This year the arrival of summer, the last long-awaited day of school, a dream about vacations were preceded by an aura of unease in Italy. The first shock of living the World Cup as outcasts passed. Italy needed to get over the fact that the World Cup could be without them, without Italy being missed, without decreasing the value and quality of the event. But it’s like if Mick Jagger and the company told Brian Jones to stay at home while the Rolling Stones continued the tour without him. Brian Jones, who is one of the group founders! Italy, four-time winners! Unbelievable.
But if you want to read a story of national collapse here…you will not anyway. Since 14 June, when the first ball rolled on the pitch, the main sensation has been the fact that the atmosphere hasn’t been so unpleasant. On the opposite, even better. Nevertheless, the World Cup is a celebration for Italy too. And the proof for this is an astonishing amount of the audience, not only at Germany vs. Mexico or Brazil vs. Switzerland matches, but also at Morocco vs. Iran game, which had an inopportune schedule. And the hashtag #mondiali has been trending since 14 June. What happened? Basically, it’s possible to celebrate the World Cup without Italy, but not without Italians.
Reasonable and dodgy reasons
Someone would rather attribute this with a surprising phenomenon. The country fallen in love with football wasn’t going to quit its love only for not being the protagonist. Without Gli Azzurri in game, Italians had discovered that it’s possible to watch matches with an unbiased point of view, enjoying the show as well. Noble, sincere and poetic love towards the game.
But we’re talking about Italy. And I think this new form is natural to enjoy the event, which is gaining people’s attention little by little. Besides, there is something more. There are more reasons, reasonable ones or not so much. Up to the dodgiest ones.
The whistle of referee Pitano began the World Cup first match in Russia. It was a soothing moment for many dispirited Italians. A cool celebration started, but we weren’t invited. From this moment there have been winners and losers, joy for ones and sadness for others. Sadness for others. A peculiar philosophy of the Italian life emerges. Suddenly they have realized that they’re not the only ones, so there’s no point in being sad about it. And in Italy, knowing that someone feels bad, the same as you or even worse, has always been the reason for the secret of joy. There is a proverb that should be remembered: two in distress make sorrow less. In Italy it’s 'mal comune, mezzo gaudio', what literally means: a trouble shared is a trouble halved.
An answer for Schweinsteiger
Italians are in Russia, okay. And now they can answer Schweinsteiger’s tweet that was teasing them after Sweden didn’t leave a chance for Italy to get to the World Cup (“I think that Italy has a lot of chances to win the World Cup this year). In fact, Materazzi embodied the national thought, it didn’t take to do half a second after Germany vs. Mexico match (“Do you remember when we ate pizza in 2006?”). Or possibly you want to talk about the pressure that the Argentinians are struggling now? Well, after months of sadness in isolation, they have “a trouble halved” now. A little bit dirty justification? Yeah, whatever.
The other reason for this shock isn’t so bitter, because they have already acquired the taste. And in what a manner! All Europe has understood. And has got scared. A country that is used to mitigate real life problems and disappointments in the idealized world, which football offers. In an abrupt sick form and without drugs to ease the pain.
Am I saying that political turmoil in Italy is a consequence to the national team eliminating? No, not only. It’s easier to be simplistic and say yes, but it’s equally superficial to think that Swedish fiasco had nothing to do with it. They opted for an aggravated reason, not for a milder one. It’s like you’re rushing for shopping at the supermarket not having eaten earlier. Everything matters, everything influences. And in Italy football influences too.
Italian Vikings
And finally, the last reason, very related to the Italian ability (or audacity) to survive no matter what. Have knocked out our team? Well, we will find another one to cheer for. They, me included, are going to die for some other teams that have many players from our clubs. In my case, as a Juventus fan, I will choose between Argentina (Dybala and Higuain) and Croatia (Mandzukic and Pjaca). The others go by a more folklore reasons: they are not in? Who has a shirt more similar to ours? Iceland? Well, then it will be Iceland. Above all, they’re vikings. Vikings are awesome. It results into the majority of Italians opt for vikings now. Seriously. Any typical Italian fan knows and can see the difference between Gudmundsson, Gunnarsson y Saevarsson without looking at the number. Rurik Gislason has changed the notion of a local “sex symbol”. Children, adults and even elderly people have fun watching the “geyser sound”. Such Italian passion towards Iceland converted into Halfredsson’s appreciation video… in Italian. Finally, they’ve got the other Gli Azzurri.
And if Iceland, Croatia or Argentina get eliminated? They will find another team, no problem. The worst feeling about the exclusion has already passed. They have already got over the anger in their typical manner (mamma mia!). They have other Gli Azzurri to admire and when there is a depressing final for the fans and eliminated teams, their “mezzo gaudio” will possibly be only less than the joy of probable winning the World Cup. But it’s always about the joy. In spite of everything, they have opted for the celebration.
Source: El Periódico
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