It's always good to see Italy leave the WC. It means at least one defensive nation out of the WC, which means that MAYBE there's a chance we'll see some good football in the decisive matches (semis and final). Like it or not, Italy plays catenaccio, you may like it and no doubt it's an effective and legal way of playing football, but it makes shit games that are boring to watch. Two attacking teams always produce better games.
In Italy the offense is even worse because they HAVE the players to play better, I don't really blame Greece for playing like that, they don't have anything, sure, I'd love teams that don't have much to attack non stop, but it's kinda delusional for me to expect that. But Italy really does have a pool of talented players to pick up and play some decent football, and they do what? Catenaccio, defense first, then offense. I don't want to see football like that. I want to see attacking football, like the one that Spain and Holland (more Holland than Spain) showed in the Euro 2008, to give an example. If a team plays defensively and they're out, good riddance. Try to attack next time
And in the end, people always remember the best attacking teams. Hungary '54, Brazil '70, Holland '74, teams that have left a mark in history, teams that will forever be remembered, and two of those didn't even lift the WC. Who remembers today Italy '82? No one, you remember that Paolo Rossi was the star and that they won the WC after DRAWING THE FIRST THREE MATCHES. Who'll remember the world champion Italy '06? No one. History books will say that that world cup was won by Italy in a horrible final against France where Zidane was sent off, and nothing else. In 50 years, we'll still talk about Barca '09 and how we were lucky that we saw such a great football. And I don't even like Barca, but it's the truth, history always puts everyone in the place it deserves. Good playing teams get remembered and catenaccio ones are forgotten. Sure, Italy might enjoy their 4 WCs, but what good is it when no one even remembers ONE good match in those? What good is it if you remember the WC 82 more for Tardelli's celebration than for how Italy played in that one?
