Italy


Italian Flag 

 

 

 

Overview Of Italy:

 

A republic in southern Europe, Italy consists of a peninsula shaped like a boot.  Italy was once a monarchy but then the people voted to make it into a parliamentary democracy. Instead of being led by a king they are now led by a president. This happened in 1946 while King Humbert II was in the throne. Italy is known for its rich cultural heritages and for its natural beauty. The landscape is dominated by The Alps and Apennines mountain ranges. Italy qualified for its 11th straight world cup, they are hoping they will win they’re 5th cup. The current leader in Italy is Silvio Berlusconi.

 

 

World cup information:

 

Italy qualified for its 11th straight world cup. They have one the cup 3 times and they are hoping to win their 4th this year.  They won twice before World War II in 1934 and 1938. Their last world cup win came in Spain in 1982. The last world cup Italy lost to France (eventual champions) in the quarterfinals on penalty kicks.  Coach Giovanni Trapattoni is very confident going into this year’s cup. Italy plays a 3-5-2 formation. Italy’s first game will come against Ecuador on June 3rd.  The other teams in their group are Mexico, Ecuador, and Croatia.

 

 

Star Player:  Christian Vieri     

 

                                                         

Christian Vieri was born on July 23 1973. He wares jersey number 21. He made his first national team appearance against Moldova on March 29 1997. He plays forward. He has 10 goals for his national team in only 24 appearances.  Vieri is an injury proned player but when healthy he is a lethal weapon. At France '98, Vieri, known in Italy as Bobo, scored five goals in as many games before Italy went out on penalties to France in the quarterfinals. Coach Giovanni Trapattoni says, “Italy's progress depends on the form of Vieri.” Unlike other natural finishers Vieri is a team player. Vieri who plays for the club team Inter in the Italian league was noted for helping Brazilian star Ronaldo getting back into form and helping him regain confidence. Vieri refused to get surgery on his Achilles tendon because the doctors didn’t confirm a 100% recovery. He has his sites on winning this year’s world cup.

 

Schedule for World Cup:

June 3, 7:30am           Italy Vs.  Ecuador   Sapporo

June 8, 5:00am           Italy Vs. Croatia      Ibaraki

June 13, 7:30am        Mexico Vs. Italy       Oita

 

Prediction:

 I think Italy should farewell in the first round. I think they should breeze through it. Depending upon who comes out of the other groups will decide on how far Italy is able to make it in this world cup. I think Italy will make it into the finals. Italy will have to be playing some of its best soccer because of the possible teams they have to play in the quarterfinals  (if they should make it that far) none of them are weak. Italy has many players that are currently in the prime of their career, so overall I believe Italy should do well in the cup.

 

 

 

History Of Italy

 

 

  The Colosseum, built around 70-82 CE, was the first auditorium building to be built in Rome. Its monumental size and grandeur as well as its practical and efficient organization for producing spectacles and controlling the large crowds make it one of the great architectural monuments achieved by the ancient Romans. The auditorium is a vast ellipse with tiers of seating for 50,000 spectators around a central elliptical arena. Below the wooden arena floor, there was a complex set of rooms and passageways for wild beasts and other provisions for staging the spectacles. Eighty walls radiate from the arena and support vaults for passageways, stairways and the tiers of seats. At the outer edge circumferential arcades link each level and the stairways between levels. The plan is a vast ellipse, measuring externally 615 ft x 510 ft, with the base of the building.

 

 

Economics:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geography:

 

·        Capital City – Rome

·        Location – Southern Europe, a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia

·        Land use – arable land 31%, permanent crops 10%, permanent pastures 15%, forests and woodland 23% other 21%

·        Neighboring countries – Austria, France, Holy See (Vatican City), San Marino, Slovenia, Switzerland

 

History:

 

Italy became a nation belatedly in 1861 when the city-states of the peninsula along with Sardinia and Sicily were under control of King Victor Emmanuel. An era of parliamentary government came close on the early 1920’s with Benito Mussolini but he ended up establishing a fascist government.  His alliance with Nazi Germany led to Italy’s defeat in World War II. A democratic republic replaced the fascist in 1946. Italy was a charter member of NATO and the European Economic Community (ECC).  Persistent problems include illegal immigration, organized crime, high unemployment, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared to the North.

 

 

People:

 

Male – 75.97

Female – 82.52

 

Current Event:

Oriana Fallaci, a Italian war correspondent and writer who for generations has embodied the liberal conscience, has caused a sensation by attacking Islam and the European Left in tones compared to those of far right extremists. Fallaci broke a decade of silence after September 11th, to say, “Muslims are vile creatures who urinate in baptisteries’ and multiply like rats.”  She is 71 years old and was the chronicler during the Vietnam and Lebanon wars. She was at her house in Manhattan during the September 11th attacks on the world trade centers.  Human watch dogs accuse Fallaci who has cancer, of doing what Osama bin Laden fanatics wanted by stirring hatred between the two religions. Her book Anger and Pride was published around Christmas time. Jewish leaders have praised her for having the courage to not be politically correct.

 

 

 

 

Links:

·       Current event article

 

 

Sources:

 

 

 

 

 

 

By: Preston Gunther information correct as 6/2/02