Italy: Strength through scandal Azzurri keeps its focus amid distractions By ROB LONGLEY -- Toronto Sun Fri, July 7, 2006

BERLIN -- Marcello Lippi says he has had his regrets the past few days, but they have nothing to do with the tumultuous state of soccer back home.

It was after Tuesday's semi-final victory over Germany when he missed out on the the rapturous scene unfolding in the Azzurri locker room.

Italy had just defeated the hosts 1-0 in Dortmund and Italian prime minister Romano Prodi had joined the team in a rousing rendition of O Sole Mio.

Lippi, the Italian coach who has handled his team so wonderfully here, was talking to the press, regretfully missing the opportunity to belt out a verse himself.

There are some Italian fans who find it insulting that the match-fixing scandal back home dare be mentioned with what has unfolded in Germany for the past month. Why tarnish what has gone on here as the Azzurri bids to win its first World Cup title since 1982.

Lippi is not one of those, however. Whether the reporters were from Germany or England, Australia or the U.S., he has patiently, if wearily, answered at least one question about the scandal every day.

What he has done behind the scenes has been far more brilliant, however. To say Italy has rallied around the scandal may be strong, but it has been a galvanizing force.

"Initially, all the confusion that came out created a desire to show that Italian football is effective, real and strong on a technical and moral level," Lippi admitted to reporters following an Italy training session. "The situation domestically has helped to create a tight group of players. We are determined to succeed."

In some ways, the pressure facing this team was more intense than the normal deluge dumped on any Italian team at a World Cup.

The suffering over the state of soccer at home piled on with a miserable showing here would have been a crushing blow.

While it is a testament to the talent and resilience on the Azzurri squad, former Italian World Cup legend Paolo Rossi suggests what is happening is stronger than that.

"When a team is attacked, it makes them perform miracles," Paolo Rossi said.

He should know. When Rossi arrived at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, Italy was coming off the effects of a match-fixing affair. Rossi had just finished a multi-year ban for his alleged involvement, returning to the Azzurri in time to be the conquering hero.

While no players on this year's squad are implicated in the mess rocking the Serie A and, in particular, marquee outfit Juventus, there are players here who will be affected.

"We have shown that we have got some great footballers at Juventus and that we are not criminals," said Allessandro Del Piero, one of five Juve players on the roster. "Everything that has happened off the pitch has brought us closer together."

Apparently it is doing the same to the nation. From a singing, celebrating prime minister to screaming positive headlines back home the events here have been soothing.

Still, the juxtaposition of winning a World Cup semi- final on the same day a judge in Italy recommended relegation of Serie A teams because of the scandal speaks to the emotional rollercoaster facing the Italian game.

While he still will comment on the investigation, Lippi only does so loosely, clear to define its context.

There will be fallout after this World Cup, but it will come after Sunday's clash with France at Olympic Stadium.

Goaltender Gianluigi Buffon, another Juventus star, is accepting the impending fate of his team and already is thinking of the English Premiership as is captain and defensive stalwart Fabio Cannavaro has had similar overtures.

"The match-fixing scandal has never distracted us from our goal, winning the World Cup," Buffon said. "We don't know what's going to happen, but we refuse to give up on our dream."