What is it about Italian culture that has inculcated such a negative mentality when it comes to football?

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frank S

It goes back to the 2nd World War.

Italian tanks were fitted with one forward gear and four reverse.

dave t

Because it works.
They have won the World cup 4 times and been in the final a further twice. (Brazil with their beautiful football have won only one more.)
They have won the European Nations cup once and played in the final once and lost.
The European cup has been won on 10 occasions by Italian clubs with a further 12 making it to the final. That's 22 finalists.
10 English clubs have won with a further 5 making it to the final. A total of 15 finalists.
England have got the final of a major tournament once.
France Barrasi and Paulo Maldini are legends in Italy.
It is possible to play good defensive football.

aveitpeter

Negative football to watch maybe but I wouldnt call it negative mentallity that has won so many matches for them including 4 world cups, would you? I would call it a positive mentality, playing defensively (negatively on the watching eye), thats why they only conceeded 2 goals in normal time in the world cup 2006, excluding penalties.
If you refering to last nights performance I would directly blame the manager for playing Luca Toni up front on his own and Luca Toni for playing crap - mentally and physically hasnt been up to this competition! When Di Natale and Del Piero came on in supporting forward roles last night, you must admit they started playing more positively. Midfield was all over the place also but I think that was a result of Pirlo and Gattusso being suspended and again I think the game would have been more positive if they were playing but they were not.

Had Italy played Del Piero up front with Di Natale I believe it would have been a much more positive team to have watched in this competiton

Under LIppi they were not so negative football to watch and I do wish he would come back!

If you want a good example of a team that had inculcated a massive negative mentality, have a look at what Steve McLaren did to England and the positive mentality Capello is restoring to the team. If Italian culture has inculcated a negative mentality, why have they employed an Italian to take them forward?!

So your statement isnt quite true im afraid!

robygiu94

italians have always been war-like citizens, from the romans to World War Second

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