Star-studded frontline leads ROW to a narrow victory v ITALY. Davide scores golden goal but ITALY is illegally denied penalty-shoot out.
A trial awaits.
I was at Wembley in 2021 for the England v Italy European final and I can tell you the atmosphere there was nowhere near what everyone experienced today at Adams Park Stadium, home to Premiership Wycombe Wanderers and from now on known as the Master Game 12 Stadium.
The stage was set for a performance of a lifetime: bright sun, immaculate pitch and the undulating greenery outside the pitch framed a picture that looked painted by Michelangelo in his first ever sport endeavour. Noblesse oblige.
Despite the noise and the excitement there was no room for animosity between the two sets of fans, ITALY and Rest of the World (ROW), well aware of their own luck to witness something that will reverberate across generation. ‘I was there’ is one of those legacy Dads are sure to pass onto their kids and grandchildren. And the pictures are there to prove it is all real.
Seats were sold out the day the news that FDs had chosen Wycombe for the MG12 came out. Luckily, St Adam is surrounded by hills for the joy of few thousand onlookers who could not believe they could watch ‘THE’ game and for free. It’s like when you win the lottery and they later tell you the amount was wrong, in that it was ten times bigger.
As players came out of the tunnel the noise was deafening and the only way they could communicate was by gestures: at which the Italian team easily outperformed Rest of the World (ROW). The soft and thick grass invited diving, another Italian specialty, but three official referees were a warning to any misconduct.
Everyone was expecting a fast, uncompromising start as both teams by DNA regard tactics as a waste of time for which fans should get a discount on their ticket, if and when it occurs. But to witness a goal after barely 4 minutes had gone was beyond the wildest expectations. It was Yuv who got hold of the ball outside the Italy box on the corner and, without thinking twice, unleashed a shot that any keeper could only dream of getting close, let alone stopping it.
Such a fast start by ROW did not mean one way traffic: on the opposite front Marco had a great opportunity but there was no time to regret it that Diego D, assisted by Francesco, sent in a low curling shot so close to the post that it evaded the keeper’s reach. The crowd, already at boiling point, literally erupted when Marco grabbed a ball well outside the box and sent a rocket into the roof of the net to score a sure contender for both the goal of the season and of all Master Games alike. ITALY was in front for the first time at 2-1. Unfortunately for ITALY Diego had to leave the pitch soon after, following a hard clash with Bijan.
Only 16’ had gone on the clock and fans had already been treated with a storm of emotions that typically require a dozen Premier League games or a full Serie A season to get any close.
The finest experts could have been forgiven for thinking that Italy was punching above his weight as the two goals were rather the expression of isolated individual skills than a coral, engaging teamwork. Midfield was somehow unable to shield defence and the absence of someone, like Yassin, who could be in three different places at the same time, was badly felt.
Massimo and Federico in central defence were performing multiple miracles but the red devils in the ROW frontline were just focussed on scoring at all costs.
Daoud was on purpose retreating its sphere of influence to avoid man marking and that allowed him to be crucial both in the build up of the most dangerous attacks, as well as penetrating with speed and momentum the crowded Italian box partnering in deadly one-twos, with his partners in crime, in turn Yuv, Aurian, Jonathan and Adam.
In one of those ROW found a goal with Daoud (2-2) whose shot was first saved and then deflected in goal to give ROW a deserved parity, considering that Alessandro till then covered himself in glory with at least three fine saves. Fully conscious of the damage their attack could inflict at any moment to any defence, ROW did not relent, in fact put up the pressure until ITALY had to concede again, courtesy a close range header by Aurian in one of his many incursions.
At 3-2 at half time for the ROW the game was wide open but it was clear that the odds had shifted back in favour of ROW. Italians though came back into the pitch in a combative mode but ROW could count on a sort of double layered defence made by the granitic, evergreen trio of Hannes, Hossam and Chetan doubled up by the more fluid line of Bijan, Kaan, Nadir, Thomas and Victor Jr who could both defend and offend.
