Mr. Kim, what’s his name? … the ball shot by one of his Talking must be a really good I met Sir Stanley Matthews at team-mates. That was the end. trainer to have taught you - But in the second half the his home in Hanley, and our that! first contact was not very easy. Italian referee denied a clear - What do you remember penalty. While I tried to avoid being hit about that match, later called by a book thrown by the - You are very kind to remem- “The Miracle Match”? ber that. smart, old gentleman, I was - It was played in Belo Hori- addressed curtly. I saw his eyes misting over and zonte (Brazil). We were called I realized it was getting late. “the Kings of Football”, while - You! Bast… journalist! the Americans had lost their - Sorry Sir Stanley, but I’m just last seven international a Keep Talking student! matches.

Solution to Crossword 31

6 10 17 18

1 7 9 T S L B 8 14 16 H H B F H I R 3 4 11 13 I E A H L I E D G O 5 T S A T C O I P T T X E H A 2 12 15 1 C T I V I K M G W O R P L T D 9 H P O R O M P E H R U W A R T A H E S H A P P Y E A S T E R E V E R Y O N E I S O O A M C I C I L E S I S U S T K S V R G A K C K S C L S P S O E E E T E C E K E T O L E F R N R H R D M E F G I E R E N S R E PAGE 6 World Cup Memories by Luigina Caporlingua

I’m not really a fan of what together. After dinner we pened. “My friend leapt up is known as “the beautiful sat on the sofa to watch Anyway we understood game”, but I like watching the match, which was very that Italy had scored the suddenly and, hit his the football world cups. important for Italy. It was goal because we could hands against the On these occasions I be- hot and all the windows hear all the neighbours sofa. One of his come a real football fan. I were open. shouting hands hit the remote think this happens for two When the match was al- “GOOOOAAAAAL!!!!!!”. reasons: 1. love for my most over and the score We were in front of a control and the TV country, and 2. all the play- was 1-1, Italy made a sur- completely black TV, but just turned off!” ers are the best in the prise attack at the other we gave each other big world, so you can see the team’s goal. hugs before turning the TV most beautiful football. We were very exited….a on again……waiting for What I’m going to tell you wonderful cross…..we the action replay... is a memory of a World were even more exited. Cup. This happened some Just at that point my friend years ago but I don’t re- leapt up suddenly and, in member exactly the year doing this, he banged his and who Italy were playing hands against the sofa. against. One of his hands hit the My husband and I had been remote control and the invited by a couple of TV just turned off. friends for dinner and to It took us some seconds watch the football match to realise what had hap-

The World Cup Atmosphere by Adriano Tomasetig The World Cup does for people are the social home. Everybody’s arrang- strange things to peo- events associated with the ing something, organizing ple. games. something, preparing During the competi- For one month (or at least something. tion almost everybody as long as your national And almost everybody becomes a football fan. team is still in the competi- joins the parties, goes to The reason has noth- tion!) there is a special dinners, meets friends and ing to do with the atmosphere. has a few drinks... and “Everybody’s arranging "beautiful game" that you Bars and pubs organize big sometimes (but only something, organizing can see on the pitch screens, parties and special sometimes) they even something, preparing (which most of the time is evenings to attract cus- watch the game! something.” not so beautiful...). No, tomers; people organize what is more interesting dinners and barbeques at

The Best Match I’ve Ever Seen by Stefano Del Fabbro “Italy won 3-2 in a I’ve always liked football and match at home with my used to, maybe because rush of emotions!” since I was 18 I’ve had a sea- friends. Italy won 3-2 in a there is too much on TV son ticket for the "Udinese rush of emotions. I think it just to make money. Calcio" matches. In 1982 I was the best match that I hope the Italian football was 8 years old and I re- I’ve ever seen. Today foot- team can repeat the experi- member like it was yesterday ball games don't fill me ence of 4 years ago, but it watching the Italy-Brazil with enthusiasm like they will be very difficult.

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Memories of 1982 by Vera Roncastri

When I was sixteen I spent my for many hours and went to bed holidays with my family in San later than usual. Benedetto del Tronto while the The day after I didn't see one of World Cup Final was on. During my friends on the beach or even the football matches the streets the day after that. On the third were empty because everyone day I saw him coming with a leg was watching TV. I remember in plaster... He had celebrated when Italy won the final and the win a little too much! All everyone went out into the this was very exciting for me streets with flags and trumpets because I was very young and I to celebrate the win. All night have very fond memories of the there was a cavalcade of cars event. Perhaps it’s not quite the honking their horns continu- same for my friend! ously, and everyone was singing and and shouting . It was very funny receive the World Cup Trophy for me and my friends because for the Italian team in1982. we met lots of people, partied Game for a Laugh...

