Nesta bids Azzurri farewell

BAGGIO 15 · Post by **BAGGIO 15** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:54 am

Alessandro Nesta has followed in Francesco Tottiâ€™s footsteps and announced his retirement from international football.

The Milan stopper hasnâ€™t featured in the Azzurriâ€™s recent qualifiers and it has now been confirmed that the 31-year-old has played his last game for Italy.

â€œIâ€™ve always been so attached to the national jersey and playing for my country has been the best thing in my career,â€ he stated at a Press conference at Milanello.

â€œIâ€™m very sorry, but I canâ€™t keep playing in all these games. If I want to keep myself at the top level I need to rest a bit."

Although the decision has only been announced today, it appears that Nesta had been preparing his exit for months.

â€œI missed a national game when I got married which I only allowed to happen because I knew my Azzurri adventure was over,â€ he admitted.

â€œPerhaps I could have gone on longer, but my greatest regret is the last World Cup as it wasnâ€™t easy to watch my teammates triumph while I was sidelined with an injury.â€

Nesta made his Italy debut in a 3-1 win over Moldova on October 5, 1996 and won 78 caps without ever finding the net.

eurostar · Post by **eurostar** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 12:24 pm

Thats bulllshit, who's next to retire??? once one player retires the others consider the same option and this could be very damaging for italy if more start to retire, and to think it all started from totti! they should strip his medal from him!

The one and only · Post by **The one and only** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:21 pm

you guys have matrix to fill his boots what are you so worried about he did it in the world cup and got zidane sent off

which helped

eurostar · Post by **eurostar** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:27 pm

rather have nesta instead of materazzi tho!

The one and only · Post by **The one and only** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:29 pm

eurostar wrote:rather have nesta instead of materazzi tho!

i would to but matarazzi still showed he can play on the big stage for his country I.E world cup final

eurostar · Post by **eurostar** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:34 pm

The one and only wrote:
eurostar wrote:rather have nesta instead of materazzi tho!
i would to but matarazzi still showed he can play on the big stage for his country I.E world cup final

yeah i know materazzi aint that bad but he is too controversial when he plays, their is always something with him but hey he did brilliantly for Italy in the World Cup!

delfino_1936 · Post by **delfino_1936** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:43 pm

grazie Alessandro

getborn · Post by **getborn** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 1:51 pm

congratulations to nesta on a excellent career.
italy have always been solid defensively & nothing will change.

oddo
bonera
barzagli
zaccardo
p cannavarro

off the top of my head.

Translator · Post by **Translator** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:16 pm

eurostar wrote:rather have nesta instead of materazzi tho!

what would you know, you'd still play Vieri in the national team. Are we supporting Fiorentina this year

Lilly Whites · Post by **Lilly Whites** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 2:17 pm

97 wrote:
eurostar wrote:rather have nesta instead of materazzi tho!
what would you know, you'd still play Vieri in the national team. Are we supporting Fiorentina this year

lol, still cant believe he got signed by florentina

eurostar · Post by **eurostar** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 3:10 pm

97 wrote:
eurostar wrote:rather have nesta instead of materazzi tho!
what would you know, you'd still play Vieri in the national team. Are we supporting Fiorentina this year

so your telling me you rather have materazzi over nesta?

the lorax · Post by **the lorax** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 3:18 pm

eurostar wrote:rather have nesta instead of materazzi tho!

at least materazzi can score!

Translator · Post by **Translator** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 3:23 pm

exact!

Nesta made his Italy debut in a 3-1 win over Moldova on October 5, 1996 and won 78 caps without ever finding the net.

Materazzi Italy's top scorer at WC06.

ronaldo07 · Post by **ronaldo07** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 3:24 pm

bye bye nesta + totti ..
italy team - 2 pretty boy

Translator · Post by **Translator** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 3:38 pm

ronaldo07 wrote:bye bye nesta + totti ..
italy team - 2 pretty boy

England team never had a pretty boy, unless they're Gay eg 23.

Downside to alchol is that ugly people still breed, if you don't believe me look at the English :

eurostar · Post by **eurostar** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 3:47 pm

the lorax wrote:
eurostar wrote:rather have nesta instead of materazzi tho!
at least materazzi can score!

yeah but Nesta was a solid defender, materazzi made many mistakes but he was critical when he went up for corners. Think what you want but Nesta and canna unbeatable in defence!

The one and only · Post by **The one and only** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:01 pm

eurostar wrote:
the lorax wrote:
eurostar wrote:rather have nesta instead of materazzi tho!
at least materazzi can score!
yeah but Nesta was a solid defender, materazzi made many mistakes but he was critical when he went up for corners. Think what you want but Nesta and canna unbeatable in defence!

matrix will be good to have there until the next nesta comes along

Translator · Post by **Translator** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:03 pm

eurostar wrote: yeah but Nesta was a solid defender, materazzi made many mistakes but he was critical when he went up for corners. Think what you want but Nesta and canna unbeatable in defence!