Italian hopes of regaining parity were met by the crude reality of a most wonderful goal by again Aurian who sent the ball in the Italian top corner after a couple of fantastic one-twos that put the French through the Azzurri defence.
At 4-2 for ROW with some 20’ to play the game was in theory still up for grab and credit to the Italians for not giving up. It was rookie Edoardo, until then a talented playmaker, to make ITALY to believe in a remuntada with a shot from outside the box: 4-3 and game on again.
Marco was a constant threat: in one occasion he dribbled his way to a free shot from the edge of the box but slid while shooting and sent the ball just wide as opposed to the back of net. In another occasion the Italian was met by a hard tackle by Bijan in the middle of the box but the VAR confirmed that the Ref decision to deny a penalty was right. Yet Giancarlo, for the sake of going to penalties which is good for the audience, begged for the decision to be revised: to no avail. Undeterred the Italian asked if its three nutmegs on the day could be converted in a penalty but again the heartless Ref was adamant. 4-3 to ROW it was in the end. Another Titans’ clash decided on the finest of margins.
But, as stated in the covenants of the MG12 statute, there was the golden goal to play and if the losing team, that is ITALY, scored it then the ultimate winner would have been decided on penalty shoot-out.
Few minutes into the golden goal during a heated exchange in the ROW box, Davide found a way to send a surgical, low shot into the distant ROW post through a forest of legs sending the Azzurri fans crazy. As the goal was very quick, for good measure ITALY scored a second golden goal with Dario on Francesco’s assist.
Then the unthinkable happened: ROW illegally refused bluntly to play penalty-shoot out! Perhaps the news was leaked that both Alessandro and Paride, who played second half in ITALY goal, spent last week watching videos of every penalty taken by each ROW player in the last 20 years and knew by heart , with a 5cm approximation, where they would have placed the ball in each of the forthcoming five penalties.
ITALY lawyers, assisted by those of Morocco who successfully reclaimed the Africa Cup from Senegal, are filing for justice and there is every reason to expect a fair sentence. Penalties for ROW can be harsh and range from life ban to MGs, foot the bill of new Stadium or, as a minimum, start MG13 at 3-0 down. Watch the space.
One only Man of the Match award looked mean to many players. Among the Italians of note were the performances of Alessandro, Marco, Edoardo, Massimo and Federico.
From the ROW team, Daoud added a new dimension to his game becoming, if possible, even more lethal despite scoring less.
The Premier League has put a veto on his Goal/Assist ratio to be published not to embarrass Bruno Fernandes.
Yuv was a constant thorn in the ITALY defence with his full set of skills in constant display for the delight of the ROW fans at home and in the stands.
But today there was no match was Aurian who scored a brace, one of rare beauty: a precious tally which was the difference between victory and defeat for someone who is not even a pure striker. The coveted MOTD was his to take away
The post match was about champagne flowing, MG12 complimentary caps for everyone courtesy of the two Victor and Luiza while the big screen was broadcasting the sponsors’ logos and a movie on the history of MGs. For some reasons another one about the history of FDs was not put up but I have posted it on the group. It wraps in 4’ our history with pics and photos going back 22 years.
It was a magical place (thanks Francesco) and a day to remember. Long live Master Games!
ROW-ITALY 4-3
GOALS
ROW: Yuv, Aurian, Daoud, Aurian
ITALY : Diego D, Marco, Edoardo
TEAMS
ROW: Tony, Hossam, Hannes, Chetan, Thomas, Bijan, Kaan, Victor Jr, Al, Nadir, Aurian, Jonathan, Yuv, Daoud, Adam.
ITALY: Alessandro C, Paride, Massimo, Riccardo, Alessandro R, Andrea M, Federico, Dario, Davide, Giacomo, Matteo, Diego F, Leonardo, Edoardo, Giancarlo, Francesco, Marco, Diego D.