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Italy Can Still do Well in World Cup, Says Vieri

Vieri may not have been at his best physical shape, but he was still good enough to tease and torment the rivals in this championships. And when we met him at the mixed-zone at the Sevens ground, we discovered that the Italian speaks fluent English. “I went to school, you know. I spent 10-15 days there,” Vieri joked.

Well the scorer of five goals in the 1998 World Cup spent his childhood days in Australia in the 1970s and few people know that his brother, Massimiliano, even played international football for Australia.

And their father, Roberto, represented Italy in the under-23 football.

Christian, the elder of the Vieri brothers, was wearing the colours of Milan in Dubai.

But it was for Inter, Milan’s fierce rivals, that Vieri produced some of the best football of his life, scoring a staggering 144 goals in 173 matches.

“Yeah, it’s a big rivalry, you know. Milan is a very big city. Inter and Milan, well, they are two very big clubs. They are two of the best teams in the world, you know. Milan and Inter have won so many trophies.

“So it was good to play for both of them,” said Vieri.

After he became one of the few players to move from Inter to Milan, Vieri failed to display the same form which once helped him build a deadly partnership with the peerless Ronaldo.

After the agonising six months, he left Milan for Monaco. And yet it seems Milan holds a special place in Vieri’s heart.

The striker came to Milan’s defence when questions were asked about their miserable recent defeats.

“You can’t win every year, you know. And don’t forget that Milan have played many finals in the last 10-12 years,” Vieri replied when we asked him about Milan’s defeat to Manchester United in the Champions League.

“Yeah this time they lost to United. They are a very good side.”

Vieri is having a good time at the Dubai Sevens as the Milan legends team were in brilliant form at the sevens event.

“It’s fun, you know. I have not played at all in the last six, seven months. I need to lose some weight (laughs). We were enjoying ourselves out there, you know. So it’s good once in a while.

“I am happy that I am playing here in this tournament. We are just having some fun. That’s all.”

The Italian, who scored 23 goals during his international career, said his country’s team, despite their inconsistent form, could still do well in the World Cup.

“Yeah, now they are not looking so good at the moment. But you know before the start of the World Cup, they will have one month to prepare. So, they will get the time to relax. They can get their energy back.

“So I think Italy are going to do well. They know how to prepare themselves.”

Vieri, who had a remarkable World Cup record (9 goals in two World Cups), never shied away from taking challenges in his career and when we asked him about the teams that could reach the semis in the World Cup, he came up with a brave prediction.

“England, Spain and Brazil will be in the semifinals. And the fourth one, maybe Italy, you know. I hope so.”