Gattuso: Domestic scandal inspired us
Gattuso: Domestic scandal inspired us
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Monday, 10, Jul 2006 09:46
Midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has insisted that the match-fixing scandal currently gripping Italian football inspired the Azzurri to World Cup victory.
The Italian tribunal investigating the corruption allegations involving Juventus, AC Milan, Lazio and Fiorentina is due to deliver its verdict later this week and the combative midfielder could find himself playing in Serie B next year.
However, Italian football is currently basking in the glory of their fourth World Cup win and Gattuso insisted that the problems in the domestic game inspired the international team to their final win over France.
"I am convinced that had the football scandal not happened in Italy we wouldn't be world champions," Gattuso said.
"This has given us a very strong motivation and now we must await the verdicts."
Hundreds of thousands of Italians have poured into Rome tonight to welcome home the Italian squad, plus the World Cup trophy.
The victory could be put down to a typically stern Italian defence, which conceded just two goals during the entire tournament; an own goal and a penalty.
Gattuso admitted he was still struggling to come to terms with the win.
"It's an indescribable joy and I am still trying to come to terms with what we have achieved," Gattuso added.
"We Italians know what it is to have guts to surpass any barrier and we have fought from start to finish throughout this tournament."
Meanwhile, Juventus have named former French captain Didier Deschamps as their new manager.
The former Juventus player has signed a two-year contract and replaces Fabio Capello, who took over at Real Madrid last week.