Of course footballers have here for the rest of my life, 'Martin O'Neill, standing, always been better known for and hopefully after that as hands on hips, stroking his their fancy footwork than their well.' - chin.' brilliant brains. Here are just a - Mike Ingham few of their more amusing 'I can see the carrot at the end blunders: of the tunnel.' - Stuart 'And with just 4 minutes gone, Pearce the score is already 0-0.' - Ian PLAYERS Darke 'My parents have been there I couldn't settle in Italy - it was for me, ever since I was about 'Sporting Lisbon in their green like living in a foreign country.' 7.' and white hoops, looking like a - - team of zebras.' - Peter Jones

Interviewer: 'Would it be fair 'Winning doesn't really matter to describe you as a volatile as long as you win.' - Vinny player?' Jones David Beckham: 'Well, I can play in the centre, on the right 'We must have had 99% of the and occasionally on the left game. It was the other three side.' per cent that cost us the match.' - I'd like to play for an Italian club, like Barcelona.' - Mark 'As I've said before and I've Draper said it in the past...' - I've had 14 bookings this sea- son - 8 of which were my fault, but 7 of which were disput- COMMENTATORS able.' - Vinny Jones demonstrating his view that, 'Emile Zola has scored again ’winning doesn’t really matter as long as 'I've never wanted to leave. I'm for Chelsea.' - Radio 5 live you win.’ The KT World Cup Quiz

1. How many World Cups has Italy coach participated in as a player and coach? (a) 1 (b) 5 (c) 4 (d) 2 2. Which player was the youngest to have scored in a World Cup Final? (a) Maradonna (b) Pele (c) (d) Rinaldo 3. In his final World Cup before retirement, sat out which game through suspension? (a) Switzerland (b) South Korea (c) Togo (d) Spain 4. In which year did England win the world cup? (a) 1962 (b) 1966 (c) 1970 (d) 1974 5. Which team has won the World Cup most times? (a) Argentina (b) Italy (c) Brazil (d) Trinidad and Tobago 6. Which Brazil player holds the record for most minutes without making a foul in a World Cup (386 mi- nutes)? (a) Juan (b) Lucio (c) Ronaldinho (d) 7. On the way to reaching the 2006 final, Italy conceded only one goal. Who scored it? (a) Brian McBride (b) Milan Baros (c) (d) Shevchenko 8. Can you identify these 2010 international football shirts?

(a) (b) (c) (d) (e)

mark away; e) Japan home. home. Japan e) away; mark

; d) Den- d) ; away USA c) away; Algeria b) home; Africa South 8a) Zaccardo; 7) Lucio; 6) Brazil; 5) 1966; 4) Togo; 3) Pele; 2) 1; 1) Answers:

Football — A Game of Two Halves by Emanuele Bonanni

Soccer is one of the oldest team bad friendships can start to use much attention around the foot- games in the world - maybe the drugs on and off pitch. ball world. There are several oldest. There have been several scan- undervalued sports, for example In England soccer is called “the dals in the soccer world con- volleyball, basketball and rugby. beautiful game”. It is the first nected to drugs and bad behav- They are also team sports, game a child learns to play be- iour. These things shouldn’t hap- pleasant to watch, not boring cause it is the easiest way to get pen. Players should remember and full of action but even so to know new children and make that a lot of their fans are young they don’t arouse the same in- friends. For these reasons it’s boys and girls and should set terest. very useful for shy people. them a good example. In the end the thing that annoys Another positive aspect is that As for fans, on the other hand, me most is the salary that a fa- it’s a simple way to keep fit be- in many countries, such as in mous player can earn, too high cause you can improve your Italy, soccer is a faith. In an ex- for a person who runs with a breathing and muscle strength. treme case fans put soccer be- ball at his feet. However, the sport also has fore everything else. There is negative aspects, that can con- often news on the TV about cern professional football play- fights outside the stadium be- ers and fans. When some play- tween supporters. During these ers become famous they change fights many people are injured their character and start to be- and sometimes die. have badly. In the best case they I cannot understand how people become show-offs and forget can die for football when it their old friends. In the worst a should be fun. person with a lot of money and However, I think there is too