Interview with Bruno Pizzul

“Today’s soccer? There are no flags anymore…”

by Alessio Conforti

His voice has enchanted and made soccer Italy dream for decades. Extremely competent, punctual and with an unmistakable timbre. Bruno Pizzul is an icon of national journalism, the first voice for RAI of the Azzurri’s matches from 1986 to 2002 and a point of reference for all the main events of tricolor soccer.

Pizzul, what does the World Cup look like between November and December

There is a hint of curiosity to see how they will unfold but clearly, both because of the time and geographical placement, they raise more than a few concerns. It is clear that soccer goes by use in all countries, however, frankly such a radical modi ca of what were traditional customs seems quite questionable to me. But for that very reason it is worth following carefully what will be followed.

The Azzurri unfortunately will not be there. What has not worked?

We have no players. Italian players there are very few, both in club teams and in youth activities. Evidently, the way in which the activities of youth players are managed needs to be changed, and they are perhaps subjected to didactics and teaching methods that do not make them enjoy themselves.

For example?

They make them do too much gymnastics, too many laps, too many diagonals. You treat kids starting to play soccer as if they should be placed in a tactically evolved team setting. Instead you need to let them have fun, give them the ball and let them do what they want instead of stressing them.

Who among the favorites?

I would say the usual traditional ones. Brazil could do well. It always does well with Germany, which I would keep as a first approximation even though they may not have as much over-the-top talent in this round as they have in the past, but they do little wrong. And above all, even when they come second and lose the final, people welcome them as triumphants. Whereas here in Italy when we come second it is a tragedy.

Which match has left you most bitter in your years as a commentator?

When I was forced to report on a tragedy with 39 dead. The final between Juventus and Liver- pool in Brussels.

Let’s come to the Serie A. Which one was the revelation?

Napoli. More than a revelation, it is an extraordinary confirmation. A team that is playing spectacular, extremely e caceful soccer. It manages to combine the useful with the beautiful. Napoli has managed to create an extraordinary environmental situation.

A very good start arrived at the halfway mark….

Let’s not forget that at the beginning of this season it looked like the team had to be dismantled: Insigne, Mertens, Koulibaly left. Players who seemed to constitute the strongest os- sature of the team. Instead, Giuntoli, the sporting director, and the club have done brilliantly by replacing players with others that no one knew and who instead have turned out to be formidable. They are putting a serious mortgage on the title.

How has the world of soccer changed from the past?

It has changed remarkably. There are no longer flag players. The incidence of the economic factor has increased disproportionately. Nowadays, more than building a decent team, one has to look after balancing budgets and incurring expenses that incredibly grow exponentially.