A World Cup with out Italy feels bizarre however requires them to exchange Iran are ‘boastful’
The Daily Star says claims by Donald Trump’s envoy Paolo Zampolli that Italy deserve to be at the World Cup are wrong, however painful it must be for fans not to be there
The Italian team in the World Cup in 2006(Image: Getty Images)
A World Cup without Italy feels weird. They are the perennial bad guys of football, who always seem to underperform – or at least below their country’s very high expectations.
Yet they usually make it to the latter stages, and have won the trophy four times, just one fewer than record holders Brazil. However the last few World Cup campaigns have been disastrous – they haven’t qualified since 2014, despite winning the Euros in 2020.
Now Paolo Zampolli – an envoy to Donald Trump and Italian native – has tried to get Fifa to agree to let them in anyway, replacing Iran. His somewhat arrogant view is that as a massive footie nation they deserve to be playing at the tournament.
Look, we know Italians love the game and it must be very painful to not be at the World Cup.
But if Iran end up not playing, they will be replaced by the next best team in their Asian group – not Italy.
Go top of the glass
Drinking beer is one of the great national pastimes in this country. There’s nothing better than sinking a few cold ones down the pub – even with the price of a pint these days!
But even the most enthusiastic of us wouldn’t claim it makes you clever. Famously, in fact, it’s supposed to kill your brain cells!
However some wonderful boffins from Germany now claim that beer boosts your intake of Vitamin B6, which is vital for brain function.
So when you have a headache on Sunday morning, don’t worry folks. Your brain is in much better shape than it feels!
Total lack of of Focus
Football Focus is coming to an end after 52 years.
Looks like the BBC took their eye off the ball.
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