That's funny I remember seeing Ibra go past Nesta making him look like a school boy,

Materazzi many mistakes?!??! Just because he doesn't spend five minutes after every header fixing his hair doesn't make him any less a player. You must be a teenager, youngsters always fall in love with the show ponies

diegom · Post by **diegom** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:04 pm

Barzagli will step up and the juve player Chiellini????
Italy will have a solid defence in years to come and with De Rossi maturing and possible Azzurri Captain, I am NOT worried for the next 10 years at least

GRAZIE ALESSANDRO!

eurostar · Post by **eurostar** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:07 pm

97 wrote:
eurostar wrote: yeah but Nesta was a solid defender, materazzi made many mistakes but he was critical when he went up for corners. Think what you want but Nesta and canna unbeatable in defence!
That's funny I remember seeing Ibra go past Nesta making him look like a school boy,

Materazzi many mistakes?!??! Just because he doesn't spend five minutes after every header fixing his hair doesn't make him any less a player. You must be a teenager, youngsters always fall in love with the show ponies

Okay! u know best Mr Donadoni

Juventino · Post by **Juventino** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:22 pm

diegom wrote:Barzagli will step up and the juve player Chiellini????
Italy will have a solid defence in years to come and with De Rossi maturing and possible Azzurri Captain, I am NOT worried for the next 10 years at least

GRAZIE ALESSANDRO!

Exactly...we have Barzagli to play along side Cannavaro.

Translator · Post by **Translator** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:43 pm

eurostar wrote:Okay! u know best Mr Donadoni

yep you're a youngster NFI and no respect

eurostar · Post by **eurostar** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:58 pm

97 wrote:
eurostar wrote:Okay! u know best Mr Donadoni
yep you're a youngster NFI and no respect

teach me how to be like you

King Henry Returns · Post by **King Henry Returns** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:38 pm

Eurostar, nesta didnâ€™t retire from the national team just because totti did. Injuries have long plagued his career, & itâ€™s probably a wise decision which will prolong his club career. The Italian team should be fine without these players anyway. Even the legendary Maldini retired from the national team early. So I donâ€™t think some peoples criticism towards them is fair.

97, what exactly makes Nesta a show pony? Is it his long hair? imo nesta is a class above Matrix. Even though I like the way Materazzi plays.

Grazie Ale`

adriano10 · Post by **adriano10** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:04 pm

people can complain all they like, but he's given his all and must be thanked for being an absolute champion...

grazie Alessandro, ti ricordiamo sempre

Translator · Post by **Translator** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 9:50 pm

King Henry Returns wrote: 97, what exactly makes Nesta a show pony? Is it his long hair? imo nesta is a class above Matrix. Even though I like the way Materazzi plays.

Comment wasn't directed 100% towards Nesta, was also a reflection on players that get idolise eg Beckham over Keane, DP over Nedved, Kaka over Gattuso etc.

His hair used to drive me nuts, particular as I personally preferred the take no prisoner type of defenders that Italy used to be famous for. The old days where if you couldn't beat them then you'd kick them off the field.

Nesta was/ is class, but imo his image always came across as a touch soft (too nice). Although my thoughts on him might be biases

Also feel the credit he gets is over the top, especially when compared to Materazzi. Even after 2006 Nesta has an injury plague year and he still gets pundits putting him ahead of Marco so I try and tip the scale a bit to balance the equation

El Pocho Lavezzi · Post by **El Pocho Lavezzi** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:20 pm

Grazie Ale`

adriano10 · Post by **adriano10** » Thu Aug 02, 2007 10:40 pm

97 wrote:
King Henry Returns wrote: 97, what exactly makes Nesta a show pony? Is it his long hair? imo nesta is a class above Matrix. Even though I like the way Materazzi plays.
Comment wasn't directed 100% towards Nesta, was also a reflection on players that get idolise eg Beckham over Keane, DP over Nedved, Kaka over Gattuso etc.

His hair used to drive me nuts, particular as I personally preferred the take no prisoner type of defenders that Italy used to be famous for. The old days where if you couldn't beat them then you'd kick them off the field.

Nesta was/ is class, but imo his image always came across as a touch soft (too nice). Although my thoughts on him might be biases

Also feel the credit he gets is over the top, especially when compared to Materazzi. Even after 2006 Nesta has an injury plague year and he still gets pundits putting him ahead of Marco so I try and tip the scale a bit to balance the equation

that was a joke IMO, at the time Marco was fit and in form whereas Alessandro was unfortunately struggling to be fit for longer than a few weeks...