Tardelli wants to ‘fight’ Italy at Euros

Marco Tardelli has made it clear that he wants his native Italy to play Ireland as scheduled in Euro 2012.

The assistant manager’s comments in Montecatini came by way of response to questions about Cesare Prandelli’s suggestion that the Italian national team might even have to withdraw from the tournament because of the latest scandal besetting the country’s football.

“Yes, I’m sure, they will go to Poland,” said the Italian World Cup winner and national hero. “Do I want them to be there? Sure, sure. It’s my country. I want to fight against my country, but honestly.”

Ironically, Tardelli’s finest hour – when he scored in Italy’s 3-1 World Cup final win against Germany in 1982 – saw him sharing the limelight with striker Paolo Rossi who had only returned to football after a two-year suspension for his involvement in a betting scandal.

Said Tardelli: “I am very sad but I have lived many times this situation. I knew this situation in 1980 when many players were disqualified. Then ten years ago and again now. We need to clean up the situation because if we can carry on with this it is very bad for the football and the Italian people. I like to stay out of Italian football in Italy but I want that my people are recognised for the right reasons. They are honest people. Not all of football in Italy is involved.”

But Tardelli doesn’t think that calcio’s latest woes will detract from the Azzurri’s performances in Poland.

“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “When the players are on the pitch they play very strong. They play for the Italy and for the other players not to make a mistake.”

In contrast to embattled Italy – who were being watching by Irish spies at their game against Russia last night — all was sweetness and light at Ireland’s Tuscan training camp yesterday, with the expected first 11 against Croatia – Given, O’Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Ward, Duff, Whelan, Andrews, McGeady, Keane and Doyle — lining-out to play a short training game against the rest of the squad.

“John O’Shea and Shay Given worked very hard and I saw them fit but they need to play against Hungary as it is a very important test for them,” said Tardelli. “I think John could have played in the friendly match against the local selection a few days ago but it was better to rest him as a precaution. We are very happy now that the players are fit and that the players smile during training. For us, that is very important.”

Ireland practised penalties at the end of training yesterday, not an entirely unusual sight, but timely with the looming Euros in mind. Anyway, as Tardelli, pointed out, there was a more pressing reason for the ball to be put on the spot – the training game had ended in a draw and was decided with a shoot-out. Tardelli added that nominees for any shoot-out that may be required in the Euros have not yet been selected.

The assistant manager refused to be drawn when asked if the FAI had heard back from Marc Wilson, the Stoke player whom the manager has approached to replace Kevin Foley on the standby list.

“We will talk about it after Hungary,” Tardelli parried. “We have three or four options. If we need after Hungary, we will call them.”

Meanwhile, the FAI have announced that Ireland will play a friendly against Serbia in Belgrade on Wednesday, August 15, 2012 with a return fixture in Aviva Stadium on Wednesday, March 5, 2014.

Serbia provided the opposition for Giovanni Trapattoni’s first home game in charge of the Republic of Ireland in May 2008, a game which finished in a 1-1 draw thanks to a late Andy Keogh strike. Serbia are currently ranked 32nd in the world.