Italy has returned to its football: more than three months after the cessation of competitions faced with the advance of the coronavirus, the ball rolled again on a lawn of the Peninsula on Friday, with the first semi-final return from the Cup, who saw Juventus eliminate AC Milan (0-0; 1-1 first leg) in Turin.
There is little to say about the match. The main part took place between the 15th and the 17th minute. Juventus got a penalty, missed by Cristiano Ronaldo, who hit the post before delivering a very average match. But in the next minute, Rebic was sent off for a kung-fu gesture on Danilo and, at 10-11, Milan were never able to score the goal that would have allowed him to reverse the situation after 1- 1 of the first leg.
With this 0-0, Juventus has therefore reserved its place for the final of the Cup, which it will play as of Wednesday in Rome against Naples or Inter Milan, which clash Saturday at the San Paolo stadium after the victory 1- 0 of the Neapolitans to go to Milan. No goal, therefore, and an average spectacle for this return of football in Italy. By August 2 and the scheduled end of the championship, there will now be games every day or so, and probably more madness on the field. But Italian football has resumed its course.
This June 12, Italy-Turkey was initially scheduled, the opening match of Euro-2000, at the Olympic Stadium in Rome. But the coronavirus has gone through this and overturned all the sports calendars on the planet.
The disease has also killed more than 34,000 people in Italy, one of the hardest hit countries on the planet. And imagining the return of "calcio" has long seemed impossible, especially in April, when each day ended with the toll of the Civil Protection, always heavier, up to more than 900 dead per day.
Strange atmosphere
But the health situation improved and after Germany and Spain, Italy was therefore the third major European country to return to football, with the Cup first, the championship only resuming at the end of next week. Before the match, disputed behind closed doors, the players and staff members observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims of the pandemic. They then applauded at length three representatives of the nursing staff present in the center of the field.
On the AC Milan jersey, a badge was affixed, dedicated to the doctors, nurses, paramedics and volunteers who fought against the virus. On this badge appeared a rainbow and the phrase "andra tutto bene" (all will be well, note), two of the symbols of Italy of containment. Outside, a handful of tifosi had come in the late afternoon around the stadium, to taste the strange atmosphere of this football returned without making room for them, the supporters.
"I don't like the fans having to stay outside. Now that football resumes, I hope the tifosi will be able to return. Even just 20 or 30% of the capacity would have been good, ”regretted Michele Di Miccoli, a 68-year-old pensioner interviewed before the match.
But Carmine Tiani, also 68, said he was "happy that it resumed". “It's a little sad without the tifosi. The 12th man is missing. But he had to start again, one way or another. We have to finish the championship, find out who goes to Europe, who goes to Serie B, "he explained. We already know that in the Cup final, there will be Juventus.
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